Heading to Shetland? Why Not Make a Road Trip of It!

Nov 6

7 min read

This October, John, Francine and I packed our bags and headed off for a lovely family holiday on the mainland. We were joined by my mum, my sister and, of course, our beautiful dog Mora.

We based ourselves in a fabulous cottage in Lochearnhead, right beside the loch, and spent our days exploring some of Scotland's beautiful scenery, visiting old favourites and discovering a few new places along the way.

It was wonderful having everyone together, making memories and enjoying some quality family time. We certainly packed a lot into our break

The trip also reminded that there are so many lovely spots worth stopping at on your journey to Shetland rather than simply travelling straight through.

So, I thought I'd share a few of our adventures and hopefully give you some inspiration for places you might like to explore on your own journey north. Who knows, you might even discover a new favourite.

The Falls of Dochart

We started with the beautiful Falls of Dochart in Killin. What a sight! Watching the water rush over the rocks is mesmerising, and it's easy to spend a little time just taking it all in.

While we were there, we treated ourselves to some delicious hot and cold smoked salmon at The Falls of Dochart Inn and Smokehouse. Both were absolutely delicious. It was particularly interesting for John and me to try them and compare the flavours with our own Shetland salmon. It's always nice to sample something a little different.

Killin is a lovely place to stretch your legs, enjoy the scenery and perhaps treat yourself to something delicious before continuing your journey.

Glencoe and the Three Sisters

Glencoe was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We headed off to see the famous Three Sisters, and what an incredible sight they are. The mountains are magnificent, and we spent time admiring the views, taking plenty of photographs and enjoying the spectacular landscape.

During this part of our journey, we also came across Hagrid's Viewpoint, a popular spot with Harry Potter fans. We'd never seen it before, and it was fantastic to visit. The walk to it was quite muddy, though, and we nearly fell over several times! 😁 It really was funny seeing us all wobbling around in the mud.

We also made our way along the famous Skyfall road at Glen Etive. John and I had been there before, but it was the first time for my mum and sister, so it was lovely to share the experience with them. We even got to show them the famous waterfall featured in the James Bond film. We love visiting filming locations and, when travelling on the cruise ships, would often seek them out in whatever country we happened to be visiting.

Feeling a bit hungry, we decided to stop at the Glencoe Visitor Centre for some lunch. I hadn't been there for a few years, so it was lovely to return and see how things had changed. There were lots of interesting and informative displays, and I really enjoyed having another look around and a hot cup of tea.

Scotland really is beautiful, and Glencoe is somewhere that deserves a little time. With its magnificent mountains, famous viewpoints and wonderful scenery, it's a place I'd definitely recommend exploring rather than simply driving through.

Glengoyne Distillery – A Little Bit of Still Game!

Next on our travels was Glengoyne Distillery, which was particularly interesting for John and me, as we love the Scottish comedy Still Game.

The distillery featured in the hilarious Series 5, Episode 1, titled "Drama", when Jack and Victor won a whisky distillery outing. If you've never watched it, I would definitely recommend giving it a go. In fact, the whole series is absolutely hilarious and well worth watching.

Of course, we couldn't visit a whisky distillery without sampling a few drams. Luckily for me, John was the designated driver for the day, so he got to enjoy his couple of drams when we returned to Lochearnhead. We really enjoyed our visit and, naturally, managed to leave with a few bottles tucked under our arms. A fantastic stop and a bit of fun.

When you arrive in Shetland, you can continue your whisky adventure with our very own Lerwick Distillery, home to Scotland's most northerly whisky distillery.

Located in the heart of Lerwick, you can discover its story and its journey towards producing the first Single Malt Whisky distilled in Shetland. Why not enjoy one of its whisky tasting experiences too? It's a lovely way to discover a little more about Scotland's whisky heritage, this time with a Shetland twist.

Stirling – The Wallace Monument, Old Town Jail and a Lovely Catch-up

We spent some time exploring Stirling, visiting two of its well-known attractions: the Wallace Monument and Stirling Old Town Jail.

