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A 3 day extension from Edinburgh experiencing gastronomic and cultural flavors
of the West Coast of Scotland. Day 1: Inveraray
Head towards Loch Fyne via Glasgow. Following the A814 you will pass the Hill
House, Helensburgh, one of Charlie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creations,
sitting high above the Clyde. Creativity is the very essence of the house.
Visit the Gallery and you can see work by designers and artists inspired by
Mackintosh’s work. To round of the visit, take a walk around the Gardens, which
are recognizably in Mackintosh style. Arrival Inveraray for overnight.
Day 2: Loch Fyne Seafood Trail
Loch Fyne Oysters and mussels are grown at the head of Loch Fyne. Fifty miles
from the open sea the water here is characterised by a high level of fresh
water running in from the hills and streams making the molluscs particularly
sweet and tasty. Langoustines and scallops are sourced from further down the
loch - preferring the salty waters nearer the Atlantic Ocean. Visit the Loch
Fyne Oyster bar, Shop and Smokehouse in Cairndow at the head of Loch Fyne, the
longest sea loch in Scotland.
Following the signs to Lochgilphead and Campbeltown on the A83 to the idyllic
fishing village Tarbert, at the very north tip of Kintyre. Tarbert has a varied
and eventful history with the remnants of a royal castle associated with Robert
The Bruce and an architecturally stunning church with its original stained
glass windows. The harbour itself has a long history associated in the past
with a large fleet of herring fishermen and has long has been associated with
some of the finest seafood caught and cooked in Scotland, with exports of fresh
seafood being distributed all across Europe by local companies.
Fronting directly onto Tarbert harbour you will find the Anchorage, a small,
intimate restaurant. The Owner Trevor Kelso is firmly at the helm in the
kitchen producing fresh, colourful food with the accent on seafood cooked in a
simple, classic style. A blackboard menu changes daily according to the local
catch.
Continue north to Oban. Visit Dunadd Fort the ancient capital of Scotland then
known as Dalriada. Continue to Oban spending time in Kilmartin Glen
experiencing the Neolithic and Bronze Age chambered and round carins, stone
circles and rock carvings. Overnight Oban area.
Day 3: Trossachs
Depart Oban passing through the Brander Pass travel through the beautiful and
mysterious Rannoch Moor and into the heart of the Trossachs, known as the
“gateway to the Highlands”. Follow the banks of Loch Lomond and then travel
onto Stirling. Finish with a visit to Stirling Castle, which has played such an
important role in much of Scotland’s vibrant history. Continue to Edinburgh.
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