Discover the magic of the west: sea-lochs and mossy, lush woodlands, long views to a horizon where the sun sinks behind the islands. This is a beguiling and romantic kind of place with a special heritage as the first Kingdom of the Scots.
With peerless mountain and sea-loch settings, accommodation in Argyll is certainly varied. Choose your accommodation type below
Great for gardens and grand castles, ideal for cruising….explore ancient oakwoods, or taste island malt whiskies – plenty to discover here.
View top attractions »Hill and forest walks, bike trails, golf and fishing, plus the finest cruising waters in the UK – just some of the active options.
View top activities »
Bonawe Iron FurnaceOnce Argyll’s biggest employer, this furnace kept 600 people employed making charcoal in the surrounding oakwoods. In use for over a hundred years, the furnace smelted great quantities of pig iron – some of which was made into cannonballs.
Bonawe Iron Furnace
Islands of Argyll »Between Bute, within easy reach of Glasgow, and Tiree, low-lying in the western sea, there is a fine choice of Hebridean island experiences.
Wildlife of Argyll »Some of the best whale-watching in Britain, with puffins close-up, sea eagles and choughs, flower filled machair and calling corncrakes.
Great GardensWith warm largely frost-free winters, Argyll is famous for its gardens with their superb azaleas, rhododendrons, and magnolias. April to June is the best time to visit.
See Listings for Gardens in Argyll & Bute
CruisesNowhere else in Britain offers such choice. Ferries, large and small, sailing daily to many islands, whale watching trips and ‘fast rib’ experiences are some of the options.
Cruises & Railways in Argyll & Bute
Slate Islands »The great storm of November 1881 was the death knell for the slate industry on the islands of Seil and Easdale south of Oban. The deep quarries were flooded by the sea and many jobs lost.
