Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

OBAN TO BALLACHTJLISH BY STEAMER, AND
THENCE TO GLENCOE.*
During the summer months, a steamer sails from Oban to
Ballachulish, from which an opportunity is afforded of visiting
Glencoe by means of vehicles there in waiting, and the passen¬
gers are reconveyed to the steamer, which returns that evening
to Oban.
This is perhaps one of the most agreeable ways of visiting
Glencoe ; the tedious drive from Loch Lomond-head (supposing
the coach route to be taken) through a comparatively unin¬
teresting moorland country is avoided, and in its place there
is one of the finest sails that Scotland can boast of, on almost
invariably smooth water, and with all the comforts afforded
by an excellently managed steamer.
The course pursued is the same as that going to Inverness
through the Caledonian Canal, as far as Loch Leven, into which
the steamer makes its way, halting, as already mentioned, at
Ballachulish. The most striking object in the scenery on the
way from Oban to Ballachulish is Ben Cruachan, whose finely
formed peaks tower to the skies with great grandeur. The scene
is especially fine at Loch Etive, the first arm of the sea passed
by the steamer on the right, where Dunstaffnage Castle, situ¬
ated on a low promontory, guards the entrance to the loch.
From this the steamer sails between the island of Lismore on
the left, and Loch Creran, the second arm of the sea, on the right,
at the mouth of which is the small island of Eriska. Getting
out of the lee of Lismore, we have on the left the purple shores
of Morven, and on the right the mountainous district of Appin
or Upper Lorn.
Loch Linnhe, which separates the two districts from each
other, is the commencement of the entrance to that great
chain of inland lochs forming the Caledonian Canal. On the
Appin side, on the right, the scenery gradually becomes wilder
and more picturesque as we advance towards Loch Leven, the
third arm of the sea on the right; and not far from the mouth
* During the summer months, the steamer sails on the three alternate days from
those on which it goes to Staffa and Iona. For the sailings, consult the monthly time¬
tables. Tourists who wish to join the stage coach at Ballachulish, for Loch Lomond
and Glasgow, may book themselves at Oban.