Argyll & Bute

Argyll & Bute is a big, ragged stretch of western Scotland where the land keeps giving way to water. Sea lochs cut deep into the hills, islands sit just offshore, and the coastline runs on for far longer than the map suggests. It's a region best explored slowly, and the sheer range of places to stay here reflects that - from farmhouses tucked up glens to caravan parks looking straight out over the water.

Self-catering is the backbone of a stay in Argyll & Bute, and with 334 cottages listed, there's a lot of variety in how people settle in. Some, like Coelard Farmhouse and Coelard The Barn, sit together as part of a working farm setup, good for families or groups wanting space of their own but close neighbours too. Others are smaller and more solitary - Coachman's Bothy, Cockleshell Lodge and Courtyard Studio suit couples or those travelling alone, while names like Corrie Massan and Craig Lora hint at the hill and glen scenery that surrounds them. Coorie Doon leans into that classic Scottish welcome the word implies - somewhere to hunker down after a day outdoors.

What all this adds up to is a region built around getting outdoors. Argyll & Bute's lochs and hills are made for walking, and the coastline invites boat trips and time spent simply watching the water change. Oban acts as a natural hub, with its harbour and ferry links out to the islands, while the quieter lochside spots around Loch Eck and Cowal suit those after a slower pace.