The village of Crinan guards the entrance to the Crinan Canal, built in the 19th century to cut out the long and perilous journey around the Kintyre peninsula. There is a lovely network of towpaths, lock gates and walking trails to explore, set amongst the picturesque Knapdale forest.

Craobh Haven was built in 1983 as a holiday village and marina, and you’ll see plenty of yachts moored here. There are some lovely walks nearby, and the region is home to wildlife including kestrels, seals and porpoises. Arduaine Garden is also worth a visit for its colourful collection of exotic plants.

The pretty village of Tayvallich is a popular yachting haven, situated on a sheltered bay on the western shore of Loch Sween. There are some lovely walks amongst the dense woods, and a single-track road leads to the remote Chapel of Keills, which houses a collection of medieval stone carvings.

Islay is famous for its peaty, smoky whiskies, and the island is home to nine different distilleries, including the famous Laphroaig. Other highlights include the RSPB Loch Gruinart Nature Reserve and the ruins at Finlaggan, former seat of the Lords of the Isles.

The village of Bunessan sits on the Ross of Mull, a peninsula on the south western side of the Isle of Mull. Bunessan is known for its lobsters, and is also home to the only pub in the area. You can find out more about the island's heritage at the Ross of Mull Historical Centre, housed in an old mill.

The rugged and varied Isle of Mull is one of the most popular destinations in the Hebrides, and is rich in wildlife, home to white-tailed eagles, otters and whales. The main settlement is Tobermory, an old fishing station brightened by a crescent of colourful houses.

The tiny island of Iona, situated off the southwestern tip of Mull, is said to be the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, and is a popular place of pilgrimage. Thousands of visitors flock here every year to visit the Abbey, and the island gets particularly busy in summer.

The uninhabited island of Staffa is known for its striking geology, characterised by the same hexagonal basalt columns as the Giant’s Causeway, and is home to the famous Fingal’s Cave. Seabirds including puffins, guillemots and razorbills nest here during spring and early summer.

Tiree is the westernmost of the Inner Hebrides, and enjoys some of the longest sunshine hours in the UK. The influence of the Gulf Stream also means the climate is milder than on the mainland, and the island is characterised by sweeping white sand beaches, pretty wildflowers and strong winds that keep the midges away.

The Isle of Coll is rocky and rugged in the north, while to the south a landscape of grassy dunes known as machair is surrounded by sandy beaches. The tranquility is disturbed only by the island’s abundant birdlife, and in particular by the rasping call of the corncrake.