Are you looking for a dreamy wee day trip or short scenic break on the west coast? Inveraray is ideal.
From the historic sights and picturesque town design, to the loch-side location and mountain vistas, this small town is irresistibly charming and calming. These are my top things to do in Inveraray, including my go-to places to eat, where to stay, and how to get there by public transport.
Two of my trips to Inveraray have been on paid campaigns with Citylink; many other visits were purely for pleasure.
This post contains affiliate links on which I might make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Inveraray became one of my ‘happy places’ on my very first overnight stay.
By day, I was excited by the pleasant bustle of the town; the day-trippers, pit-stoppers, and tour buses. The real magic for me, however, was spending the night there. That’s when Inveraray stole my heart.
As the day drew to a close, I sat on a bench by the side of the loch. Any noise and traffic were now at a minimum, and the crowds had disappeared on to their next destination.
I was left with the tranquility of the loch and the colours of the sleepy sky.
WHERE IS INVERARAY?
Inveraray belongs to the Argyll region (my favourite) and sits upon the western shores of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch, famous for its oysters.
Inveraray is approx. 66 miles from Glasgow, 32 miles from Luss (Loch Lomond) and 37 miles from Oban.
HOW TO GET TO INVERARAY
Inveraray is a breeze to get to without a car. The town is on two Citylink bus routes from Glasgow; one which continues all the way to Campbeltown and the other heading north to Oban. Not only is Inveraray an easy day trip from the city, it can also feature as part of a longer trip around Argyll and onwards to the islands.
The bus journey itself is a feast for the eyes, tracing the western side of Loch Lomond and venturing into a super-scenic territory; the 803ft ascent up the A83 to the Rest and be Thankful viewpoint is always a highlight.
inveraray by bus
Check out the Citylink bus timetables to view the routes to Inveraray and beyond:
> Glasgow to Campbeltown service 926
Book your tickets online at least 48 hours in advance for cheaper fares and to guarantee a seat on the bus. Both routes can be very busy during spring/summer, particularly the Campbeltown services which connect with the ferries at Kennacraig.
The bus journey times:
> Glasgow – Inveraray: 1 hour, 50 minutes
> Luss (Loch Lomond) – Inveraray: 50 minutes
> Inveraray – Oban: 1 hour, 15 minutes (read my blog about Oban here)
> Inveraray – Lochgilphead: 40 minutes (connect on West Coast Motors services for Mid Argyll)
> Inveraray – Kennacraig: 1 hour, 20 minutes (for the ferry to Islay and Colonsay)
> Inveraray – Tayinloan: 1 hour, 45 minutes (for the ferry to Gigha)
inveraray: WHERE TO STAY
If you fancy a relaxing getaway, or you’re planning to break up your journey to the islands, Inveraray has some lovely accommodation options right in the centre of town. Prices soar during peak season or when availability is low, so always book in advance or consider visiting in the quieter months.
> Inveraray Hostel – the town’s most budget-friendly option with a cosy lounge area, cooking facilities, and private rooms (including a single room for solo travellers).
> The Inveraray Inn – right next to the bus stops, this is the town’s first hotel which opened in 1755. There is a bar & restaurant on-site, cooked breakfast and some rooms have a view of the loch.
> Brambles of Inveraray – beautiful, individually styled rooms and apartments on Inveraray’s main street with fantastic food and locally roasted coffee available across the street.
> The George Hotel – 160 years year old, The George Hotel is in the longest running family hotel in Scotland. Cosy and full of character, from the bar and restaurant to the rooms and suites.
THINGS TO DO IN INVERARAY
Whether you’re looking to tick-off the touristy sites, or simply admire the town and it’s scenic surrounds, Inveraray has enough to fill two leisurely days. If you have less time, don’t worry; it’s a lovely day trip too and a much-loved short stop on route to Kintyre or the Southern Hebrides. These are my favourite things to do in Inveraray.
1) discover Inveraray Castle
Inveraray Castle is the town’s top attraction and an absolute vision of fairytale beauty. The castle is the ancestral home of the Clan Campbell, the Dukes of Argyll, and while there are references to a castle in Inveraray from the 13th century, the current castle wasn’t built until the 1700s.
Its hybrid style – with elements of Baroque, Gothic and Palladian architecture – was sketched by John Vanbrugh, who designed the acclaimed Blenheim Palace. It was William Adam – and fellow Architect Roger Morris – who were responsible for bringing Vanbrugh’s idyllic design to life, though neither of them lived to see it finished.
The Adam Family (cue the theme tune to the Adams Family in your head) were renowned Scottish architects, who were responsible for several well-known structures around the country: Hopetoun House, Duff House and Fort George. It was William’s sons James and Robert who saw the castle through to completion in 1746.
When you step inside to explore the elaborate interior, it’s important to look up as well as around, particularly in the impressive Armory Room; it claims to have the highest ceiling of any residence in Scotland.
I read about the recent Dukes of Argyll, and saw clippings from the 13th Duke’s wedding in Hello Magazine. These personal snippets serve as a wee reminder that the castle and its owners are not something from a fiction storybook. I also enjoyed reading about the resident ghosts.
