Her Travel Memories

Hey everyone, welcome back!
As promised in my The Last Straw article (link coming soon), I’m finally breaking down my complete 13-day Scotland road trip itinerary.
So buckle up.

This route starts in Glasgow, takes you through the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye, and ends in Edinburgh. In my opinion, no Scotland road trip is complete without at least a few days in Edinburgh.
Did I mentioned that I loved this city ? I must have somewhere in the blog already.
But I stand by it.

Part 1 of my Scotland road trip itinerary takes you through Glasgow, Loch Lomond, and Oban: the first six days, and the ones that made me understand why people keep coming back to Scotland.
Now, let’s talk logistics.

Trip Overview

This road trip lasted 13 days and took place in May 2025.
We started in Glasgow because I already had tickets for a Twenty One Pilots concert (yes, I’m a huge fan), and finished in Edinburgh before flying home.

Between those two cities, we explored some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes, including the Highlands and the Isle of Skye.
If you’re wondering whether May is a good time to visit Scotland, my answer is absolutely yes.

The weather is generally milder, the days are longer, and most importantly, you’ll significantly reduce your chances of encountering Scotland’s most feared residents: the midges. If you’ve never heard of them, imagine tiny flying insects that attack in clouds.
You’re welcome.

Driving Time

The Route

If you look at a map of Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh sit relatively close together in the southern part of the country.
Everything north of them quickly becomes mountains, lochs, winding roads, and vast stretches of wilderness.
In other words: the good stuff.

The challenge when planning a Scotland road trip itinerary isn’t finding places to visit. It’s deciding what to leave out.

Day by Day: The First Three Stops

Days 1–2: Glasgow — Victorian Architecture, Street Markets and a Concert I’d Planned the Whole Trip Around

We started in Glasgow, which I had never visited before, and I have to say it was quite refreshing.

One thing I wasn’t prepared for, though, was the Scottish accent. Glasgow takes it to another level. I spent the first few hours smiling politely and hoping context would do the heavy lifting.

Since I was only staying for two days, I mostly explored the city centre, where you’ll find many of Glasgow’s main attractions.
One thing I highly recommend is simply grabbing a coffee and wandering around Royal Exchange Square. Glasgow’s Victorian architecture is stunning, and it’s the kind of city that rewards slow exploration.

For food, I’m a street-market kind of person. I love having lots of options in one place, so my recommendation is definitely the Barras Market area. Glasgow also has plenty of excellent pubs, restaurants, and cafés if that’s more your thing.

As for nightlife, I won’t be much help there.
The main reason I came to Glasgow was a Twenty One Pilots concert—which was incredible, by the way.
That said, the city felt lively even late into the evening, and I’ve heard great things about Glasgow’s live music scene. I’ll definitely be testing that out next time.

Days 3–4: Loch Lomond — The Devil’s Pulpit, Conic Hill, and Why You Should Slow Down Here Lomond

This was where the road trip truly began.
And honestly? This was exactly what I had come to Scotland for.
Loch Lomond is pretty much the definition of a Scottish loch: vast stretches of water surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.
Beautiful.

Our first stop was the Devil’s Pulpit, also known as Finnich Glen. It’s a narrow, moss-covered gorge that looks like something straight out of a fantasy film. The walk itself isn’t particularly long, but be aware that access can be steep and slippery, especially after rain.
Still, it’s absolutely worth the detour.
What struck me most was how unexpected it felt. One minute you’re walking through the Scottish countryside, and the next you’re standing inside this mysterious green gorge surrounded by towering rock walls.
And despite its growing popularity, it still felt relatively peaceful when I visited.

After that, we headed to Loch Lomond itself. When I say it’s big, I mean really big. In fact, Loch Lomond is the largest lake by surface area in Great Britain.
My recommendation is simple: slow down. Find a quiet spot along the shore, bring a book, and spend some time doing absolutely nothing.
That’s exactly what I did.
And when the Scottish weather decides to cooperate, you’ll probably come across dogs playing in the water, families enjoying the lakeside, and hikers stopping to admire the view.
It’s the kind of place that makes it very easy to lose track of time.

