Argyll · Harbour Town
Oban
A busy west-coast harbour town, seafood centre and major gateway to Scotland's western islands.
Explore Oban →Sea lochs, castles and roads that follow Scotland's wild western edge
Explore Oban and Inveraray, follow Loch Fyne into Kintyre, cross the Cowal Peninsula and discover smaller islands and coastal communities scattered along the west of Scotland.
Scotland's sea-loch country
Castles, ferries and long coastal roads between loch and Atlantic
Argyll rewards travellers who slow down and let the coastline dictate the route.
Explore Argyll & The Isles
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore harbour towns, sea lochs, castles, peninsulas and small islands across Argyll's western landscape.
Featured places
Where to go in Argyll & The Isles
Argyll works best as a collection of smaller journeys: one loch, one peninsula, one island or one harbour town at a time.
Loch Fyne · Heritage
Inveraray
A planned historic town on Loch Fyne, known for its castle, white-fronted streets and waterside setting.
Explore Inveraray →
Mid Argyll · Heritage
Kilmartin Glen
An extraordinary concentration of prehistoric monuments, standing stones and ancient burial sites.
Explore Kilmartin Glen →
Kintyre · Town
Campbeltown
A harbour town near the southern end of Kintyre, surrounded by beaches, whisky heritage and Atlantic scenery.
Explore Campbeltown →
Cowal · Town
Dunoon
A Clyde-side town and gateway to the Cowal Peninsula, forests, lochs and quieter western roads.
Explore Dunoon →
Firth of Lorn · Island
Kerrera
A small island opposite Oban with quiet tracks, coastal views and the ruins of Gylen Castle.
Explore Kerrera →
Slate Islands · Island
Easdale
A tiny former slate island south of Oban, crossed on foot and surrounded by dramatic coastal scenery.
Explore Easdale →
Loch Fyne · Town
Tarbert
A colourful harbour village linking Kintyre with Loch Fyne and ferry routes towards the islands.
Explore Tarbert →
Cowal · Landscape
Loch Eck & Argyll Forest
Forested hills, quiet roads and lochside walks on the Cowal Peninsula north of Dunoon.
Explore Loch Eck →
Choose your kind of day
What is Argyll best for?
Harbours, islands & sea lochs
West Coast
Castles, stones & ancient landscapes
History & Heritage
Forests, glens & quiet roads
Wild Landscapes
Small ferries & island detours
Island Hopping
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Argyll's roads bend around sea lochs and mountains, so compact routes are usually far more rewarding than trying to cover too much ground.
Oban, Kerrera & the coast
A harbour-and-island day with minimal driving.
- Oban for the harbour and waterfront
- Cross to Kerrera for walking and sea views
- Return for an evening around Oban Bay
Inveraray, Loch Fyne & Kilmartin
A strong heritage route through central Argyll.
- Inveraray for castle and town
- Follow Loch Fyne south
- Kilmartin Glen for prehistoric Scotland
Dunoon, Loch Eck & Cowal
An easy mix of coast, forest and loch scenery.
- Dunoon for the Clyde waterfront
- Head north through Argyll Forest
- Stop around Loch Eck for walking and scenery
Let the coastline set the pace
Argyll is full of short distances that take longer than expected. Sea lochs, ferries and winding roads are part of the attraction, so build days around one peninsula or one stretch of coast.
For a day
Choose Oban, Inveraray, Cowal or one compact coastal route.
For a weekend
Pick one base and use the second day for an island or peninsula.
Ferries
Check sailing times before committing to island or peninsula connections.
By car
Allow more time than the mileage suggests on winding west-coast roads.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Choose a harbour town, loch or peninsula first, then build the rest of the trip around that part of Argyll.
Keep exploring
Continue towards the Highlands or Scotland's islands
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, the Scottish Highlands and Skye & the Inner Hebrides are natural next steps from Argyll.