Island of Trees

You'll spot this one from the water first - a small wooded island that rises quite dramatically from Loch Gilp near Lochgilphead. It's precisely what the name suggests: a proper little island crowned with mature trees, and it's the sort of place that makes you pause mid-drive along the A83 and think, that's worth investigating.

Getting out here depends on what you're willing to do. You can view it perfectly well from the shore or during a boat trip on the loch - which honestly most visitors do. The trees themselves are the draw: old growth specimens that stand out against the landscape in a way that's genuinely striking, particularly if you catch it on one of those crisp Argyll days when the light's good. It's not a walk-round-for-hours situation. This is more a photo stop, a talking point, a moment's pause on a wider exploration of the area.

Families staying at The Pod Over By or Lochgilphead Caravan Park will find it an easy detour, though you'll want to combine it with proper activities - walks around the loch shore, a visit to the village itself. History enthusiasts might dig into what brought those particular trees there, but the island's story isn't heavily documented in the usual way.

Free to view from land or water. Allow fifteen minutes if you're stopping the car, or build it into a longer loch circuit. Honestly, it's less a destination and more a characterful detail that makes this corner of Argyll feel properly lived-in.