Best things to do: West Coast Scotland. The west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides with their wild landscapes, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches are increasingly popular destinations for visitors to Scotland. But with hundreds of miles of coastline, moorlands, lochs, valleys and mountains to explore, where are the best places to visit along the west side of Scotland? This article tells you about some of the unmissable places to go and things to do, including some off the usual tourist path.
What could be a more authentic West Coast of Scotland experience than sitting by the harbour eating freshly caught seafood? The Seafood Shack in Ullapool, Scotland, is a must-stop if you want to taste the freshest local seafood. Open daily from 12h to 16h during the tourist season, the menu changes daily depending on the day’s catch. A wide variety of dishes are on offer daily – from simple shellfish platters to hot dishes. Due to their popularity they have now published their own cookbook.
You can’t get much more local and fresh than the food at the Seafood Shack. They source their fish and shellfish from Ullapool-based suppliers and buy directly from local shellfishermen. The harbour setting and views complete the authentic coastal experience. Please note that they operate on a first-come, first-served basis and do not accept bookings or pre-orders.
The Falls of Glomach are one of the highest waterfalls in Britain, plunging an impressive 113 metres (370 feet) down a steep, narrow gorge. The surrounding landscape is wild and rugged, with views that are well worth the effort to reach.
Unlike more easily accessible tourist spots, the falls are located in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands. If you’re up for the challenge and love the idea of exploring one of Scotland’s hidden natural gems, the Falls of Glomach are definitely worth the visit. They are not the easiest to reach but you will be rewarded by a genuine sense of solitude and untouched wilderness.
Visiting the falls involves a reasonably strenuous hike, if starting from the National Trust for Scotland’s Morvich car park. The trek is around 8-12 miles (round trip), depending on your route, and offers a mix of moorland, steep inclines, and river crossings. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a challenge and want to experience the Highlands on foot.
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including red deer, golden eagles, and otters. It’s an excellent spot for nature enthusiasts who want to experience Scotland’s wildlife in its natural habitat.
The dramatic falls and surrounding landscape provide landscape photographers excellent opportunities for stunning shots, particularly after heavy rain when the falls are at their most powerful.
Things to Consider Before You Go
The hike is quite strenuous and unsuitable for beginners or those with mobility issues.
Weather conditions can change rapidly, so it’s essential to be well-prepared with proper gear.
There are no facilities along the route, so carry food, water, and navigation tools.
Canoeing Loch Ailort
The area around Loch Ailort is a little known gem of the West Coast of Scotland. It has a phenomenal beauty and a real sense of wilderness about it.
Loch Ailort is a sheltered saltwater inlet forested in ancient oak and pine woodland. It is surrounded by impressive mountains and views of distant Hebridean islands. The loch itself is very clear and clean, with a wealth of sea life and surrounding wildlife. There are breathtaking views at sunrise and sunset.
If you enjoy outdoor adventures, Loch Ailort provides plenty of opportunities:
There are several scenic walking trails that wind through the surrounding hills and forests with spectacular views over the loch below. The loch is also popular with anglers, fishing for salmon and trout.
Its calm waters are perfect for kayaking, canoing or paddle boarding. Seeing the loch from the water allows you to explore hidden coves that you can’t reach by land and get close to the area’s abundant marine life.
Go on a canoeing and foraging safari with Wildwood Bushcraft.
You will explore the sheltered sea loch by canoe, which means you can access places that are hard to reach from the land. For example, beautiful silver sand beaches, small wooded islands, and a wild rocky peninsula. Your instructor, Leon, is a qualified ecologist who will teach you about this unique environment, the tides and seashore foraging. You’ll collect shellfish and seaweed and cook a simple meal with what you have found on a fire you’ve learnt how to light with sparks.
In addition to these private trips they run a range of survival courses, coastal foraging and longer canoe expeditions on the West Coast.
Loch Ailort is conveniently located on the “Road to the Isles” (A830), which connects Fort William to Mallaig. This famously scenic route passes through some of the most beautiful parts of the Highlands, including the silver sands of Morar and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct (known from the Harry Potter films).
Canna Island is one of the Small Isles in the Inner Hebrides. With a population of less than a 100 and no cars it offers a chance to step out of the hustle and bustle of daily life and into an island landscape with a deep sense of tranquillity.
The island is known as the ‘Garden of the Hebrides,’ due to its fertile soil and lush green meadows. With its dramatic cliffs home to colonies of seabirds and pristine beaches, it’s a top spot for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Explore the island’s scenic walking trails and you’ll be rewarded with a chance to see puffins up close or sea eagles overhead. It is also home to fascinating archaeological sites.
One of Canna’s highlights is its abundant wildlife. The island is home to an array of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, making it a haven for birdwatchers. You are likely to see seals and dolphins along the coastline, and the surrounding waters provide excellent opportunities for kayaking or sailing. The best time to visit to see nesting puffins is between May and July.
History buffs can see the remains of an early Christian cross which dates from between the 7th and 9th centuries. Sadly its arms are missing as a result of target practice with cannonballs from the time of the Napoleonic wars. Or explore the historic Canna House, which holds a vast collection of Gaelic literature and recordings.