The Wallace Monument is an incredible structure, and learning more about William Wallace and his place in Scottish history was fascinating. We made our way up to the top, where the views were absolutely amazing. Definitely worth the climb.

The Old Town Jail was another interesting visit. It gave us a glimpse into what life was like for prisoners in years gone by, and it certainly wasn't an easy life. The conditions were incredibly harsh, and it was fascinating to learn more about how things used to be.

But the best part of our visit to Stirling was getting the chance to meet up with Heather, one of our team members, who has recently started university there. It was lovely to see her, catch up and hear how she's getting on with this exciting new chapter in her life.

With so much history, beautiful architecture and plenty to explore, Stirling would make a great overnight stop if you have a little extra time before continuing your journey north.

Culloden and Bannockburn – A Bit of Scottish History

While we were away, we also made time to visit Culloden Battlefield and the Battle of Bannockburn.

Culloden, near Inverness, is somewhere John and I have visited three times now during our travels to this part of the mainland. Whenever we're in the area, we always make a point of going back to pay our respects to those who lost their lives in the battle. It's such an important part of Scottish history, and no matter how many times we visit, it remains a very moving and thought-provoking place.

This time, it was my mum's first visit to Culloden. It was lovely to be able to share the experience with her and let her see it for herself. Knowing what happened there in 1746 and thinking about all those who lost their lives makes it quite a sobering experience.

Bannockburn, near Stirling, was another fascinating stop, where we learned more about Robert the Bruce and the famous Scottish victory in 1314.

Both places offer a fascinating insight into Scotland's past and the important events that helped shape its history. They're certainly worth including if you enjoy discovering more about the stories behind the places you visit.

Nairn Beach – A Special Day for Mora!

A change from all the mountains and lochs was Nairn Beach. It's a gorgeous stretch of sandy coastline, with plenty of fresh sea air and lovely coastal views.

Mora absolutely loves it there. She had the best time running along the sand, exploring and enjoying all that lovely open space. I honestly think she was having just as good a holiday as the rest of us.

There's nothing better than seeing your dog having the time of her life, and I'm pretty sure this was one of Mora's favourite days of the whole holiday. ❤️

If you're travelling with your four-legged friend, Nairn Beach is a lovely place to stop and let them enjoy some freedom after a few hours on the road.

Loch Lomond

No trip to the mainland would feel complete without a visit to Loch Lomond.

We spent some time enjoying the beautiful surroundings and taking in the incredible views. It's easy to see why Loch Lomond is such a popular destination. The scenery is stunning, and it's one of those places you could visit time and time again.

Next time, perhaps we'll take the boat trip 😁

Back to Our Little Cottage in Lochearnhead

After all our days out, it was always great to return to our cottage in Lochearnhead. It was lovely to get back, put our feet up, relax and spend some time together after all the travelling and exploring.

Looking back, I'm not quite sure how we managed to fit so much into one holiday. From delicious smoked salmon at the Falls of Dochart to the magnificent mountains of Glencoe, whisky at Glengoyne, beautiful beaches, famous filming locations and some fascinating history, we certainly made the most of our time away.

But when I think about the holiday, it's not just the places we visited that stand out. It's having everyone together, the laughs, the lovely meals, the little unexpected moments and simply enjoying some quality family time.

It was so great catching up with Heather and seeing how she's getting on, and of course, watching Mora enjoy every minute of her own little adventure.

We certainly made some wonderful memories, and I'm so glad we all had the opportunity to enjoy this time away together.

So, if you're planning a trip up to Shetland, why not make the journey part of the adventure? Whether you're travelling by car, motorhome or with your family and four-legged friends, Scotland has so much to offer along the way. Depending on your route, you could discover some wonderful places before you even reach your destination.

And once you've made it here, we'd love you to pop into No88. Come and say hello, tell us about your journey and share some of the places you've discovered along the way. We'd love to hear all about your adventures.

After all, the holiday doesn't just begin when you reach your destination. Sometimes, the journey there is just as special. ❤️