Rampant Scotland Directory!

Tourism - Central Highlands and Argyll

The links on this page are for sites in the heart of Scotland in the Central Highlands, Perthshire and on the west coast of Argyll.

There are other separate pages for sites covering all of the Highlands and for the following regions:



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Perthshire Tourist Board

Helps you to explore Perthshire's towns and villages, history and heritage, visitor attractions and the countryside, find accommodation and acrtivities and provides tips for travellers. There are specific pages on the main towns in the county -

Strathearn

Since this site features the beautiful Strathearn area of Perthshire, including the towns surrounding villages it clearly has plenty of good material available and it makes best use of it with a Strathearn Picture Gallery and illustrated guides to local attractions such as Macrosty Park and Innerpeffray with the oldest free lending Library in the country, founded about 1680, plus Lady Mary's Walk and Earhquake House (where one of the first seismometers was installed - the area is on a fault line and the village of Comrie is known as the "Shakin' Toon." Other places covered (with information on accommodation, eating out, outdoor activities and places to visit) include:

There is also a Local History section which covers from the Picts and Romans to the present day. The site also features Strathearn Arts and Crafts with a collection of local artists and some of their work - I particularly liked David Stratton Watt's "A Heated End on Loch Drunkie"

Highland Strathearn - Papers in a Trunk

Prompted by coming across family papers in a trunk in a loft in Comrie, Peter McNaughton has produced a wide ranging Web site on the natural history, people, clans, history and the statistical accounts of the area.

Loch Tay Images

This website contains a growing collection of landscape digital photographs taken around the Loch Tay area of Scotland by Alan Mackenzie using a digital camera and includes some nice atmospheric shots.

The Wonderful World of Aberfeldy Weather

A jaunty look at the weather in Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire including a daily diary of weather events, last 5 days weather and weather pictures form around the Aberfeldy area. There is also a guide to accommodation and activities in Aberfeldy.

Scottish Plant Collectors Garden

This is Scotland's newest public garden being created on 6 acres of wooded hillside adjacent to Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the famous Dam and Fish Ladder. The Scottish Plant Collectors' Garden will pay tribute to the many Scottish explorers and naturalists who discovered and collected new plant species in the rapidly expanding world of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Argyll on Line

An extensive guide in words and pictures to the towns and islands of Argyllshire. The pages on the various towns cover events, entertainment, leisure and accommodation. Minor towns and villages are also described but the main locations include:

Argyll Info

This is a general information site dedicated to everyone with an interest in Argyll - from Oban in the north with its high rugged hills, narrow glens and twisting winding roads, to the west and the islands of the Inner Hebrides including Mull and Iona, down through Mid-Argyll to the southern peninsula of Kintyre with its adjacent islands of Islay and Jura. South Argyll's maritime gateway to Scotland's first National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is found in Dunoon, Capital of the Cowal Peninsula. There is a specific section of the site on Underwater Diving off the coast of Argyll.

The Isle of Bute

History, where to stay and eat out, business directory, events and a photo gallery.

Argyll Web Directory

Aims to provide a complete overview of the online presence of Argyll and the islands for businesses, accommodation owners, web services and personal websites, all related to Argyll. There are also articles on specific aspects of the area such as Auchindrain Museum near Inveraray.

Loch Awe Community Website

With some justification the introduction to Loch Awe describes it as the "Jewel of Argyll" and the Web site covers information for residents and visitors, what's on in and around Loch Awe, Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council, Loch Awe, Bridge of Orchy, accommodation, restaurants and eateries in the Loch Awe Community Area, things to do in the Loch Awe area, local businesses and travel to Loch Awe by Air, Car, Coach, Rail. The History of Loch Awe and the surrounding area is also covered.

Rannoch Community Website

A range of pages relating to the Rannoch area, including accommodation in Hotels and Guest Houses and Holiday Houses with large graphics illustrating the places available. There are plenty of Images of Rannoch, in particular nearby Schiehallion and also including Black Wood of Rannoch (one of the few remaining patches of the original Caledonian Pine Forest that once covered the whole of Scotland) and Craig Varr a crag that lies just to the North East of Kinloch Rannoch. And then there are illustrations and descriptions of birds which can be seen in the area, such as the Golden Eagle, peregrine falcon, kestrel, plus pages on mammals and fish which can be found in the area.

