Stirling, Glasgow and the West coast
This tour gives you the perfect mix of the busy cosmopolitan city of Glasgow (with its magnificent cathedral), historic castles (including the royal castle of Stirling), the
unique Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace near Oban, and two islands – beautiful Bute in the Firth of Clyde and Iona, the world-famous icon of Christianity.
Duration: We suggest that you take 7 days for this tour.
Stirling Castle (in the centre of Stirling, 27m NE of Glasgow), with its medieval kitchen, Chapel Royal, restored Great Hall and fascinating displays on life of bygone days, the castle is guaranteed to interest the whole family. Many of Scotland's most powerful monarchs lived here (visit: 2 hours).
Bothwell Castle (at Uddingston, off the B7071, 14m SE of Glasgow city centre). By the River Clyde, Bothwell was once the finest 13th century stone castle in Scotland. It was fought over in the Wars of Independence with England in the early 14th century (visit: 45 minutes).
Glasgow Cathedral (in the city signposted from the centre), one of the most magnificent buildings of medieval Scotland and still complete, dating from the 12th century (visit: 1 hour).
From Wemyss Bay on the coast west of Glasgow you can reach the Isle of Bute. Best done as a day trip to explore the island, just 45 minutes by Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Wemyss Bay (32m W of Glasgow).
Rothesay Castle (in the centre of Rothesay). Dating from late 12th century, it was
twice captured by the Vikings (visit: 45 minutes).
Newark Castle (in Port Glasgow on the A8, 12m E of Wemyss Bay). Still virtually intact, this 15th century castle was built by the Maxwell family (visit: 45 minutes).
Dumbarton Castle (on the N bank of the River Clyde, W of Glasgow on the A82, 15m N of Port Glasgow via the Erskine Bridge) was the capital of the ancient kingdom of
Strathclyde. Its main features are the 19th century guns and the view across the Firth of Clyde from the top of the tower (visit: 45 minutes).
Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace (near the village of Taynuilt, off the A85, 67m NW of Dumbarton). It dates from 1753 and is the most complete charcoal-fuelled ironworks
in Britain, a gem from the Industrial Revolution (visit: 45 minutes).
Dunstaffnage Castle (3m N of Oban, off the A85, 9m W of Bonawe) is a fine 13th century castle which was, for just two nights in 1746, the prison of Flora MacDonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie flee after the Battle of Culloden (visit: 45 minutes).
From Oban you can catch the ferry to Mull and then on to Iona from Fionnphort.
Iona Abbey is the icon of Scottish Christianity. Founded by St. Columba in 563AD, the restored abbey and monastic buildings retain their spiritual atmosphere. In the graveyard are buried kings of Scotland, Norway, Ireland and France (visit: 2 hours).