Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban
Loch Lomond, the Rest and Be Thankful, Inveraray on Loch Fyne, prehistoric Kilmartin Glen and the Crinan Canal.
- Distance
- 176 km (109 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 25 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- United Kingdom
- Updated
- June 29, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 176 km (109 mi) with 8 stops, from Glasgow to Oban. About 2 h 25 min of driving in total.
More road trips in United Kingdom
Route description
Leave Glasgow on the A82 along the west shore of Loch Lomond and stop at Luss, a village of stone cottages with a pier and a beach. At Tarbet turn onto the A83 to Arrochar and up Glen Croe to the Rest and Be Thankful pass.
Landslips often close the A83 here; when they do, traffic is escorted along the old military road in the glen, so check Traffic Scotland before setting off. Beyond the pass the road drops to Loch Fyne and follows it round to Inveraray, a white Georgian town beside the castle of the Dukes of Argyll.
Take the A83 south to Lochgilphead and the A816 north to Kilmartin Glen, where burial cairns, standing stones and cup-and-ring carvings lie in the fields. The hill fort of Dunadd, a short climb, was the seat of the early kings of Dál Riata.
Detour to Crinan, where the Crinan Canal meets the sea in a basin full of yachts, then follow the A816 north past sea lochs to Oban. From Oban, ferries leave for Mull and the islands, which makes this a good first leg of a longer west-coast trip.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Glasgow
United Kingdom - 245 km
Luss
United Kingdom - 325 km
Rest and Be Thankful
ViewsArrochar, United KingdomThe top of Glen Croe on the A83, named after a stone seat left by road builders. Landslides sometimes close the road, and traffic is diverted onto the old military road below.
- 417 km
Inveraray
United Kingdom - 51 km
Inveraray Castle
HistoryInveraray, United KingdomThe turreted home of the Dukes of Argyll, beside a Georgian town on Loch Fyne.
- 635 km
Kilmartin Glen
HistoryKilmartin, United KingdomA valley with hundreds of prehistoric monuments: burial cairns, standing stones and rock carvings, most free to visit on foot from roadside parking.
- 78 km
Crinan
United Kingdom - 846 km
Oban
United Kingdom
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Glasgow → Rest and Be Thankful · 69 km · 0 h 57 minOn the way: Luss.Overnight nearby, for example: Beinglas Campsite (14 km); Luss Caravan & Camp Site (19 km).
- Day 2: Rest and Be Thankful → Kilmartin Glen · 53 km · 0 h 44 minOn the way: Inveraray, Inveraray Castle.Overnight nearby, for example: Ardfern Motorhome Park (6 km); Lochgilphead Caravan Park (11 km).
- Day 3: Kilmartin Glen → Oban · 54 km · 0 h 44 minOn the way: Crinan.Overnight nearby, for example: Shieling Holidays (15 km); Oban Holiday Park (4 km).
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban?
3-day road trip of about 176 km (109 mi) with 8 stops, from Glasgow to Oban. About 2 h 25 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 25 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban start and end?
It starts in Glasgow and ends in Oban.
Which countries does Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban pass through?
United Kingdom.
Where can you camp along Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban?
OpenStreetMap lists 60 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Luss Caravan & Camp Site, Cashel Camping & Caravan Park Forest Holidays and Milarrochy Bay Camping And Caravanning Club Site.
When is the best time for Argyll: Loch Lomond to Kilmartin and Oban?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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