The Great Outdoors

Discover the wild beauty of Scotland

At Ardgartan Argyll you are in the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, 720 square miles of lochs, mountains and forests. Spot rare wildlife, discover stunning views and enjoy outdoor adventures. Put your boots on and explore the wild and rugged Argyll Forest Park or enjoy the views in a more leisurely manner on the West Highland Railway Line, voted the Greatest Railway Journey in the World by readers of travel magazine, Wanderlust.

Walking and climbing

From easy strolls to mountain climbs

Ardgartan Argyll is the perfect base for a Scottish walking holiday, from a gentle lochside stroll which begins at your cabin door to more strenuous hikes within the Argyll Forest Park. Surrounding our cabins are the Arrochar Alps, a glorious mountain range where you can bag as many as 5 munros. Further afield, explore Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, with wonderful walks and more challenging climbs. 

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Cycling trails

Scotland on two wheels

There are miles and miles of cycling routes surrounding our cabins at Ardgartan Argyll. Cycle round lochs, through woods and on mountains. Enjoy long pleasurable trips, with a picnic or a pub stop, or take your mountain bike, up and down glens, with arduous climbs and sweeping descents.

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Scottish lochs

Tranquil natural beauty

Ardgartan Argyll sits on the shore of Loch Long, a Scottish sea loch where you can fish, canoe or collect mussels for supper. A short drive away is Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest freshwater loch, best enjoyed from the deck of a Loch Lomond cruise boat. For a peaceful afternoon that gives you a unique view of the Scottish landscape, take a boat out on Loch Lomond or Loch Goil. Head north to Loch Fyne, for spectacular views, Inveraray town and castle, and local oysters. This is just a tiny selection of the lochs you can enjoy in this rugged landscape.

Castles, museums, and gardens

Scotland's proud heritage

No stay in Argyll would be complete without visiting Inveraray and its stunning castle. The ancestral seat of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Clan Campbell, the castle is still the family’s home today. Visit too, the nearby Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens, set on the shores of Loch Fyne against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Explore Auchindrain – the most well-preserved example of a Highland Farm township or head further afield to Dunoon, for a fascinating day out at the Castle House Museum. 

Pubs and restaurants

Eating and drinking out

Our local is the Village Inn at Arrochar, where you can enjoy freshly cooked food, local ales and a large garden for those sunny days. For a more refined treat, head north to the Loch Fyne Restaurant and Oyster Bar, where you will be eating oysters fresh from the loch that the restaurant overlooks.

Family days out

From sandcastles to real castles

Take a day out to the elegant seaside resort of Helensburgh and visit The Hill House, a Charles Rennie Mackintosh masterpiece. For history of another kind, the kids will love the famous Inveraray Jail for a taste of life “inside” in the 19th Century and Inveraray Castle for an insight into Scotland’s clans and their colourful, often bloodthirsty, history. More up to date fun can be found at Go Ape in Aberfoyle or the Sealife Sanctuary at Loch Lomond.

Rainy day activities

Have fun whatever the weather

If the rain makes an appearance - and in Scotland it’s always a possibility - take a drive up to Oban, where you can while away a couple of hours at the Oban Distillery before getting close to nature at the Sealife Sanctuary. A little closer to your cabin, Inveraray Castle and Inveraray Jail are also great rainy day activities. If retail therapy is more appealing, head for Loch Lomond Shores, where there is also another Sealife Sanctuary to keep the children enthralled.

Towns and villages

Jewels in the Scottish crown

Inveraray is not to be missed; climb Dun Na Cuaiche for the spellbinding vista of the village and castle below. For a seaside trip, visit Helensburgh, which has great shopping and The Hill House, an architectural gem by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of the finest private houses ever built. Closer to your cabin, spend a lazy afternoon village-hopping around the lochs, discovering Ardentinny, tucked away on the edge of Loch Long or Lochgoilhead, with its spectacular mountain and loch views. The pretty conservation village of Luss is also under 20 minutes away.