Port Bannatyne Petanque Club

Port Bannatyne's petanque club sits quietly on the Cowal peninsula, a proper French touch in Argyll that most visitors to the area completely miss. If you've never played petanque - that deceptively casual-looking French boules game - this is where locals gather to throw metal balls and argue good-naturedly about distances measured in millimetres.

It's not a spectacle. There's no grandstand, no roaring crowds. What you get instead is a chance to watch or join in a sport that requires almost no athletic ability but demands genuine skill and strategy. The social side is the real draw - petanque clubs are about conversation, coffee, and the sort of leisurely competition that actually has time for banter.

You'll want to allow an hour or two if you're just watching, longer if you fancy a game. It's free to watch; joining in costs a few quid. Go on a sunny afternoon when the club is busy - wet weather clears the courts fast. The regulars are usually welcoming to newcomers, though expect to be gently mocked if your first throw flies wildly wide.

It's ten minutes from Dunoon, making it an easy add-on to a coastal break. Beach House Pods, five miles away, offers proper accommodation if you're making a longer stay. Port Bannatyne itself is a pleasant waterfront village worth a stroll afterwards. Not for everyone - but if you want something genuinely different from the standard Scottish holiday fare, this fits the bill.