Tayvallich (4 miles) is a pretty fishing village set in a very sheltered bay that is a haven for yachting enthusiasts. There is a well-stocked shop/café in the village and an inn that offers great food and wonderful views out over the harbour to enjoy as you eat.

Tayvallich is one of the pickup/dropoff points for boat trips run by Venture West that are good for wildlife spotting with sea and golden eagles, dolphins and even minke whales often being seen. Longer boat trips also venture out further afield to the islands of Colonsay, Jura, Iona and Staffa, where you can see the famous Fingal’s Cave.

Scotland may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of rain forests, but the oceanic environment and warming effects of the Gulf Stream have created just the right conditions for a temperate rain forest in the Taynish National Nature Reserve (5 miles). There is a network of walking trails to follow around this rich woodland where oak trees are said to have been grown for around 7,000 years!

There is also a lovely walk from the nature reserve out to Taynish Old Mill with views of Loch Taynish and beautiful butterflies and dragonflies to look out for along the way. The route is also suitable for bikes if you prefer exploring on two wheels.

The area is known for its wildlife and in particular for the beavers that were re-introduced to Scotland all the way from Norway back in 2009. At Knapdale Forest (9 miles) a ‘beaver detection trail’ leads around the woodland site where you are most likely to spot these fascinating creatures first thing in the morning or at early evening time. Even if you don’t manage to spot the animals themselves you will certainly see evidence of them due to the gnawed branches they leave behind them.

Lochgilphead (15.5 miles) has lots of interesting shops to wander around, as well as a supermarket and some cafés and restaurants to stop at. A couple of miles outside Lochgilphead there is fishing at Lochgilphead Lochs where there are eleven different lochs stocked with brown trout.