Argyll & Bute Travel Guide

Loch Katrine, Argyll & Bute - © Richard Webb

Introduction and Overview

The Argyll & Bute Travel Guide outlines the interesting local attractions, places of interest and contains useful tourist information for travellers. The area guide features travel information on local transport and travel, facts & figures, entertainment, events, maps and accommodation.

Located on the west coast of Scotland, the area has dramatic coastal scenery and sea lochs making the region eye catching for visitors.

One of the famous glens is Glen Coe, a beautiful nature reserve that presents walkers with opportunities that they can only dream of.

Argyll & Bute has some of the best scenery in the UK and whilst not as famous as the Highlands, it certainly holds its own as a place to visit for tourists. There are mountains, coastal scenery and some very idyllic islands here.

A popular place to go is the Crinan Canal, one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. The canal is a tranquil place and its surroundings are very scenic, there are also hills and the seascape to enjoy here.

History fans will enjoy Kilmartin Glen that has a number of ancient sites among these are standing stones and burial cairns.

The ruins of Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe are a great place to see some history and culture and are located in a wonderful setting. With a range of attractions for visitors to explore the region is one of Scotland's better kept secrets.

Oban is regarded as the unofficial capital of the Western Highlands. The town and its harbour are at the heart of the economy in this part of Scotland and is the main tourist destination too.

Known as the ‘gateway to the Isles’, the natural harbour made it an important place to send supplies to the islands off the coast.

Located on a scenic setting on the Firth of Lorn, the bay area along with its coastline and mountains offer visitors some dramatic natural scenery. There are ferries that travel from here to the Inner Hebrides, visitors can use these to see the other islands from here.

Local attractions in Oban include McCaig’s Folly, a circular monument similar in style to a Roman Amphitheatre, it was never completed. Visitors can walk up to the monument on steps from the town centre and the views of Oban harbour are a fitting reward.

Other attractions include the ruins of Dunollie Castle and Oban Distillery dating back to the 18th century it is one of Scotland’s oldest sources of single malt Scotch whisky. There is also the Scottish Sea Life & Marine Sanctuary located close to Oban on the shore of Loch Creran.

Bowmore is a village located on the island of Islay off the Scottish mainland. Bowmore is the largest settlement and administrative capital of the island, the village is well known for Bowman Distillery that produces Bowmore Islay Single Malt Whisky.

There are various distilleries on the island that operate whiskey tours with shops and visitor centres, making it popular with whisky connoisseurs. Among the major attractions on Islay are the natural scenery and bird watching with its rich wildlife.

The town of Inveraray is located on the shore of Loch Fyne, once the traditional county town of Argyll, it is known for its distinctive white buildings offering great photogenic images for visitors.

Local attractions include Inveraray Castle, an 18th century country house, Inveraray Jail now a living museum, Inveraray Bell Tower, Maritime Museum, All Saints Church and Crarae Gardens located 10 miles away.

Campeltown is a small town located on the scenic peninsula of Kintyre, it is one of the larger towns in Argyll, the town is well located for exploring the attractions in beautiful southern Kintyre. There are a number of whiskey distilleries with tours available for visitors to see the whiskey making process in action.

Local attractions in Campeltown include the Campeltown Heritage Centre outlining local history, the Campeltown Cross, a medieval cross located in the town centre and the long established Mull Of Kintyre Music Festival celebrating the best in contemporary and traditional Celtic music.

The Isle of Bute is located off the Cowal Peninsula, it is a beautiful area where visitors can take a guided walk that includes the water foreshore.

The west of the island is well known for its beaches whilst the north of the island is the closest to the Scottish mainland.

Rothesay is both the ferry port and the main town on the island and most popular destination for visitors to the island to arrive at. Local attractions in Rothesay include the ruins of the 13th century Rothesay Castle, the Bute Museum and Ardencraig Gardens.

Other attractions in Bute include Ascog Hall Gardens & Victorian Fernery, Mount Stuart manor house, Toward Castle and St. Blane's Chapel. Jura is a mountainous and rugged area and its west coast is very sparsely populated, visitors can certainly get away from it all here.

Argyll & Bute offers a range of attractions for visitors in this lovely area in West Scotland. All too often visitors unfortunately miss the area in the rush to the Highlands and other well known tourist destinations.

This presents a great opportunity for the discerning visitor to see and explore an interesting area that more than holds its own against its illustrious neighbours.

Visitors can get away from the crowds and experience the tranquillity and feeling of space here, a great tonic for those trying to get away from it or leave their worries behind.

There are a number of historical monuments there to excite history fans and the national park presents visitors with a world of opportunities. The area is best reached by road and visitors can enjoy island hopping to see the various islands here.



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