Touring the west highlands of Scotland - recommended day tours and trips

Sensational  routes abound, to be enjoyed by car, by motor bike, by cycle.

Here’s a snapshot of our favourites, all easy day trips:

1.  Loch Ness and Inverness, via Urquhart Castel – optional return via Aviemore and Monarch Country.

2. Fort William and Glencoe – Scotland’s greatest and most spectacular glen.

3. Ardnamurchan – cross south of Fort William on the Corran Ferry and explore an outstandingly beautiful area.

4. Oban and Lorn – a wee bit longer but a superb and easy day trip – go via Appin, return via Dalmally and Glencoe.

5. The Road to the Isles, Mallaig and Bonnie Prince Charlie (jacobite) Country – a must do.

6. The Isles of Skye, Rum, Eigg and Muck – an hour from the hotel takes you to ferries and very special day pleasure cruises, with whale watching a feature.

7. The Jacobite Railway (in season) – a glorious steam train journey recently immortalised with Harry potter.

8. The West Highland Line (all year round) – to Oban, to Rannoch, to Glenfinnan Viaduct and Mallaig – one of the world’s greatest railway journeys.

9. Kintail, Lochalsh and Plockton – this is a very spectacular trip via Invergarry past Cluanie to the 5 Sisters, Eilean Donan castle and the beautiful palm tree clad village of Plockton.

10. Laggan and Monarch Country – nice and easy – enjoy all the special atmosphere of the famous TV programme.

11. Cairngorms and Cairngorm National Park – via Monarch County then north to Scotland’s newest (and most controversial) National Park.

12. Pitlochry – again best approached from Monarch Country then south via famous Drumochter Pass, via Blair Castle, Killiecrankie and the House of Bruar.