Glenspean - A Travellers Guide

Details of tourist services available in the Glen Spean area, as well as some photos (including the commando memorial at Spean Bridge and the memorial to Bonnie Prince Charlie at Glenfinnan) a touring guide, travel information and links to other relevant sites. There is also a postcard service so that you can send some of the lovely illustrations to your friends.

Isle of Jura

Comprehensive site covering many aspects of this jewel, including history, accommodation, Jura Distillery, Jura House Garden, an Isle of Jura Video and books, the Paps of Jura and picture galleries. There's even an Isle of Jura Blog!

Visit Coll

Wide ranging site on this Inner Hebridean island including images of the island (including free wallpaper graphics), flora of Coll, a what's on section, Coll Show, broadband on the island, weather, accommodation, local amenities and attrctions, transport.

Kintyre Travel Guide

An information resource for the Kintyre area including travel, accommodation, events, attractions, history and wildlife.

Campbeltown, Kintyre, Argyll

Covering the "Wee Toon" and the surrounding Kintyre peninsula, including Macrahanish and Carradale. There are sections on tourism and travel and current news. The "Dalintober Midges Page" is a listing of people who have lived in Campbeltown and help for those in search of ancestors or family relations from the area.

Macrahanish

A Web site dedicated to this small village situated on the Kintyre Peninsula on the west coast of Scotland. It provides local news, some history, a photo gallery, postcards and live chat and links to associoated sites.

Isle of Gigha

Description of the island off the west coast of the Mull of Kintyre. The site has a Map of the Island as well as illustrated Island Views and a description of the lovely Achamore Garden. You can book your accommodation on Gigha at a number of B&B and Guest Houses - and the one and only hotel.

Easdale Island (Eilean Eisdeal)

This is a small historic island lying in the Firth of Lorn, off the West Coast, 16 miles south of Oban. It has spectacular views over the Firth of Lorn, looking out to Mull, Luing and Insh islands. There are lots of illustrations of the island on this site. At one time there was a thriving slate quarry there and the site also has illustrations of the Eilean Eisdeal "Puffer" moored in the harbour.

Easdale Island Folk Museum

Located not far from Oban, the Easdale Folk Museum aims to show a snapshot of life on Easdale Island as it was in the 19th Century, when the Island was the centre of the Scottish slate industry. The Museum re-creates the atmosphere of life on the Island when the Easdale Slate Quarries Company was at its prime.

Inveraray Jail

This is an introduction to Scotland's living 19th century prison in the Argyll with a virtual tour of the Jail will give you a taste of the real thing. The "real thing" allows you to appear in court, explore the prisons and airing yards - and see the Death and Damnation exhibition. If you manage to escape from the jail, the site alos has information on Inveraray Town itself.

Auchindrain Township-Open Air Museum

Auchindrain, south of Inveraray in Argyll, is an original West Highland village and the only communal tenancy township in Scotland to have survived on its centuries old site much in its original form with buildings which have been restored and preserved. Queen Victoria visited Auchindrain in 1875 and recorded the event in her diary.

Campbell Country

Part of the Clan Campbell Society of North America site, there is a substantial text and a good number of photographs describing how to get there, a Campbell Country Map plus what to see (Campbell Castles of course but gardens too) and trips to make while there.

Glorious Gardens of Argyll

And glorious they are too. There are around twenty gardens indicated on a map of Argyllshire including Mount Stuart in Rothesay (see link below), Ardchattan Garden near Oban, Crarae Garden in Inveraray, Younger Botanic Garden near Dunoon, (a real gem!) Ardencraig Gardens, Rothesay - and lots more!

On the island of Bute is the spectacular Mount Stuart House and Gardens.

