St. Gilda's Roman Catholic Church : Rosneath

The church sits on a quiet corner of Rosneath, a peninsula village that juts into the Firth of Clyde between Helensburgh and Dunoon. St. Gilda's is a proper Victorian Roman Catholic church - red sandstone with tall windows and that solid, purposeful look Scottish churches of its era tend to have. If you're into 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture, it's worth a look; if you're not, you'll be in and out in ten minutes.

The interior is reasonably well kept, though nothing particularly showy. You get the standard Catholic fixtures - the altar, side chapels, that particular smell of old stone and polish. The stained glass is decent without being spectacular. It's the sort of place that works best if you've got a genuine interest in religious buildings or local history rather than as a random tourist stop.

Rosneath itself is a sleepy spot, and that's rather the point. You might combine this with a walk along the peninsula's coastal paths or a visit to Glenfinart Caravan Park just down the road - the park's well-reviewed and gives you a proper base for exploring this quieter corner of Argyll. The church is free to visit, though opening hours aren't widely advertised, so you may find it locked. Best to check locally in Helensburgh before making the trip, which is only about four miles away. Families with young children won't find much to occupy them here, but for anyone interested in Scottish ecclesiastical buildings, it's worth the minor detour.