Guide to Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute is an incredible holiday destination in Scotland for those who love sea views, mountain visits, the Scottish wilderness, and endless chances to see interesting wildlife. With good access via ferries to Glasgow for national and international road, air, and rail connections, Argyll and Bute is very well-situated.

Argyll and Bute consists of the hilly mainland, a scattering of islands that take in some of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and a veritable labyrinth of kyles, lochs, and rivers that crisscross the region. Situated on the mid-western side of Scotland, it’s a land of adventure, where you can enjoy outdoor pursuits such as kayaking, mountain biking, hiking and even surfing. Come and find your Scottish paradise in this wonderful haven of forests, hills, islands, lochs, and glens.

The best way to experience a holiday in Argyll and Bute is from the comfort of your own holiday home. Why not spend some time browsing our collection of self-catering holiday accommodation in Argyll and Bute today? Click the button below to find your perfect place to stay.

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• Towns and villages
• The Islands
• Things to see and do
• Places to eat and drink
• Map of Argyll and Bute

Towns and villages of Argyll and Bute

Oban

Beautiful Oban, even though it is very small, is the largest town on the west coast between Fort William and Helensburgh. Located on the banks of the Firth of Lorn, it is sometimes known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ as it works as a hub for visiting the wider Argyll and Bute area. You can see incredible views across the sea to the islands of Kerrera and Lismore from the prominent McCaig's Tower. It’s the kind of place where sightings of otters, dolphins, and seals are commonplace, popping up around the moored fishing boats at North Pier. Oban is also the ‘Seafood Capital’ of Scotland because it’s renowned for its great places to eat. There is a host of museums, castles, and visitor attractions in and around Oban for you to check out too.

For budding horticulturalists, Arduaine Gardens should be on your list of places to visit. Historians will enjoy a turn around Inveraray Jail and Courthouse. The Oban area is known for its whiskies and you can visit the local distillery. In the evening you can enjoy time at one of Oban’s pubs; there is even a small cinema in town.  

Port Appin

Gorgeous Port Appin is a tiny village 19.5 miles north of Oban, with Loch Linnhe to its south and Loch Creran to its east. And it’s just across the Linn of Lorn from the Isle of Lismore to where you can get a ferry for a day out. Port Appin is home to a handful of shops including one that sells local crafts, a general store, and a post office. You can also hail the ferry to the Isle of Lismore from Port Appin.

Landmarks in the Port Appin area include the historic ruins of the aptly named Castle Stalker. The castle is open to the public a few days a year. Jubilee Bridge is where you go for the best views of Castle Stalker; the path runs between Port Appin and Portnacroish. For views of the Morvern Mountains look out for a trail known as Clach Thoull, which runs by Airds Bay and Loch Linnhe.

Dunoon

Dunoon is located at the south-easterly corner of Argyll and Bute and is the main settlement on the Cowal Peninsula. Dunoon enjoys lovely views south across the Firth of Clyde to Wemyss Bay. With easy links via ferry to Glasgow (ferries leave from Gourock and Greenock), Dunoon is something of a gateway to the region.

Dunoon was once a popular holiday destination when steamships were commonplace on the Firth of Clyde. Nowadays it’s a much quieter prospect but, still, it’s no less beautiful. This part of the Firth of Forth will be forever associated with submarines. There are several submarine bases along the water so if you are taking a ferry look out for one on its way to Greenock.

Highlights include the walls of Dunoon Castle, Dunoon Pier, architect Robert Alexander Bryden’s Dunoon Burgh Hall, and the Highland Mary Statue with its Robert Burns associations. For evening entertainment, The Queen’s Hall hosts a variety of live events throughout the year and a small cinema. If you love wildlife and sealife spotting, there have been regular sightings of seals, otters, dolphins, basking sharks, roe deer, red deer, and red squirrels.

The Islands of Argyll and Bute

The Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull is the second largest of the Inner Hebrides and is famed for its fantastic white sandy beaches, interesting rock formations, and curious caves. The best-known settlement on the island is Tobermory, with its brightly coloured cottages. There are numerous castles and ancient ruins to discover. As you’d expect, there is a wide array of birds and wildlife to see.

Mull can be reached by ferry from Oban on the mainland, the cross takes 45 minutes to an hour. Island highlights include Tobermory Distillery, An Tobar (which is the Mull’s arts hub), Rubha na Gall Lighthouse, a boat trip to Staffa to see puffins, and Fingal’s Cave. The Isle of Mull’s best beaches include Calgary Bay, Langamull Beach, Knockvologan Beach, Balfour’s Bay, and Port na Ba. The Isle of Mull is home to one of the two island-based Munros in Scotland, Ben More, and we’d recommend a hike when the weather allows it.

The Isle of Bute

The main town on Bute is Rothesay and this is the first place many visitors will encounter as they arrive on the ferry. It can be reached from Wemyss Bay, and Colintraive The town has a discovery centre and a castle to explore as well as a fine choice of dining prospects. A popular pastime is cycling on the island and you can hire a bike from Bike Bute. The cycle network around the island is well-signposted and comfortable to ride.

The Isle of Bute is a special place for bird watching and for taking in the stunning scenery of the island and its surrounding waters. Places to visit include the Mount Stuart House (home to the Marquesses of Bute), Rothesay Castle, the ruins of St Blane’s Chapel, Ardencraig Gardens, Bute Museum, and the Isle of Bute Distillery.

