Highlands Road Trip: Glencoe

A Scenic Drive Through Glencoe and The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

It was our next-to-last full day of our 10-day road trip through the Scottish Highlands. With GPS navigation set and a list of stops that we wanted to make, we set out from the Ballachulich Hotel on Loch Linnhe following the A82.

An overview of our complete 10-Day Scottish Highlands Road Trip itinerary can be found here.

Glencoe is a playground for the outdoorsy type. Throughout the area, we saw many hikers and backpackers enjoying the trails and points-of-interest. Since we had already done a fair amount of hiking on the Isle of Skye, we decided to focus more on the points-of-interest and the spectacular drive through Glencoe itself.

Above photos: Glencoe

Driving through Glencoe and looking up at the rugged mountain peaks will take your breath away. We pulled over several times just to gaze towards the clouds hovering over the mountains. While I enjoyed seeing photos of this area before our trip, it is really quite different to be there and in the midst of the landscape. There is a sense of scale that is truly humbling.

Above photos: Glencoe

Just a short 15 minutes from our hotel, we had already arrived at the Meeting of the Three Waters, located at the foot of the Three Sisters (a popular hiking spot). This series of waterfalls is right by the road — no hiking invovled! We pulled into the parking area and got out to view the falls.

Above photos: The Meeting of the Three Waters

Just a few minutes past Rannoch Moor (unfortunately, did not take any photos), we stopped again for the Tulla Loch Viewpoint. The landscape starts to open up a bit as you drive east. The Old Scots pine woods are to the southwest and west of the loch. The A82 takes you around the loch so you can appreciate it from other angles as you continue to drive.

Above photos: Tulla Loch Viewpoint

The next stopping point for us was the Bridge of Orchy. This bridge was built by British Army during the pacification of the Highland Clans following the Battle of Culloden. Actually, they built a bunch of roads and bridges during this period to move their troops and maintain control. In doing so, they also transformed the Highlands. So, ya, it’s pretty old. I have to say, the history of some of these places left me gobsmacked.

Above photos: The Bridge of Orchy and views of the River Orchy

The Falls of Falloch was next. This hidden gem waterfall is tucked in a little farther and requires a short walk from the car park. The trail is very pretty and not a single other soul was in sight. Along the way, you can hear the strong currents and water rushing over rocks below. When you make it to the 30 ft. waterfall, it is a sight to behold. It did not look like a place that was safe to swim or test your luck. So, I stayed back at a distance from the edge of the trail.

Above photos: The Falls of Falloch

Our southerly drive on the A82 followed the shoreline of Loch Lomond through The Trossachs National Park. This is a nice drive, but there aren’t any good places to stop for lunch. Our car snacks kept us going until we reached a cafe near the south tip of the loch.

Above photo: Loch Lomond

As we made our way out of The Trossachs, I was absolutely determined to find Devil’s Pulpit, also known as Finnich Glen. The glen is a steep, steep gorge with sandstone sides. The land is privately owned, but accessible to visitors. There are no road signs to the glen, so you’ll need to rely on your GPS or printed maps. The key access point is just past the bridge on the A809 (near the intersection with B834). There is an opening in the wall you can step through and then walk along the path until you reach the stairs.

Above photos: Break in the wall (left) and Stairs (right) at Finnich Glen

I had heard that the stairs and walk through the water (yes, you will get wet) were dangerous. They are. But, if you take your time and use caution, it is very do-able. The water was thigh-level (for me) at its deepest and very cold. There were a few other people around, which was really for the best. I wouldn’t want to explore it on my own due to the fragility and risks of the environment.

I loved this place! It is like no other place I’ve ever been. Very other-worldly. The water appears to have a red hue as it pours over the sandstone. There is a small waterfall and everything is covered in bright green moss. It was just hard to believe that a place this beautiful was for real.

Above photos: The Devil’s Pulpit (Finnich Glen)

And that wrapped up our day drive through the gorgeous vacationland of Glencoe and The Trossachs. We had a 35-40 minute drive to Stirling where we would have dinner and spend the night. More on Stirling and our final full day in Scotland in my next post!

To continue to Day 10: Stirling and West Edinburgh, click here.