Getting to Canna is part of the adventure. The most common way to reach the island is by ferry from Mallaig, which operates regular sailings throughout the year via Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac). The ferry journey takes around two and a half hours and offers stunning views of the surrounding islands and wildlife along the way. You can also arrange private boat charters from nearby islands. Once on Canna, there are no cars, making walking or cycling the only way to explore the island.
It is possible to camp on the island at the Canna Island Campsite. Isebail will come and meet you off the ferry and take your bags to the site, leaving you free to get exploring the island straight away. Whether you’re visiting for a day trip or staying for a few days, Canna Island offers a unique blend of natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage that captures the essence of the Scottish islands and experience the magic of the Hebrides.
Visit the Isle of Jura
It’s been called one of the wildest places in Scotland. Known to many through its production of Jura Single Malt Whisky, the Isle of Jura in the Inner Hebrides has a population of just under 200 people. It is one of the most sparsely populated islands in Scotland, but home to more than 6,000 red deer as well as a population of wild goats. You can see the deer grazing the lower ground of the island in the winter. They head up to the higher ground in the summertime. Visit between late September and October if you want to witness the ‘rut’. Stags of up to 17 stone will lock antlers over their hinds in the mating season, you will hear the sound of their roars echoing around the hills of Jura.
On a more peaceful note, Orwell famously retreated to the seclusion of Jura to write 1984, and if it’s crowds you want to avoid, this could well be the spot for you. There is a regular community run ferry to the island in the summer months, or you could take a boat trip over the Gulf of Corryvreckan to see the angry waters of the Correyvreckan maelstrom, the third largest whirlpool in the world.
Located on a small tidal islet in Loch Laich, near Appin on the west coast of Scotland, Castle Stalker offers a picture-perfect view that feels straight out of a fairy tale. Its stunning backdrop of mountains, lochs, and changing tides makes it one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.
The Castle is set against the dramatic landscape of the west Highlands, offering incredible views over Loch Linnhe and beyond to the peaks of Morvern and Mull. Whether you see it at sunrise, sunset, or in the misty Scottish weather, the Castle and its surroundings create a movie-like scene. The area surrounding Castle Stalker is rich in wildlife, with opportunities to spot seabirds, otters and seals.
Castle Stalker has a fascinating history linked to Scottish clans, battles, and political intrigue. The Castle was originally built in the 14th century by the Clan MacDougall. It then passed into the hands of the Stewart clan and subsequently those of the Campbells, both of which families played significant roles in Scotland’s turbulent past. It’s said that the Castle’s name, “Stalker,” comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning “hunter” or “falconer,” reflecting its past use as a hunting lodge.
Fans of British comedy may recognize Castle Stalker from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where it featured as “Castle Aaaaargh.”
Although Castle Stalker is privately owned, a limited number of guided tours are available by appointment during summer months, providing a rare glimpse into the Castle’s interior. Visitors will learn about its restoration, and hear the fascinating tales of its previous inhabitants.
The Castle can also be viewed from a roadside viewpoint along the A828 between Oban and Fort William, which provides a fantastic vantage point for photography. If you want a closer experience, you can take a boat tour or book a guided visit during the summer.
A relatively short but steep hike to the top of Stac Pollaidh rewards climbers with panoramic views of the Assynt landscape.
The distinctive shape and accessible summit of this means it is a favourite among hillwalkers and photographers seeking far ranging views without an extensive trek.
This iconic mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, located within the Coigach and Assynt region, offers a relatively accessible climb. Unlike some of Scotland’s larger mountains, Stac Pollaidh stands at a modest height of 612 metres (2,008 feet), making a hike to the peak achievable for people of varying fitness levels. You can reach the peak in around 3 hours with a reasonable level of fitness. The final scramble to the top needs decent footing but there’s a circular walk around it if you don’t have a head for heights. The area is rich biodiversity, with chances to spot red deer, golden eagles, and a variety of Highland flora along the way
Stac Pollaidh is known for its distinctive rocky summit ridge, which features dramatic pinnacles and spires that make it one of the most recognizable and photographed peaks in Scotland. From its peak, you’ll be treated to 360-degree views of the surrounding lochs, mountains, and coastline, including the vast wilderness of Assynt, the shimmering waters of Loch Lurgainn, and the distant peaks of Suilven and Canisp.
Exploring Stac Pollaidh provides an introduction to the dramatic geology of the North West Highlands Geopark, an area with some of the oldest rocks in Europe.
The Torridonian sandstone of the mountain’s craggy ridges dates back nearly a billion years, making the hike worthwhile for those interested in Scotland’s ancient geology.
How to Get There
Stac Pollaidh is about 15 miles north of Ullapool, a charming coastal town that serves as a great base for exploring the region. The trailhead starts from a small car park along the A835 road, with well-marked paths leading up the mountain. The round-trip hike takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on how much time you spend enjoying the views.