Isle of Islay

Beyond the awe-inspiring scenery, like its neighbour Jura, the Isle of Islay’s (pronounced ‘eye-la’) ultimate claim to fame is its whisky. Islay is the most southerly of the Inner Hebrides archipelago and occupies the sea space between the Kintyre Peninsula and the west coast of mainland Scotland. It’s the fifth largest of the country’s islands and its fairness has earned it the alias of the Queen of the Hebrides. You can fly to Islay from Glasgow or catch a ferry from Kennacraig (and less frequently, Oban) on the mainland.

Attractions on Islay include the Three Distilleries Pathway, which can be walked or cycled. As the name suggests, it links three of the island’s distilleries: Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. There are nine whisky distilleries on the island, so it’s the perfect place for connoisseurs of the drink. If you are a connoisseur, you may want to read our guide to the best whisky regions in Scotland . Other attractions include a boat trip with Islay Sea Adventures, a family beach day at Machir Bay or the Singing Sands, or a swim at the indoor pool at MacTaggart Leisure Centre.

Isle of Jura

Jura lies just off the coast of the Isle of Islay in a north-easterly direction. The island is connected to the mainland by ferries between Port Askaig and Feolin. Fewer than 200 people live on Jura permanently, and they are outnumbered by the local deer population (which is numbered in the vicinity of 6,000). Much of the island is inaccessible to cars and there is just one road on the whole island. So why go? Well, most visitors are drawn in by the quiet, the unspoiled nature of the landscapes, such as The Paps, and of course the wildlife.

Besides its world-famous whisky, Jura is known for its associations with the author George Orwell, who lived at Barnhill during the 1940s. Jura is where he wrote 1984. The best attraction on the island is a visit to the Paps of Jura; three peaks that can be seen all about the island. The tallest of the trio, Beinn an Oir, is a Corbett, rising to 785 metres. 

Things to see and do in Argyll and Bute

Walk the West Island Way

Pull your boots on and embark on the amazing West Island Way on the Isle of Bute. This long-distance path is the first to be located on a Scottish island. You will come home with a very broad sense of the ever-changing landscapes you can fall in love on Bute. You will see the ghost village of Glen More, and the medieval remains of St Blane’s Chapel along the way, as well as some panoramic views across the sea and the island.

Go mountain biking

Argyll and Bute offers some excellent prospects for mountain bikers. There is plenty of choice if zooming through a forest at breakneck speeds is what makes you happiest. The best mountain biking trail in Argyll and Bute has to be the Fire Tower Trail near Lochgilphead. There is a red, black, and green trail at this location. Other mountain biking trails (MTBs) in Argyll and Bute to add to your holiday itinerary should include Ardgartan which includes the 7-mile Glenshellish Loop.

Enjoy a round of golf

Golf is arguably as Scottish as whisky and the Highland games, so why wouldn’t we recommend a day at one of Argyll and Bute's ranges? It’s almost redundant at this point to state how gorgeous the settings are for golf courses, there’s very little that can be called an eyesore in this part of Scotland. We’d single out Carradale Golf Course on the Kintyre Peninsula close to Campbelltown (15 miles) for its beauty and location. Other golf courses in Argyll and Bute include Bute Golf Course, Cowal Golf Club, and Lochgoilhead Golf Course. For more golfing inspiration, why not read our guide to Scotland's courses?

See a film on the back of a lorry

If you fancy some evening entertainment, look out for Scotland’s touring cinema, Screen Machine, which regularly tours the Hebrides and some of Argyll and Bute’s remoter places. It is essentially a cinema auditorium inside a juggernaut. They screen the latest in blockbuster entertainment. 

Go kayaking

One of the best ways to see Argyll and Bute is from the water, so we’d recommend a day or two’s worth of kayaking. If you are a novice or feel like you need a guide in unfamiliar waters, courses can be booked through adventure providers such as Argyll Kayaks. There are lots of areas in Argyll and Bute to enjoy kayaking whether it’s in a river, loch, or at sea. The Kyles of Bute is a popular spot for those who love kayaking and paddleboarding. If you are looking for other places in Scotland to indulge in some outdoor activities, why not read our guide?

Places to eat and drink in Argyll and Bute

The best restaurant for fine dining - Kilberry Inn

The Kilberry Inn is a Bib Gourmand-awarded pub located on the Kintyre Peninsula close to Tarbet (14.5 miles). Set on a former croft, the Kilberry Inn retains traces of its bygone years namely its red tin roof and beams along the ceiling. There is an open fire also, that adds to the ambience of the place. The dishes have all been concocted from a variety of local foods with the fish and meats all smoked on site. Booking is advised.

Best pub lunch and dinner in Argyll and Bute – The Colintraive Hotel

For the best pub lunch in Argyll and Bute, we would firmly recommend the Colintraive Hotel. With a well-stocked bar offering a good range of whiskies from all over the country, as well as Fyne Ales from Loch Fyne, the Colintraive is a great choice for those looking for a satisfying meal during lunch or dinner. Dishes are classic Scottish and English cuisine made with local ingredients to a high standard. Booking is advised. 

Map of Argyll and Bute

Our handy map includes each of the places included in this guide.

Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in Argyll and Bute

Bring yourself and your loved ones to stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages in gorgeous Argyll and Bute. We hope we have inspired your next break to Scotland. Browse our collection of properties for your holiday in Argyll and Bute today by clicking on the button below.