Glencoe and Ballachulish (part of Lochaber) have excellent visitor amenities which offer outstanding leisure activities and warm hospitality. Our self catering Studios are ideally situated to take advantage of the fabulous local attractions and activities run by the National Trust for Scotland, and also for those wanting a base to venture a little further afield and enjoy the wonders of the west highlands of Scotland.
Spend the day on a Land Rover safari or learn the art of landscape photography, capturing the drama and grandeur of Glencoe. Many walks and hikes for all experience levels are within easy reach, and the vistas Glencoe scenery reveals is breathtaking.
Glencoe is a great place for mountain biking and has many ranges of biking possibilities for all age groups and abilities. Cycle paths alongside many roads help give a relaxed ride if you are exploring more leisurely.
There is a 9 hole golf course (Woodlands) just 2 miles away, which also offers activity experiences to please everyone of all ages. For the more adventurous, try kayaking on beautiful Loch Leven and environs, with nearby canyoning and white water rafting.
The Studios are just a 15 minute walk to the local pub, the public bar at the Loch Leven Hotel; great for meeting locals and tourists alike and the staff offer a warm welcome. Their evening meals are first class and truly delicious, or just enjoy a drink in the quaint bar, perhaps tasting the vast variety of whisky and gins on offer.
The hotel premises also has a craft gin and rum distillery on site with its own Gin School where you can book a session to learn from experts, concoct your own personal gin to your own taste, and take it home with you – great fun!
Several other local hostelries are easily reached and often have musical entertainment – traditional or more modern – to add local colour, and are a pleasant way to spend your evenings.
7 miles drive along the shore of Loch Leven takes you to Kinlochleven which has the country’s largest Ice Climbing Wall along with a great bar-bistro , mountaineering shop and cafe. The Ice Factor has won a few tourism awards and is well worth a visit, even if you are not climbers.
Lochleven Seafood cafe and shop is on the way to Kinlochleven, with award winning seafood freshly caught locally and transformed into wonderful dishes to temp the most discerning palate. It also boasts an extended coffee shop/cafe seating area – outside too – just the thing for a leisurely lunch or afternoon teas with home baking. There are also many delightful cafes, bistros and restaurants in the local area to tempt all palates.
12 miles north of the Studios is Fort William, the largest town in the West Highlands and “the outdoor capital of the UK” with the highest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. The town played an important part throughout Scotland’s history, and is still a popular ferry port as well as having local shops, eating places, amenities and many nearby attractions, including the newly built and opened Highland Cinema and Cafe and the Ben Nevis Distillery
5 miles north of Fort William is the Nevis range. The Aonach Mor Gondola is a ‘cable car’ ideal for those not keen on serious climbing, and will take you 2150 ft up Aonach Mor to enjoy fantastic views all the way to the islands off the west coast. You can take an easy walk to the viewpoint, and then relax in the cafe restaurant before heading back down to the base.
Mallaig is an active fishing harbour at the end of the road to the isles, one and a half hours drive from the Studios. Ferries arrive and leave regularly and offer day trips to many of the islands including Skye. Instead of driving to Mallaig, you might choose to ride the historic Jacobite steam train there from Fort William – more famously known as the Harry Potter train – even going over the beautiful Glenfinnan Viaduct just like in the films!
Further north, driving up by the shores of Loch Ness (watch out for ‘Nessie’!) is Inverness, and beyond to the beautiful Black Isle.
A popular day trip is to Oban, 31 miles south. Visit McCaig’s Tower, Oban whiskey distillery and the chocolate shop, stroll around the harbour and sample fresh seafood in comfortable restaurants. Many ferries to the western isles also depart from here.
On your way to Oban the road passes many attractions – you can stop in a delightful cafe to admire the vista of the historic Castle Stalker, a local Pottery where you can watch the items being thrown before browsing the shop, Poppies gorgeous garden centre and lochside cafe, and lots more.
Why not also visit Dunstaffnage Marina, historic 13th century Dunstaffnage castle and chapel, and a beautiful sandy beach at Ganavan Sands in the Oban locality.