Scotland is well suited to short journeys. Within a few hours you can travel from a major city to island ferries, coastal villages or remote Highland communities.
Many new visitors begin with day trips in Scotland from Glasgow and Edinburgh, making a beeline for the likes of Inverness and famed Highland stops, but some of the most rewarding routes lie further west. The coastline around Oban and the wider Argyll region opens access to islands, historic glens and quiet stretches of coast that usually get missed on faster itineraries.
With that in mind, this guide focuses on west coast routes that work well from both Glasgow and Oban, highlighting places that are easy to reach in a day but still feel a long way from the city. We’ve tried to include a mix of well-known destinations and lesser-known locations worth discovering along the way.
Why the West Coast works so well for day trips
The west coast of Scotland is particularly well suited to day trips because so much variety sits within a relatively small area.
While famous destinations like Skye often dominate travel itineraries, it’s a much longer drive. Much of Scotland’s west coast remains quieter and easier to explore at a relaxed pace. For example, for visitors beginning their journey in Glasgow, the road west quickly moves out of the city suburbs and into Highland scenery before reaching the coastal towns of Argyll.
Oban sits at the centre of many of these routes. Ferries leave the harbour for nearby islands such as Mull and Lismore, while inland roads lead towards historic sites like Kilmartin Glen and the long freshwater stretch of Loch Awe.
One of this area’s advantages is that many places remain relatively uncrowded compared with better known destinations in the Highlands. Smaller islands, coastal gardens and archaeological sites can often be explored with smaller crowds and (on some occasions during low season) sometimes completely by yourself!
Day trips from Glasgow to Scotland’s West Coast
For a lot of visitors, Glasgow is the starting point for exploring western Scotland. Winding up through the Trossachs, the city sits relatively close to the Highland boundary, which means it takes surprisingly little time to reach quieter lochs and mountains.
Several routes from the city naturally lead towards Argyll and the Atlantic coast, making them ideal day trips from Glasgow Scotland if you want to experience the west coast without committing to a longer road trip.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
One of the simplest journeys from Glasgow is the drive north to Loch Lomond. The southern end of the loch can be reached in around just 40-minutes, making it a really popular outdoor escape for both visitors and locals.
If you’re hoping to stop by somewhere with easy access to the loch shoreline, villages such as Luss and Balmaha are ideal, while the eastern side of the national park leads deeper into the wooded landscapes of the Trossachs.
Inveraray and Loch Fyne
Continuing onward and west through the Arrochar Alps leads to one of the most scenic drives in the region. The road follows the edge of Loch Fyne before reaching the small town of Inveraray.
Inveraray is known for its waterfront setting and the impressive Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll. The town also makes a convenient stopping point on the way towards Oban (it’s one of two routes you can take after passing through the Trossachs), with several viewpoints along the lochside road that are worth pausing for.
Oban, the Gateway to the Isles
A little further up the coast lies Oban, one of the most important harbour towns on Scotland’s west coast. The town sits beside the Firth of Lorn and acts as the departure point for ferries to many of the Inner Hebridean islands. Boats depart regularly from the harbour to nearby islands including Mull, Coll and Tiree.
For us (and many who visit it), Oban offers a change in atmosphere. Fishing boats line the harbour, seafood restaurants overlook the water, and coastal views stretch towards the Hebridean islands.
Although Oban works as a day trip from Glasgow, many travellers quickly realise that the surrounding Argyll region offers enough to fill several days of exploration.
Glencoe
We’ll be surprised if this one isn’t already on your radar! For travellers willing to drive a little further, Glencoe is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland – towering mountains and steep ridges carved by ancient glaciers.
The drive itself is part of the experience, and several short walking routes and roadside viewpoints make it possible to experience the scenery without needing a full day of hiking. If you have the time, be sure to swing down Glen Etive (clearly signposted as you drive through Glencoe). The road through its valley is most famous for being the filming location for Skyfall, but it’s also a great place to spot deer and finish the road with a packed lunch at Loch Etive.
Day trips from Oban and the Argyll Coast
Oban is one of the most convenient bases for exploring Scotland’s west coast. The harbour connects to several Inner Hebridean islands, while the surrounding Argyll mainland is full of stops for those with an interest in history, quiet beaches, and coastal villages.
For travellers looking for day trips from Oban Scotland, the variety of places nearby makes it possible to experience islands, incredible archaeological sites and coastal scenery without long journeys.