Dunoon Webcam

Not just a Webcam (which, unlike many webcams, produces a picture even at night as result of street lighting) but the site also covers Dunoon activities and events, caravan parks, hotels and B&Bs, pubs & restaurants, retailers, transport and travel etc.

Oban and Lorne Tourism Association

History, tourist attractions and accommodation is provided by the local tourist association, including three Webcams.

The well known eating place McTavish's Kitchens is also highlighted.

Oban and Lorne Links

Links to sites associated with the Oban and Lorne area, including places to go (islands, castles, gardens and attractions), boat trips, transport, accommodation and local community.

Ardkinglas Estate, Argyll

Ardkinglas Woodland Garden contains one of the finest collections of Rhododendrons and Conifers in the British Isles and the botanical garden includes the "Mightiest Conifer in Europe" dating back to 1750, and the Ardkinglas Grand Fir - is probably the tallest tree in Britain at 202' 1".

West Highland Way

From Milngavie, just outside Glasgow, to Fort William in the Western Highlands, the West Highland Way is walked by around 50,000 people every year. This official site produced on behalf of Loch Lomond & Trossachs Interim Committee has a map, useful information, accommodation along the way including notes on camping.

Elsewhere there is a lengthy, illustrated guide to walking the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William.

West Highland Way

This website gives you all the information you require for walking this amazing West Highland Way route. Everything is included from sectioned maps of the trail plus detailed information of the great accommodation one can use on the way.

West Highland Way by Walking Scotland

A guide to the West Highland Way and how to enjoy a walk along the route. Advice from planning and packing to travel, books and accommodation. Then a seven-day "conducted tour" with a description of what to see and maps showing the route.

About Glencoe

Everything you need to know about Glencos - how the glen was formed, the battles and that massacre, natural history, things to see and do, Signal Rock and The Lost Valley, easy walks and viewpoints, classic mountain walks (for serious hillwalkers only), bike hire, Glencoe Studio Gallery (a local artist and gallery), skiing, fishing, photography, accommodation etc. In other words, everything!

Glencoe and Loch Leven

Full of excellent illustrations, this site demonstrates the wild beauty of this part of Scotland. There is a clickable map to take you to Ballachulish, Corran, Glencoe Village and, of course, Glencoe Pass, plus a panoramic view from the Pap of Glencoe. Details are also provided of attractions, shops, activities, sport and accommodation.

Scotland In Photo: Landscape Photography

The pages here illustrate the photographs of Christopher Redhead which are available for browsing or purchase. They cover mainly Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Glencoe & Rannoch Moor and Waterfalls & Streams. He likes to work in the golden hours which offer atmospheric conditions, long shadows, textured terrain and peacefulness.

Kyle of Lochalsh

A somewhat unusual and lighthearted set of illustrations of the Kyle of Lochalsh and surrounding area - as the Central garage recovery vehicle goes out to breakdowns and incidents involving cars, lorries or even buses which have come a cropper on the narrow country roads! Even the Mallaig lifeboat manages to get stuck!

Ardnamurchan

"Where the sun sets later... And the pace is easier." Ardnamurchan is a large peninsula on the far west coast of Lochaber district, west of Fort William. The well illustrated and written website for this wild and remote part of the country has sections on what to do in the area, a selection of walks, the wildlife and history. The photo tour gives a good impression of this attractive part of Scotland.

Monarch Country

Following the success of the BBC drama series "Monarch of the Glen" which was filmed in the Badenoch region, the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board is marketing the area as "Monarch Country". The Web site gives a background to the places of interest and the wildlife in the area of Badenoch and Strathspey with a useful map and links to individual pages on the main towns and villages in the area:

There is also a link to the BBC Scotland Web pages on Monarch of the Glen.

Laggan

The hit BBC drama series "Monarch of the Glen" is set in the Scottish Highlands in fictitous Glenbogle. Much of the filming was done in the village of Laggan, Ardverikie Castle and the surrounding area of the Monadhliath Mountains. This Web site provides a description and illustrations of the "real" Glenbogle as well as notes on the filming of the series.





Where else would you like to go in Scotland?

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