Ardgarten, Glen Croe & Lochgoilhead

From Ardgarten the A83 climbs steeply up Glen Croe to reach one of Scotland's classic viewpoints at the top of the pass, the Rest and be Thankful. The hordes of like-minded tourists, eager for that memorable photograph, cannot detract from the majestic views of the surrounding craggy peaks.

Here the road forks. The A83 continues towards Inveraray and the single-track B828 heads southwest to meet the B839, which runs down to the village of Lochgoilhead, in a beautiful setting on Loch Goil. There are several hotels and B&Bs as well as an unsightly village of self-catering holiday chalets next door. At the end of the road, several miles down the west side of Loch Goil, are the ruins of 15th-century Castle Carrick.

Lochgoilhead in late sunlight - click for photographer credits

Ardkinglas Woodland Garden

The A83 meanwhile runs down through Glen Kinglas to reach the village ofCairndow, at the head of Loch Fyne. Nearby is the Ardkinglas Woodland Garden, (website here)which contains an impressive collection of exotic rhododendrons, as well as the largest conifers in Europe, over 120-ft high and 30-ft in girth. Daily dawn till dusk. Free. Tel. 01499-600263.

A mile or so further on towards Inveraray, at Clachan, at the head of Loch Fyne, is the highly acclaimed Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Younger Botanic Garden

Just before Cairndow, the A815 branches left and runs south down the eastern shore of Loch Fyne. At Strachur it turns inland and heads down to Loch Eck, a very beautiful and narrow freshwater loch, popular with trout fishermen. At the southern end of Loch Eck, at Benmore, is the Younger Botanic Garden, a lovely woodland garden and offshoot of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. Its 140 acres are laid out with over 250 species of rhododendrons and feature an avenue of Giant Redwoods. Open Mar-31 Oct daily 0930-1800. Tel. 01369-706261.