We were scheduled on to the Citylink service bus number 926, leaving Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow City Centre at 9am one bright morning and due to arrive in Campbeltown roughly four and a half hours later. The 1st hour or so of the journey was thru terribly familiar territory to me, with small of relevance to see, but when we left the city of Dumbarton behind and approached the banks of Loch Lomond, though I was still on familiar ground, the views seriously improved and that was time to put the paper away and watch the world go by.

As the weather was so fair, we shortly saw the waters of Loch Lomond sparkling thru the trees to our right and spanned the banks of the famous loch for some miles, before leaving it at Tarbet and seeing the sea for the 1st time in the shape of the sea loch that’s Loch Long. This road then took us towards, up and over the “Rest and be Thankful,” where the gradient is so steep at certain points of the road, my ears really “pop” more frequently than not, as in an aeroplane climbing to altitude. The views here is completely different in that it is essentially rough and desolate, if just as incredible in its own special way. One can nearly imagine the prehistoric glaciers carving the form of the land for millennia yet to come.

Approaching sea level again, we will be able to see Scotland’s biggest sea loch, Loch Fyne, in the distance. Passing the hamlet of Cairndow, we round the head of the loch, where sits the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, a seafood lover’s heaven. There’s both a store and restaurant here but be aware that costs aren’t the least expensive in the world and the restaurant frequently needs to be scheduled ahead. The freshness and quality of the produce cannot ever be called in to query. The Oyster Bar also sells game, a selection of meats and lots more besides what’s its traditional fayre.

Inveraray is where the bus stops to permit a short comfort break of almost 20 mins for the driver and passengers alike. It is feasible to disembark and take a short wander, smoke a cig, or simply admire the phenomenal perspectives. This small city is one of my favorite places on Earth and I’d suggest to any person that they include it on their list of “places to see before you die.” The stunning views, the superb castle that’s home to the Duke of Argyll, the friendly folk in the hostels, shops and bars – all combine to make Inveraray a fabulous place to spend a couple of days or more. Setting off again, we follow Loch Fyne for the main part, passing through a multitude of tiny towns and hamlets, all of the while enjoying consistently impressive perspectives till we reach the city of Lochgilphead. This isn’t my favorite part of Argyll but we shortly pass on by, thru Ardrishaig, and head towards the decorative little place that’s Tarbert (note the extra “r” which distinguishes it from a prior port of call) This is where we curve away from Loch Fyne and approach the West Loch, shortly reaching the ferry terminal of Kennacraig, where the ferry departs 2 or 3 times per day – timed to coincide so far as possible with our bus – for the superbly attractive Isle of Islay, likely the malt whisky capital of Scotland and indeed the planet. We are now homing in on Campbeltown and should make the best of what there remains to see before reaching our last destination.

There’s virtually a feeling of dissatisfaction when our journey ends, but aside from the activities we are booked to enjoy during our stay, there’s also the return journey to anticipate.

Britain can be a dear place for visitors from Europe or America and so it is vital to try to find excellent value accommodation during your stay. There are loads of hotels around Scotland with the Scottish Youth Hotel organisation being the largest hotel chain in the country. For folk who haven’t stayed in a hotel before they’re going to find the accommodation basic but appropriate for a place to remain. The standard hotel will have dorm rooms with 4-12 beds in each room and typically have linen supplied. Depending on the standard of hotel some also offer some excellent facilities like Net access or free breakfast.

The rates for a hotel are easily the least expensive for accommodation with costs goes from £8-£15 per night. These hotels regularly have town or town centre locations as well making them perfect for seeing the main sights. The majority who stay here have a tendency to be travelling to multiple destinations often around the planet and this is an ideal place to meet new folks. There also are budget hostels across the country which provide a better standard of accommodation and more privacy. These frequently have basic facilities and aren’t always as central as hotels, usually being found on the edges of main towns. Plenty of the hotels are rated by the Scottish Visitor Board and a 1 or 2 star enterprise have a tendency to be the least expensive options.

You can get a room at one of these hotels for as little as £25-£35 per night. If you do not fancy a hotel then a guest house or bed-and-breakfast could be a better alternative. These regularly offer compact rooms but are often clean and comfy and with central locations. They’re also more private service and can be of a raised standard than budget hostels and hotels.

These are far more acceptable for travelling families or older visitors and some have facilities that equal prime quality hotels, the owners are also typically a good resource for getting tips on local attractions and general info.

The last option for accommodation is a self catering flat, if you’re travelling in a grouping of six or above then these can turn out to be quite inexpensive as the cost of the flat is fixed so the more folk you’ve got the less expensive per individual it is. Another benefit is that you get privacy for your group and also self catering facilities so you do not have to eat out each night, which can save you quite a lot of money also.

Edinburgh – The state’s capital and host of the biggest humanities holiday in the world each Aug. Edinburgh is a varied town full of castles, underground chambers, theaters, churches and very much more. An array of shops, cafeterias, parks and monuments, and museums you have masses of things to keep you interested in the day, and by sundown the town’s colourful nightlife comes alive. Edinburgh is surely a place you wont forget.

Glasgow – Scotland’s biggest town and home to its two biggest football groups. Glasgow has become known for its music scene, where plenty of chart topping bands started their journey. The town has 3 universities, a number of parks, museums and art studio’s, lots to keep you busy.

St. Andrew – Famous for its Old Course, the first ever golfing course in the world. It’s also home to the Varsity of St. Andrews, the oldest school in Scotland with Prince William as one of its graduates. St. Andrews is a tiny town on the coast of Fife, it’s a hot and amicable city and a good illustration of how Scottish folks live.

Loch Ness – a visit to Scotland wouldn’t be comprehensive without attempting to steel a peek of the Loch Ness monster! While Loch Ness has become sort of a visitor spot, it holds some of the loveliest landscapes Scotland has to give.

On top of those smashing destinations you also have many famous Scotch Distillery’s dotted all over the country. If you like a particular make of Scotch, you can go to the distillery it is made.

There are many islands surrounding Scotland, eg the Isle of Arran or Skye which make for a great destination.