From Applecross take the coastal road north along the Inner Sound where you have amazing views over Raasay and Skye until you head east and follow the shore of Loch Torridon until you reach Shieldaig. This stage is 110 miles (177kms) and 4 hours travel time over the road. As you have another ferry crossing in this section it is realistic to use one day for this stage. Sunset from the beach at Arisaig Shieldaig to Durness Try a spot of wild swimming (we would advise a wet suit!) in the bracing Fairy Pools, beautiful crystal clear pools, and waterfalls at the foot of the Cuillin mountains, on the river Brittle. Take the 1.5 mile walk from the small parking lot to find this series of magical pools, formed 50-70 million years ago! Explore the various and fascinating brochs on the route. The broch is an imposing stone tower and ancient dwelling, built as early as 500 BCE, found only in Scotland. Dunbeath Broch and Nybster Broch are both excellent examples and are close to the Caithness Broch Centre, where you can learn more. Nevis Bank Inn: a stylish hotel at the entrance to Glen Nevis and the perfect stopover for climbing Ben Nevis or visiting Steall Falls. Book here.

Climb to the top of McCaig’s Tower, which was built in the late 1800s. The structure is quite unusual and offers stunning views of Oban Bay. You’ll explore the remarkable history and culture of the region, from antiquity to the modern day, and learn more than a few surprising insights along the way. Visit the Castle of Mey, which was restored by The Queen Mother when she bought it in 1952 and saved it from abandonment. A fascinating glimpse into a castle that served as a holiday retreat for the royal family, and with wonderful gardens, this is a truly beautiful place. Drive through the magnificent Cairngorms National Park, home to deer, eagles, and atmospheric Corgarff Castle. Admire the creativity and skill of the glassblowers at work in Lindean Mill Glass. This innovative glass studio was established in 1978 by David Kaplan and Annica Sandström, whose work has been exhibited at the National Museum Scotland in Edinburgh and the V&A in London.To fully road trip the West Coast of Scotland, a car is your best option. Public transport is scare between these remote places, plus a car will give you the ultimate freedom to go absolutely anywhere. I recommend Discover Cars for car rental in Scotland. This is one of the west coast’s industrial towns. It became a Royal Burgh during the 1300s and is now a bustling town with a maritime history. Visiting the glorious beaches of the peninsula is a real treat. Unspoiled and often with no one else around, some of the best beaches in Scotland can be found here. Our favorites are Carradale Bay and close-by Torrisdale Bay. Inveraray: Situated on the shores of Loch Fyne, Inveraray is noted for its fine Georgian architecture. Popular spots include Inveraray Castle, the jail and the woollen mill, while many come just to witness the stunning reflections of the landscape and town in the still waters of the loch.

There are three public golf courses here as well as ample opportunities for dining out and shopping. In Oban take the ferry to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Close by is the beautiful Duart Castle. 5 miles further down the road to Tobermory there is another ferry crossing awaiting you, the one from Fishnish to Lochaline in Morvern crossing the Sound of Mull. From Lochaline to Mallaig it’s a 2 hour drive through some spectacular scenery via Strontian, the Moydart peninsula and Arisaig which nearby beaches at Morar were featured in the movie Local Hero. This stage is only 86 miles (138km) and the total travel time over the road some 4 hours, but with two ferry crossings it’s more realistic to use two days for this stage. Cottage at Upper Loch Torridon near Shieldaig Mallaig to Shieldaig over Applecross There’s a small beach that offers great views of Ailsa Craig. And, just south of the village lies the ruins of Carleton Castle from the 15 th century. Ballantrae We all know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I will use Stranraer in Dumfries & Galloway as the most south-westerly tip of our journey and Durness in Sutherland as the most north-westerly point. The distance between Stranraer and Durness, as the crow flies, is 254 miles (355 kms). To travel this distance over the shortest route by car via Glasgow, Perth and Inverness is 356 miles (573 kms), roughly a 8 hour drive.It’s a beautiful place, offering a lively local pub, cute harbourside beer garden, quaint cottages, coastal strolls, and seal-spotting boat trips. In addition to the North Atlantic Current, a jet-like current, known as the Slope Current, flows in a poleward direction along the edge of the continental slope with speeds in the range of 15 to 30 cm/s, and centred approximately over the 400-500 m depth contour. The waters in the Slope Current are thought to originate from the Iberian region and some of the North Atlantic Water that reaches the Bay of Biscay joins the Slope Current. Also on the continental slope, tides cause a large wave to form on the thermocline and this breaks when it hits the continental shelf causing mixing and nutrients to be brought closer to the surface. These features vary seasonally but are important sources of heat and nutrients, and enhance plankton growth in the waters around Scotland. They form important habitat for fish which are the subject of commercial fisheries.

Stop off in Moffat for a spot of hiking on the scenic Southern Upland Way or the most northerly point on the Annandale Way, both of which pass through this pretty and historic town. Scotland West Coast Guide Scotland's west coast is one of the richest areas of the UK's coastline, in Where are the midge hotspots Scotland?The west of theHighlands,islands and parts ofthe Cairngorms. They are also found in Perthshire and Argyll. Knoydart Lodge: the en-suite rooms have been upgraded since we stayed, and there’s now only 3 rooms available, so book early. What do midge bites look like?Small red dots which can develop into itchy, painful swellings and even blisters.Catch an amazing sunset from Neist Point, where there is also a lighthouse of the same name. The most westerly point on Skye, this beautiful spot also affords fantastic views of the Outer Hebrides.