Glasgow to Drumnadrochit via Loch Lamond, Oban, Fort William, Loch Linnhe and Loch Ness

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May 6th 2011

Published: May 7th 2011

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Sue50

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Today we left Glasgow, it is still raining.
The scenery on the way to Oban was beautiful. We drove beside Loch Lammond and the views of Loch with the beautiful mountains behind were amazing. We travelled alongside still lakes, overshadowed by misty mountains. There were emerald green fields dotted with baby lambs and tan- coloured long haired highland cattle. Tall green fir trees and rocky creeks, old railway lines and and stone bridges. When we got to Cruachan the road was supported by pillars and ran right along the edge of the Loch - beautiful.
We arrived at Oban at about 11.15 and had a wander around this lovely harbourside village. The fishing boats were all lined up along the docks.
We then travelled up toward Fort William, the road literally goes along the very edge of Loch Creran and Loch Linnhl and the scenery is stunning at every bend in the road.
We passed little rows of white washed houses with black slate roofs and small doors and windows.
The rain began to clear and the sun started to come out. How lucky can we be!
We stopped at Fort William for lunch and got our first glimpse of Ben

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Loch Lammond

Nevis, the highest mtn in the UK. It had drifts of snow on the top and looked amazing.
My cousin's daughter, Sophie had advised us of some good photo locations and also suggested that we see 'Neptune's Staircase" if we had the time. ( A series of 8 locks which take vessels 1 1/2 hours to negotiate)
"Neptune's Staircase (grid reference NN113769) is a staircase lock comprising eight locks on the Caledonian Canal. It is the longest staircase lock in the United Kingdom, and lifts boats 64 feet (19.5 metres). The locks were originally hand-powered, but have been converted to hydraulic operation".
We were absolutely so lucky with our timing because as we drove up to the Neptune's Staircase the largest vessel to negotiate the lock happened to be coming through the 'staircase'. !!!
We stood and watched with amazement as this large vessel was brought through 2 of the Locks. I couldn't believe how lucky we were to be able to witness this.
We were chatting to a fellow in the carpark and he told us about a nearby Gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain. Well, we had to do that!!
We were rewarded with

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Will we squeeze by this truck?

fabulous views and so fortunate that the rain had stopped for us and the mist had cleared.
We could see the summit of Ben Nevis, so close now, just a mountain peak away.
As time was getting on we thought we should try and book some accommodatin at Inverness. We rang a B and B and booked a cottage. Booking it was one thing, finding it was another LOL. Gosh, we drove into a town called Drumnadrochit (about 1/2 hour this side of Inverness) and then took the side road, as advised by the fellow at the B and B. We seemed to be driving for quite sometime along country lanes, up hill and down dale, until finally we found it. The setting was beautiful, overlooking Loch Meiklie.
The drive to the B and B took us along the shores of Loch Ness and passed Urquhart Castle.
Another very busy but fantastic day.
Again, don't forget to keep scrolling down passed all the ads to see all the photos.

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