traveldk.com

Hauntingly atmospheric ruins of a Campbell castle, built in 1440 on an island in Loch Awe. Visible from many vantage points, or you can go there by boat.

Busy harbour town best viewed from McCaig’s Folly. Many local attractions and ferries to Mull, Coll, Colonsay, Tiree and the Western Isles.

This 14th-century castle has a magical air. Most enchanting is the Lord’s Hall, with its musicians’ gallery, double fireplace and oak screen.

Tunnels and huge underground caverns house this massive hydro-electric plant. Like a science-fiction set, it is fascinating and rather weird.

The best-preserved charcoal-fuelled ironworks in Britain. Learn how iron was made here in 1753 in this lovely setting by Loch Etive.

Take a stroll along this scenic 9-mile (16-km) canal, completed in 1801 and now used by yachts and fishing boats. The best places to see them are at Ardrishaig, Cairnbaan or Crinan.

A novel outdoor museum of restored thatched cottages and outbuildings, showing the past styles of West Highland life.

The little-known and ancient art of building crannogs (defensive homesteads built on stilts in lochs) has been rediscovered here at Loch Tay. Beware – underwater archaeologists at work.

Paul McCartney sang about this glorious peninsula which has miles of beaches, a top golf course (Machrihanish) and the ethereal cave crucifixion painting on Davaar Island.

Inhabited for 5,000 years, this glen has a phenomenal concentration of archaeological remains: standing stones, temples and burial cairns. Pause at Kilmartin Church for the best collection of early Christian crosses.