Magical seascapes and a foodie haven in Scotland

Blessed with awe-inspiring landscapes, Argyll and Bute is a region home to 23 inhabited islands. Each offers beautiful and tranquil beaches, magnificent rugged vistas, and their own unique subcultures.

For those looking for a peaceful holiday or mini break in Scotland, the likes of the Isle of Colonsay will offer those on walking holidays in Scotland white sandy beaches to stop on for a picnic lunch. Alternatively, the Isle of Coll is undoubtedly the place to go for stargazing, and the Isle of Bute is ideal for history fans who want to visit the net-gothic mansion of Mount Stuart.

Fans of exemplary food and drink will be placed to hear that the area is home to a number of world-famous distilleries - eight of which are on the isle of Islay. Meanwhile, nature lovers can head out in search of wild red deer and golden eagles at the Isles of Jura and Mull.

The beauty of Argyll and Bute is an undisputed joy of the area, and it can be experienced at many of its perfectly positioned hotels. For example, the friendly and informal Crinan hotel overlooks the sea and a canal lock serving local seafood and housing a contemporary art gallery on the top floor.

In particular, the area is rich in small hotels, some of Scotland’s finest bed and breakfasts, and pubs with rooms. Argyll Hotel on the remote Isle of Iona, for example, offers its own particular brand of magic from its fabulous position overlooking the Sound of Iona. It is a foodie haven, so make sure you try their Mull scallops.

That said the region is also blessed with its own fair share of grandeur and country house hotels, and so it is that Greystones in Oban is a castle-style B&B in a restored baronial mansion, that has retained many of its original features such as stained glass and a beautiful wooden staircase.