Loch Lomond, Oban and Glen Coe from Cairnryan

Editor's note

Two nights on Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Britain by surface area, with around 60 islands. Climb Conic Hill from Balmaha on the West Highland Way: it sits on the Highland Boundary Fault, and from the top the islands run away south-west along the same line. Take the mail boat out to Inchcailloch, the wooded island nature reserve, or kayak there from Balmaha, and paddle on to Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles. Back on land, walk the shore path along the loch from the boatyard.

Editor's note

One night at Inveraray, the Loch Fyne town of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell. Tour their Gothic Revival castle, then the courtroom and cells of Inveraray Jail, and climb Dun na Cuaiche above the town to the watchtower for the view over the loch. At the head of Loch Fyne, the longest sea loch in Scotland, walk the Ardkinglas Woodland Garden near Cairndow, open all year, and find the Grand Fir, one of the tallest trees in Britain. The Loch Fyne oyster business grew from the same estate; eat oysters there.

Editor's note

Two nights at Oban. Climb to McCaig's Tower, the unfinished Colosseum-shaped folly begun in 1897, for the view over the harbour to Kerrera and Mull, and tour Oban Distillery, working since 1794. Cross to Kerrera and walk to Gylen Castle, the MacDougall tower house of 1582. Another day, cross the Clachan Bridge of 1792, the Bridge over the Atlantic, to Seil, and kayak across Easdale Sound to Easdale, where the great storm of 1850 flooded most of the quarries. Walk its old slate workers' cottages; the flooded pits hold the World Stone Skimming Championships each September.

Editor's note

Two nights in Glen Coe, a glacial trench cut through the remains of a supervolcano. Stop at the Three Sisters viewpoint on the A82, then walk between them into the Lost Valley, Coire Gabhail, with the Aonach Eagach wall across the glen. In the woods, Signal Rock is traditionally where the signal was given on 13 February 1692, when government soldiers killed an estimated 30 of their MacDonald hosts. On the other day, follow the West Highland Way across Rannoch Moor, look up at Buachaille Etive Mòr, and climb the Devil's Staircase, 550m, over to Kinlochleven.

Editor's note

One night at Stirling. James V made the castle on its rock the first Renaissance palace in the British Isles in the 1530s and 1540s; see the Great Hall of 1503, the Chapel Royal of 1594 and the restored Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries. On Abbey Craig across the valley, climb the 246 steps of the Wallace Monument to the top of its 67m tower and see the Wallace Sword. South of the town, Robert the Bruce beat Edward II at Bannockburn on 23–24 June 1314; the visitor centre stands on the site, with Pilkington Jackson's statue of Bruce.

Editor's note

One last night at Alloway before the crossing home. Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in the cottage his father, William Burnes, built here; go through it, then the Birthplace Museum, rebuilt in 2009, with more than 5,000 Burns artefacts including original manuscripts. The Burns Monument of 1823 stands in gardens beside the Doon. Finish where Tam o' Shanter does, at Alloway Auld Kirk and over the Brig o' Doon.