Tarbert

Ferries dock here daily, connecting the Kintyre Peninsula to Islay across the narrow sound. That's Tarbert's calling card - this fishing port serves as the gateway between mainland Argyll and Scotland's whisky islands. The harbour buzzes with activity as CalMac vessels arrive and depart, but step away from the quayside and you'll find a proper working town that hasn't been primped for tourists.

Kintyre stretches south like a long finger into the Atlantic, and Tarbert sits at its narrowest point. Vikings once dragged their longships across this strip of land to avoid the treacherous waters around the Mull of Kintyre. Today's visitors have it easier - the A83 cuts through dramatic glen country dotted with ancient ruins. Glenbarr Abbey houses the Clan Macalister Museum, while archaeological sites like Putechantuy Hillfort and various dun settlements tell older stories across the peninsula.

The real draw lies in the landscape itself. Peaks like Meall Buidhe and Cnoc Reamhar offer cracking hill walking, whilst lochs Arnicle and Lussa provide tranquil spots for fishing or just contemplating the view. It's proper remote country once you leave the main road.

Getting here means driving the A83 from Glasgow - about three hours through some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery. The nearest proper town is Campbeltown, 40 miles south. Staying at one of the local holiday parks makes perfect sense if you're exploring the peninsula or catching an early ferry to the islands. The area rewards those who take time to explore beyond the harbour.