Bridge of Orchy

This village dates to 1751, but today it's loaded with walkers stopping for the night on their West Highland Way journey. Small hotels dot the landscape around here with quaint bars and lodging.

Loch Fyne

Loch Fyne Oysters and Inveraray Castle are both on the shore of Scotland's longest sea loch. The castle has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century, and the current duke and his family still reside there to run the family business. Certainly they got a boost from the folks at Downton Abbey when they traveled north to visit their Scottish relatives!

Garrison of Inversnaid

About a mile up from the trail, we stayed at a remote farmhouse originally built in 1719 by the Duke of Montrose. It housed English soldiers to fight the Jacobite rising and the infamous Rob Roy MacGregor whose deeds were later turned into folk legend by Sir Walter Scott. The farm was expertly rebuilt from an old sheeping station by a delightful couple who introduced us to all their friends: two Highlander hiefers, a boar and sow, and four little pigs, sheep and their ewes, the pet Canada goose, a cranky rooster, and various free range hens with the run of the place. The West Highland Way proceeds north along a bucolic stretch beside Loch Lomond. 

Ben Lomond 974m (3,195 ft)

Outside Rowardennan by the West Highland Way is one of the 282 "Munros" in Scotland (the name they call mountains higher than 3,000 ft). Nice day hike overlooking N Loch Lomond, esp when weather cooperates.

Stirling Castle and Scotland's Brave Hearts

Scotland's brave hearts at the entrance to the Highlands. The statue is Robert the Bruce, King of Scots.  In early 1300s, he was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, and eventually led Scotland during the 1st war of independence against England. The monument behind him is dedicated to William Wallace, a knight who won a key battle at Stirling Bridge but was captured by the British and charged with treason in Westminster Hall. (The movie, Braveheart, depicts Mel Gibson's version of Wallace. Many inaccuracies but it does depict the complicated loyalties between the Scottish peoples, their clans and nobles, and the eventual fight for independence from the English crown.)