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull is the most popular island excursion from Oban. Ferries cross the Sound of Mull in around 50 minutes and arrive in the colourful harbour town of Tobermory. Its famous rainbow-colored houses, harbour, and surrounding areas were used to create the fictional setting of the BBC’s Balamory (you might have heard that the show was revived in April 2026 after a 20 year pause.)
From there, visitors can explore much of the island by car. Coastal roads lead past cliffs and stunning beaches, while inland areas open onto wide moorland. Mull is also one of the better places in Scotland for wildlife watching, with sea eagles, otters and dolphins occasionally seen along the coast.
Duart Castle, standing on a rocky headland overlooking the sea, is one of the island’s best-known historic landmarks, while a boat trip to neighbouring Iona takes only 10 minutes. While the ferry runs frequently throughout the day (every 30–60 minutes), you might find this particular activity is best suited to an overnight stay in Mull (rather than a short day trip.)
Isle of Seil and the Slate Islands
One of our favourites (especially for those who want to see islands but are short on time). About 30 minutes south of Oban, the Isle of Seil is connected to the mainland by the small stone bridge known locally as the Bridge over the Atlantic.
Seil itself is quiet and sparsely populated, but it provides access to the Slate Islands, a group of small islands once known for their slate quarries. Easdale Island is the easiest to reach, accessed by a short passenger ferry from the village of Ellenabeich. The ferry is a small passenger one that takes just a few moments to cross.
Flooded slate quarries here have created distinctive pools across the island, and with its little white houses, wheelbarrow transportation, and quirky island decorations, it’s incredibly charming.
Read our full blog: Easdale Island Ferry Guide and Day Trip Itinerary
Arduaine Gardens and Loch Melfort Hotel
Arduaine Garden sits about 20 miles south of Oban on the coastal road towards Kilmelford. A National Trust of Scotland garden overlooking the Firth of Lorn, the setting feels quite different from the surrounding Highland landscape, partly because the coastline here benefits from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream.
This mild climate allows a wide variety of unusual plants to grow successfully, including large rhododendrons, magnolias and species that would struggle further inland. The garden is arranged as a series of woodland paths, one of which leads uphill towards a wonderful viewpoint across the sea.
These gardens sit at the end of Loch Melfort Hotel’s path. Most visitors combine a walk through Arduaine Garden with lunch or coffee on the hotel’s outdoor deck, where the views stretch uninterrupted across the waters. For families travelling along the Argyll coast, the hotel also has a small play park, three resident Highland cows, and a pair of greedy goats.
Kilmartin Glen
About an hour south of Oban lies Kilmartin Glen, one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Scotland. The valley contains hundreds of prehistoric monuments including standing stones, burial cairns and ancient rock carvings. Many of these sites can be reached by short walks through open farmland, allowing visitors to experience thousands of years of history in a single afternoon.
Despite its historical significance, Kilmartin Glen remains surprisingly quiet compared with more famous Highland locations.
Our favourite stop in this area is the Kilmartin Museum, which showcases artifacts detailing local life over the last 12,000 years, including prehistoric pottery, Bronze Age weapons, and carved stone crosses. The renovated space features modern, interactive displays, including digital maps of the surrounding historical sites, and the site includes a café, gift shop, and reference library. For families with children, the museum makes for a great pit stop, with lots of kid-friendly exhibits (alongside activity sheets for them to complete during their circuit around the displays.)
Hidden places to explore in Argyll
As we previously noted, beyond the ‘better-known’ destinations around Oban, much of Argyll remains relatively quiet compared with other parts of the Highlands. A short drive in almost any direction opens visitors up to viewpoints, stories, cafes, and castles that are often missed from general Scotland travel guides. These places work particularly well as half day/day trips from Oban:
Port Appin and Castle Stalker
Around 19 miles north of Oban, the small village of Port Appin sits along a sheltered stretch of coastline overlooking the island of Lismore. The drive takes around 35 minutes and tightly follows the scenic coastal road past Loch Creran.
Just offshore stands Castle Stalker, a tower house rising from a small tidal island. Built in the 14th century, the castle once belonged to the Stewarts of Appin and remains one of the most photographed landmarks on Scotland’s west coast. Movie lovers might recognise it from the 70’s film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Kilchurn Castle and Loch Awe
Kilchurn Castle stands at the northeastern end of Loch Awe, Scotland’s longest freshwater loch. The ruined fortress was built in the 15th century by Clan Campbell and once guarded an important route through the Highlands.
About 22 miles east of Oban, the road past Loch Awe is particularly dramatic in the early morning or late evening, with mists often drifting across the water. We’d recommend combining this visit with a stop at the beautiful St Conan’s Kirk, and (especially on a rainy day) the Cruachan Dam Visitor Centre – where you can go inside a power station affectionately known as the ‘Hollow Mountain.’
