natural wonder
Loch Lomond
Britain's largest freshwater lake by surface area, where Highland mountains meet Lowland shores in a landscape immortalised in song.
12 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Rhu
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Rhu
Rhu works well as a base: 10 minutes from Kilcreggan, 12km from Loch Lomond.
Rhu is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 1,900 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Kilcreggan, about 5 km away.
Rhu (; Scottish Gaelic: An Rubha [ən ˈrˠu.ə]) is a village and historic parish on the east shore of the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The traditional spelling of its name was Row, but it was changed in the 1920s so that outsiders would pronounce it correctly. The name derives from the Scots Gaelic rubhaRead more
meaning point. The parish of Row, containing also the town of Helensburgh and most of the village of Garelochhead, was formed out of Roseneath and Cardross in 1643–48.
It lies north-west of the town of Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde, in Argyll & Bute, and historically in the county of Dunbartonshire. Like many settlements in the area, it became fashionable in the 19th century as a residence for wealthy Glasgow shipowners and merchants. It has its own Community Council, which covers both Rhu and Shandon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Rhu?
Within an hour or so of Rhu: Loch Lomond (12 km), The Oak Tree Inn (16 km), Rest and Be Thankful (A83) (22 km), Rest and Be Thankful (24 km).
Are there any good drives near Rhu?
The nearest famous roads are Rest and Be Thankful (A83), Glen Orchy and Arran Coast Road (A841).
Where is Rhu?
Rhu is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Kilcreggan.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,870
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 56.0167, -4.7667
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Rhu
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
The Oak Tree Inn
A popular stopping point on the A82 beside Loch Lomond, where road trippers heading to the Scottish Highlands pause to take in one of Scotland's most beautiful lochs.
16 km · about 30 min drive
famous road
Rest and Be Thankful (A83)
The famous climb out of Glen Croe in Argyll with the old military road beside it; landslide-prone but a spectacular gateway to the west coast.
22 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Rest and Be Thankful
A famous viewpoint at the top of Glen Croe where 18th-century soldiers carved the name into a stone after completing the military road.
24 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Inveraray Castle
The turreted seat of the Dukes of Argyll on Loch Fyne, with state rooms, an armoury hall and gardens open in season.
31 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Loch Katrine
The loch of Scott's Lady of the Lake, cruised by the 1899 steamship Sir Walter Scott and encircled by a traffic-free cycle road.
31 km · about 35 min drive
museum
Riverside Museum
Glasgow's Zaha Hadid-designed transport museum on the Clyde, packed with classic cars, a recreated cobbled street of vintage vehicles, and the tall ship Glenlee moored outside.
33 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Loch Achray and Ben A'an
A small Trossachs loch under Ben A'an, whose short steep path yields one of Scotland's best effort-to-view ratios.
33 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Rhu
- 22 kmRest and Be Thankful (A83)The famous climb out of Glen Croe in Argyll with the old military road beside it; landslide-prone but a spectacular gateway to the west coast.
- 24 kmRest and Be ThankfulA famous viewpoint at the top of Glen Croe where 18th-century soldiers carved the name into a stone after completing the military road.
- 50 kmGlen OrchyA single-track alternative to the A82 between Bridge of Orchy and Dalmally, following the tumbling River Orchy through birch woods.
- 51 kmGoatfellArran's highest peak at 874m, climbed from Brodick, with views over the Firth of Clyde and to Ireland on clear days.
- 57 kmArran Coast Road (A841)The 90km loop around Arran, taking in the Boguillie and the Ross road climbs — a classic day's drive or ride from the Brodick ferry.
- 68 kmGlen EtiveA remote single-track road winding past waterfalls and a Skyfall filming spot down to a sea loch, deep wilderness.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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