After a quiet lunch and reading pause by the lake, I had planned to tackle one of the area’s most famous hike : Conic Hill.
Starting from the village of Balmaha on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, this relatively short hike offers one of the most iconic views in the National Park. The climb itself isn’t particularly technical, but you’ll definitely feel it in your legs by the end.
What makes Conic Hill special is the panorama at the summit. From the top, Loch Lomond unfolds beneath you, dotted with dozens of islands and framed by the Highlands in the distance. It’s also located right on the Highland Boundary Fault, the geological line that separates Scotland’s Lowlands from the Highlands.
For a relatively short hike, the reward is incredible.

If you’re only planning one walk around Loch Lomond, Conic Hill is probably the one I’d recommend. The trail is well maintained, easy to follow, and delivers exactly the kind of dramatic Scottish scenery most people come here hoping to find.
Just don’t forget a waterproof jacket.
This is still Scotland, after all.

We spent the night near Loch Lomond, and the following morning I headed to the picturesque village of Luss.
It’s exactly what most people imagine when they think of a traditional Scottish village: stone cottages, flower-filled gardens, and beautiful views over the loch. I even found a tiny coffee shop tucked inside one of the cottages.
Of course I stopped for a coffee.
Armed with caffeine and questionable hiking motivation, I then set off for the Beinn Dubh and Coire Na h-Eanachan Circular hike.
If you’re looking for a relatively accessible walk near Loch Lomond that rewards you with spectacular views, this one is hard to beat.

The trail climbs steadily above the village before opening up to sweeping panoramas over Loch Lomond and its many islands. On a clear day, you can see for miles across the water and the surrounding hills.
It’s not the most famous hike in the area, but that’s precisely what I liked about it. The trail felt peaceful, and I spent most of my time stopping every few minutes to admire the view—or, more realistically, to take another photo.
If you’re staying around Luss and don’t want to tackle a full-day mountain hike, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your itinerary

So grab a coffee first, lace up your hiking boots, and go.
If you need convincing, the photos at the end of this article should help.

Day 5-6: Oban — The Gateway Town That Turned Out to Be a Destination

Our third stop was Oban.
And honestly, Oban deserves its own article because it completely surprised me.

I hadn’t expected much from it. Most guides describe it as the “Gateway to the Isles,” which makes it sound more like a transport hub than a destination. Turns out, it’s much more than that.
If you’ve heard of the Isle of Mull, Iona, or Staffa, chances are you’ll pass through Oban at some point.
Ferries depart regularly from the harbour, making it one of the main access points to Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.

Just keep in mind that accommodation on some of the islands can be limited, especially during peak season, so planning ahead is a good idea. That said, don’t make the mistake of treating Oban as a simple overnight stop.

The town itself is charming. One of its most famous landmarks is McCaig’s Tower, a huge unfinished monument overlooking the bay. Built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig, it was intended both as a family monument and as a way of providing work for local stonemasons during the winter months.
McCaig died before it was completed, and the structure has remained unfinished ever since.
Which only makes it more interesting.
The views over Oban Bay are spectacular, and the gardens inside are a lovely place to spend an hour.

Beyond the town itself, the surrounding area is absolutely worth exploring.
Along the coast you’ll find quiet beaches and beautiful viewpoints, while inland you’ll discover some of Scotland’s most impressive landscapes.
One of my favourite detours was Kilchurn Castle on the shores of Loch Awe. The castle itself is currently closed to visitors, but honestly, that’s not the point.
The point is the view.

The ruined castle sitting beside the loch, backed by mountains, looks like something straight out of a postcard.
And yes, it’s every bit as beautiful in real life.

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At this point, the road trip was already exceeding my expectations.

We had explored Glasgow, wandered around Loch Lomond, climbed hills overlooking the loch, and discovered the unexpectedly charming town of Oban.

But the Highlands were still ahead of us.

Next, we would head north toward Glencoe, Fort William, and eventually the Isle of Skye — some of the places that made me fall in love with Scotland in the first place.

So let’s continue the journey in Part 2.