If the sight of the golfers has provided inspiration then it is worth trying out the 9 hole course. Clubs and trollies can be hired from Balvicar Stores in easy walking distance just 5 minutes’ down the road where a good range of groceries can also be purchased.

The nearby sandy Ganavan beach is beautiful and is also a popular spot for watersports, in particular kayaking, which can be arranged through Sea Kayak Scotland (1 mile) who offer lessons and tours with experienced guides. The Argyll Sea Kayak Trail runs from Ganavan Sands all the way over to Helensburgh and is split into different sections that are great fun to admire from the unique perspective of the water.

Right by the hump-backed bridge that provides access to the island from the mainland (referred to as the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’) is the Tigh a Truish Inn that makes a good pitstop for a meal. The pub has an interesting past – its name means ‘house of the trousers’ as it used to be the point where visitors to the mainland would stop to change out of their kilts en route due to the kilt ban that was in force at the time.

Excellent local seafood can be sampled at the Oyster Bar in Ellenabeich (2 miles) and the Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust has a little museum that explains all about the region’s mining roots as one of the islands that ‘roofed the world’. From the harbour there Seafari Adventures offer wildlife boat trips for spotting seals, dolphins, sea eagles and even whales and basking sharks in season.

Oban is the nearest place for supermarket shopping as there are four to choose from and it is also referred to as the ‘gateway to the isles’ as the main hub for ferry trips out to Arran, Mull, Skye and further flung islands such as Rum, Eigg or Muck, Harris, Lewis and Tiree.