Parish of Kildalton and Oa St. John's

The church sits on the southern tip of Islay, where the landscape turns bleak and beautiful in equal measure. St John's is modest - a small whitewashed building that won't take you more than twenty minutes to look around - but it's the setting that makes the journey worthwhile. You're at the far edge of the island here, with views across to the Mull of Oa, and the walk to reach it winds through moorland that feels properly remote.

This isn't a cathedral or a showstopper in architectural terms. What you get is a genuine working parish church, quiet and unvisited enough that you'll likely have the place to yourself. The interior is simple, respectful, and oddly moving - the kind of space where you understand why islanders have gathered here for centuries. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no queue. It's just the church and the landscape.

Walkers will find this worth the detour, especially if you're already exploring the southern reaches of Islay. The road gets narrower and rougher as you head down, which adds to the sense of arrival. Families with young kids might find it a quick stop rather than a lingering visit - there's not much to occupy them once they've looked inside.

If you're staying at Islay Glamping Pods two miles away, it's a natural half-hour outing on a clear day. Free to visit, naturally. Go early if the weather's decent - this corner of Argyll can turn murky fast, and the whole point is the view.