The Wailing Widow Falls is one of Scotland’s most dramatic and lesser-known waterfalls, hidden away in the remote beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Cascading from Loch na Gainmhich, this impressive waterfall plunges around 50 feet (15 metres) down a sheer rock face into a rocky gorge below. Many of Scotland’s famous waterfalls are framed by greenery and woodland trails but Wailing Widow Falls stands out due to its rugged, almost otherworldly setting. The towering cliffs and exposed rock formations give it a raw, untamed beauty.
There are a few different stories about the origin of the Fall’s name. The most popular local legend that tells of a deer hunter who lost his life after falling from the top of the waterfall. His mother was so overcome with sorrow she threw herself after him. Others say it refers to the sound of the wind howling through the gorge which resembles the sound of a widow’s wail.
How to Get There
Getting to the falls takes a bit of effort, but the destination is worth it. The waterfall is just off the A894 road near Kylesku, just north of Ullapool. There are two main ways to reach the waterfall. Either park at a layby on the roadside and follow a short but steep downhill path to the base of the falls. Or take the upper route from Loch na Gainmhich, which starts from a separate layby and follows a rough, boggy track towards the Loch. From here, you can stand at the very top of the waterfall and watch the water tumble over the edge—an exhilarating sight, especially after heavy rainfall.
Duntrune Castle, located on the north side of Loch Crinan in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, is the oldest continuously occupied Castle on mainland Scotland. Originally constructed in the 12th or 13th century, it was built by the MacDougall clan and later became the seat of the Campbells of Duntroon until 1792. The Castle’s architecture includes a 16th or 17th-century L-plan tower house, added to the original 13th-century enclosure walls. The Castle is a Category B listed building, reflecting its historical and architectural significance.
Perched on a rocky promontory, Duntrune Castle has commanding views over Loch Crinan. The location was once of strategic importance as it oversaw the sea routes from the Western Isles to the central Highlands.
A wealth of fascinating stories and legends are associated with the Castle, particularly those connected to the Clan MacDougall and the Campbell family, who have owned it since the 17th century.
The Legend of the Severed Hand
One of the most famous tales linked to Duntrune Castle is the story of a severed hand. According to legend, during the 17th century, the Castle was under the control of the Campbell clan when a MacDonald spy was sent to gather intelligence for an impending attack by the rival MacDonalds of Islay. The spy was discovered and captured, and to prevent him from signalling his clan, the Campbells allegedly cut off his hand. Some versions of the story suggest that the hand was nailed to the gate as a warning.
Local lore claims that a skeletal hand was found within the castle walls during renovations in the 20th century, lending eerie credence to the legend.
The Ghost of the Piper
Another haunting tale from Duntrune Castle involves a ghostly piper. The story goes that a MacDonald piper was left behind in the Castle to play his bagpipes when the rest of his clan departed, planning to return for a surprise attack. Legend has it that the piper was discovered by the Campbells and put to death. His ghost is reputed to haunt the Castle to this day with people claiming to have heard the sound of his bagpipes echoing through its halls at night.
Duntrune Castle is a private residence but the owners offer short tours by prior appointment and welcome donations to assist with the considerable maintenance of the Castle and gardens. Contact the family by phone or email to arrange a visit.
Eat oysters fresh from Loch Creran, Oban
For a true taste of Scotland order fresh oysters from The Caledonian Oyster Co. near Oban, Argyll. Order by message or text and collect from an honesty box, possibly the freshest oysters you will ever eat. The Caledonian Oyster Co. is an award winning family business, run by Hugo & Judith Vajk. They have been farming oysters for more than twenty years in the clear waters of Loch Creran. If you can’t make it to Oban, they have a stand at Perth Farmers Market on the first Saturday of every month. You can buy some oysters to take home with you or they will shuck them for you and you can eat them there and then.
Calgary Beach, on the northwest coast of the Isle of Mull, is one of the best beaches in the Scottish Hebrides, if not Scotland. Its pristine white sands sweeping around the crystal-clear turquoise waters could be mistaken for the Caribbean and offer a stunning contrast to the rugged hills and lush greenery that frame it. The beach has a tranquil and unspoiled atmosphere, making it an ideal escape for those looking to relax and take in the natural beauty of Scotland’s wild coastline. Calgary Beach provides a sense of serenity and seclusion that is hard to find elsewhere.
The clear waters are good for wild swimming – but it is the Atlantic, so be prepared for cool temperatures!
Wildlife lovers will find plenty to enjoy, with opportunities to spot seals, otters, and occasionally dolphins along the coastline. Beyond its natural beauty, Calgary Beach is rich in history and local charm. The area is home to the Calgary Art in Nature project, a woodland walk featuring sculptures and installations inspired by the surrounding landscape. History enthusiasts will also appreciate the beach’s connection to Calgary in Canada, which is said to have been named after this very spot by a Scottish officer who named it after his hometown.
Camping for tents and small vehicles is allowed at one end of the beach but discouraged everywhere else.
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We hope you are inspired by our choice of the best and less touristy things to do on the West Coast of Scotland. If you are looking for a campervan to hire to explore the West Coast please take a look at our VWs. All our campervans for hire come fully equipped with everything you will need for your road trip in Scotland. Everything is included in the price, including extra sets of bedding if requested.
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