The Holy Loch is a sea loch on the Firth of Clyde, where St Munn is said to have founded a church after leaving Ireland in the 6th century. The loch was used as a Royal Navy submarine base during World War II, and it was also a base for US nuclear subs during the Cold War.

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.

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.

Loch Fyne is famous for its oysters, and seafood fans will likely be familiar with the restaurant chain of the same name. The loch supports wildlife including otters, dolphins, seals and even basking sharks, and the shoreline is home to tourist attractions including Inveraray Castle.

Sanda is a small, privately-owned island off the Kintyre peninsula, and it’s an important site for breeding and migratory birds, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Species to look out for include Manx shearwaters, storm petrels, ringed plovers and golden eagles.

The southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula, immortalised in song by Paul McCartney and Wings, is remote and beautiful, surrounded by spectacular coastline. A historic lighthouse stands atop the headland, and on a clear day you can see across to the coast of Antrim in Northern Ireland.

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 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.

The little Isle of Kerrera sits just off Scotland’s west coast guarding the entrance to Oban, and is home to around 50 people. The fertile, hilly terrain and almost total lack of cars makes it a great destination for walkers, and it’s also known for the 16th century ruins of Gylen Castle.

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.