I mean, it’s not really a Scottish castle if there aren’t any spooky tenants.
Don’t forget to take a wander into the gorgeous gardens for a perfect shot of the castle with the flowerbeds in the foreground.
VISIT Inveraray Castle website for opening times, prices and tickets.
HAVE LUNCH at The Tearoom in the castle; homemade soup, sandwiches, cakes and scones.
2) VISIT INVERARAY JAIL
During the revamp and redesign of the town in the 18th century (to match the shiny new castle), a Court House was opened on the same day as The Inveraray Inn. Decades later, in 1820, a new Court House was built with the addition of a jail.
Inveraray became a centre of trial and retribution, and the judges were far from a lenient bunch. Superstition was rife back then too; 1,500 alleged witches were executed in Scotland during the 16th and 17th century alone. Though torture was abolished in 1708, punishments at Inveraray Jail were still extreme and disproportionate.
Nowadays, Inveraray Jail is an entertaining and slightly unnerving tourism attraction. The Jail has witnessed more than its share of births, deaths, and escapes. There’s a lot of information about specific cases and individuals, and how the prison system was run.
It is really sad to think about the inhumane conditions that prisoners had to injure. Many of the ‘criminals’ were those living in poverty, who had resorted to theft in order to survive.
The attraction was much bigger than expected; I highly recommend using the audio guide and allocating at least an hour and a half to wander around.
Distracted by the commentary, I definitely didn’t walk into the courtroom and jump out of my skin, thinking the mannequins were real people. Absolutely not.
VISIT the Inveraray Jail website for opening hours, tickets, and more about the history.
3) EXPLORE inveraray castle ESTATE
The Inveraray Castle has a beautiful 60,000-acre estate. If you’re staying in the town for more than a day, or you’d prefer to spend your time in the outdoors rather than inside Inveraray Castle or Inveraray Jail, follow this circular route through the castle grounds, around the estate, into the forest and along the River Aray.
This beautiful 6+ mile loop crosses the historic Garden Bridge (Frew’s Bridge), passes a striking white dovecot and a pretty wee structure overlooking a waterfall, built by the Duke to host picnics.
Speaking of picnics, you’d be wise to pick up some takeaway goodies from Brambles or The Tearoom at the castle to enjoy with a view of your choice on the walk.
Wee fact: in Scottish place names, the prefix ‘Inver’ means ‘at the mouth of the river’; Inveraray is at the mouth of the River Aray.
4) TAKE A HIKE UP Dun na Cuaiche
For the best views of Inveraray and Loch Fyne, get your walking shoes on and head up Dun na Cuaiche.
The trail begins within the grounds of Inveraray Castle, where you cross the picturesque Garden Bridge, before the ascent through the forest, past an old lime kiln, and upwards. The walk is quite steep in parts and while the hill looks rather high from the town, it doesn’t take as long as you think; approx. 1 hour to reach the top.
When you get there, you’re greeted by the 1758 tower structure which can be seen from the town centre. Like the castle, it was designed by Roger Morris and William Adam. The views stretch beyond the castle estate and the town to the distant shores of Loch Fyne. Well worth the effort!
5) Local lUNCH & COFFEE at Brambles CAFE
Brambles is a must-visit local business on Main Street Inveraray and you can guarantee I’ll be there for lunch or treats on every single trip; even when I’ve been quickly passing through, I’ve phoned ahead to order takeaway.
Scottish produce and homemade delicious delights are the staples here: hearty and healthy breakfasts, ‘fancy sandwiches’ and hot lunches, scones, cakes & sweet treats – all lovingly baked in-house.
To top it off, even the coffee is their own; small batch, seasonally sourced and locally roasted, courtesy of their sister business, Campbell Coffee. The coffee is available in the cafe, in the rooms of the accommodation and in the separate coffee shop directly across the street.
The cafe has a separate takeaway menu and gluten-free menu.
VIEW all menus, information & opening hours on the Brambles website.
DISCOVER the cafe’s Secret Garden; a lovely spot for alfresco lunch and coffee on a dry day.
6) dinner & drinks at the george hotel
The George Hotel is everything you could want and expect from a historic town on the west coast; warm hospitality, a cosy interior which reflects the building’s age (a good thing!) and traditional Scottish dishes and desserts: Cullen Skink, Loch Fyne Oysters, local venison, Stornoway black pudding, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Scottish cheeses etc. .
Despite my best intentions, on any overnight stay in Inveraray, I somehow end up in The Pub at the hotel which has a dangerously good selection of around 500 whiskies, plus a dedicated whisky tasting area called ‘The Whisky Snug’. A small space with big character, The Pub clientele is a mix of locals, visitors and off-duty staff.
The hotel also has an incredibly inviting beer garden, The Garden Bar with street food, live music, local beer and good vibes all round. The perfect place to spend a spring/summer evening after a day exploring.
I hope you enjoyed reading about all my favourite things to do in Inveraray and why I love it so much.
I’m Kay, by the way; you can read more about me here.
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