Greenoch, the port for Glasgow, is near the mouth of the River Clyde estuary. Greenoch is an old port town and during the 1800/1900s was a hive of shipping activity acting as the import/export hub for the industrial city of Glasgow. Today it is a lot quieter.

We have been to Glasgow city in the past and so have decided to head out into the nearby coastal Highlands and the sea lochs that are scattered along the coast.

The first stop was at Loch Lomond, in the small village of Luss. It was early, just before 9am and none of the handful of shops were open. The Loch is Scotland’s largest fresh water loch by surface area. The overcast sky made for a sombre atmosphere as we raised the Scottish flag at the water’s edge.

Our enthusiastic kilt wearing guide is a German chap, an honorary Scotsman having migrated to the UK thirty years ago. He leads us on a short walk around the village and waterside trails.

Luss would make a good base for a few days to explore this part of the Highlands!

We then headed off into the Highlands on the way to Inveraray, situated on a sea loch down the other side. We stopped along the way for a view down the glen we had travelled up and the tarn that was nestled beneath a mountain on the way towards Inveraray.

We stopped in Inveraray for a look around the town and to have lunch together in a small restaurant up a lane way.

The town was quite compact and clearly geared to the tourist. A big old hotel looks out over the loch, nice spot to stay for a couple of days!

It was then on for a tour of Inveraray Castle, the local digs of the 13th Duke of Argyle. He is also the top dog of Clan Campbell and is the keeper of the clan quaich. Together with his wife and three kids they live from time to time in a private section of the castle.

The public rooms are all decked out with period furniture and numerous paintings of the line of dukes and others. The armoury room quite impressive with its display of weapons. The Campbells were a very politically important clan in Scotland. They were careful to be on the right side of any conflicts and were handsomely rewarded with land and titles by kings for their input!

There was time to wander around the Castle’s gardens before heading back to Greenoch. We returned a different way along the coast and around a series of headlands and sea lochs, great views. Caught a ferry across the Clyde to reach the ship at the dock.

There is now a day at sea ahead of us as we work our way back down the Irish Sea to Cork in Ireland.