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.

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.

Jura is a wild and rugged island, where a population of 200 people is outnumbered by some 5,000 red deer. The landscape is dominated by the Paps mountains, and the island is known for its fine whiskies. Jura was also once home to George Orwell, who completed ‘1984’ at the remote Barnhill farmhouse.

Campbeltown was once known as the ‘whisky capital of the world’, and was home to 34 distilleries at its peak. Although just three distilleries remain, this is still a great place to learn about the process of making whisky, and it’s also a base for exploring the beautiful Kintyre peninsula.

The village of Strachur sits on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne, a short drive from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Local points of interest include Strachur House, built by General John Campbell in the 1780s, and the Ardkinglas Estate, with its lovely Woodland Garden.

Tarbert is a picturesque fishing village on the Kintyre peninsula, on the western edge of Loch Fyne. Interesting local attractions include the ruins of Tarbert Castle, which was reinforced by Robert the Bruce in the 1320s and was fought over in a number of battles over the centuries.

The peaceful isle of Bute boasts surprisingly varied landscapes for an island of its diminutive size, from rugged moors and fertile hills to sandy beaches. Highlights include the beautiful gardens of Mount Stuart House and the imposing castle at Rothesay.