Ardnamurchan Peninsula
For travellers willing to venture further, the Ardnamurchan Peninsula offers one of the most remote landscapes on mainland Scotland.
Reaching the peninsula from Oban can be done two ways from the mainland: by driving north past Fort William and around the coastline (the longer route) or via the short Corran ferry crossing over Loch Linnhe. From there, a winding single track road leads west through forests and moorland towards sight like the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, Sanna beach, Castle Tioram, and Corrachadh Mòr (famed for being the most westerly point of mainland Scotland/Britain.)
For those planning an island-hopping adventure, the peninsula can also be reached from the Isle of Mull, leaving from one of two ferry points: Fishnish to Lochaline or Tobermory to Kilchoan.
Turning day trips into a weekend in Scotland
Many visitors first arrive in the region on day trips from Glasgow, but the west coast quickly rewards those willing to go at a slower pace. Because of this, the area also works particularly well for weekend trips in Scotland. Travellers can combine island visits and coastal drives without spending most of the trip in the car.
For example, a short weekend itinerary might begin with the drive from Glasgow through Loch Lomond and Glencoe before arriving on the west coast. From there, the following day could include a ferry trip to Mull or a visit to the prehistoric monuments of Kilmartin Glen, both within roughly an hour of Oban.
Another option is to explore the coastal road south of Oban, splitting your stay between Argyll’s history and its islands. On the first day, the journey west can include a stop at Kilmartin Museum and time exploring nearby sites in Kilmartin Glen, where standing stones, burial cairns and rock carvings are spread across the valley.
From there, the drive up the coast leads naturally to Loch Melfort Hotel. Guests can check in, walk the grounds, grab a selfie with the Highland cows and settle in for the evening with views across the sea loch from a private balcony or deck.
The second day can then focus on the islands close to Oban. Kerrera is one of the easiest options, reached by a short passenger ferry from Gallanach, just south of Oban. The island is well suited to a slower day out, with walking routes, coastal views and Gylen Castle at its southern end.
Find our full Kerrera blog here: A day trip from Oban to the Island of Kerrera
Gylen Castle on the isle of Kerrera
Planning day trips on Scotland’s West Coast
A few simple tips can make exploring the west coast easier and more enjoyable:
Allow time for scenic stops. Many routes around Oban and the wider Argyll coast pass viewpoints, beaches and historic sites worth pausing to explore.
Check ferry times in advance. Island services from Oban operate frequently but schedules can vary throughout the year. Passenger ferries run regularly from Oban to nearby islands such as Kerrera, while Easdale Island can be reached via the Isle of Seil about 17 miles south of town. Be sure to check ferry lunch times, as the pause often catches people out.
Start early when possible. Popular locations such as Glencoe and Mull tend to be quieter in the morning, particularly during the summer months. Also, remember that a lot of the roads here are small winding routes. While distances may look short on a map (especially for those travelling from large countries), these small roads can add a lot of time to your journey.
And finally, Frequently Asked Questions around Scotland road trips across the West Coast
What are the best day trips from Glasgow in Scotland?
Some of the most popular day trips from Glasgow Scotland include Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the dramatic mountain scenery of Glencoe and the coastal town of Oban. These destinations can all be reached within a few hours of the city and offer very different landscapes, from freshwater lochs to Atlantic coastline.
Is Oban worth visiting on a day trip?
Yes! Oban is one of the most interesting coastal towns on Scotland’s west coast. The harbour is particularly photogenic and offers great tourist attraction such as The Oban Whisky Distillery and McCaig’s Tower. It sits beside the Firth of Lorn and acts as a gateway to several Inner Hebridean islands. While it can be visited on a long day trip from Glasgow, many travellers choose to stay overnight so they can explore nearby islands and sites in Argyll.
Can you visit Scottish islands on a day trip?
Yes, many islands off Scotland’s west coast can easily be visited in a single day. Ferries from Oban reach Mull in under and hour, while Kerrera can be accessed by a short passenger ferry from Gallanach just outside town. Easdale Island can also be visited in a day via the Isle of Seil.
How many days do you need to explore the west coast of Scotland?
Many travellers begin with day trips in Scotland from Glasgow, but (depending on what you want to see and whether you want to include island trips) spending four or five days on the west coast allows time to explore islands, key places of interest, and viewpoints. Basing yourself somewhere along the Argyll coast such as Loch Melfort Hotel makes it easier to combine several nearby destinations into a relaxed itinerary.
