Ardgartan Argyll Lodges - Fun Days Out

Inveraray Castle stands on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch. It is one of the earliest examples of Gothic Revival architecture and a Category A listed building. The Campbells, chiefs of Clan Campbell, have a long history here, and the castle's contents give a glimpse into the way their ancestors lived.

Inside, you can see neoclassical rooms created in the 18th century and a collection of more than 1,300 pikes, muskets, swords and other weapons. Outside, a 16-acre garden is there to wander, and the castle has a gift shop and an award-winning tearoom for a break. The castle has also appeared on screen, including in Downton Abbey. It is a good choice if you like historic houses, architecture and Highland scenery.

Tip: Pre-book your tickets ahead of your visit, as the castle recommends, and check it is open on the day you plan to go.

Hill House is a villa in Helensburgh, designed between 1902 and 1904 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for the publisher Walter Blackie. Outside, it has an austere, asymmetrical look, with grey roughcast walls and little ornament. It is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland and open to the public.

Inside, the rooms are the main draw. Look for the white drawing room with its rose-stencilled walls and gesso fireplace panel by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, and the dark, wood-panelled dining room with its polished steel fireplace. Furniture throughout was designed by Mackintosh, and the lower hall plays with light through dark panelling, coloured glass screens and stained glass light fittings.

The house has also been wrapped in a protective chainmail-clad structure called "the Box", to help it dry out after years of damp. Visitors can learn about the conservation work. The house is reputed to be haunted by Blackie's ghost, which may amuse the children.

Inveraray Jail is a Category A listed courthouse and prison, built in 1820 and now a museum. The prison closed in 1889 and the courthouse stayed in use until the mid-twentieth century. You explore on a self-guided tour, with downloadable audio guides in English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish and Italian.

Visitors can see the courtroom, the old and new prison blocks and exhibits, along with the life stories of people who passed through. Reviewers praise the friendly, in-character staff and say it is fun for both children and adults. Allow around 60 to 90 minutes for the jail.

There is also an escape room for 2 to 6 people, with a minimum age of 8. Players under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Other experiences include personal guided tours, after-hours lantern walks and a murder mystery.

Tip: Dogs are welcome on the jail tour but not in the escape room, and the escape room must be booked online. There is limited free parking in front, and a large car park nearby.

Dumbarton Castle clings to Dumbarton Rock, a volcanic plug rising almost vertical where the River Leven meets the River Clyde. It was once the heart of an ancient kingdom covering the area now known as Strathclyde, and its recorded history goes back 1,500 years, from the Dark Ages through to the Second World War.

The highlight of a visit is reaching the top of White Tower Crag for the views across Strathclyde and beyond. On the way you pass the artillery fortifications, some of Scotland's finest examples of early 18th-century military architecture. In the Governor's House, the Rock of Ages exhibition shows artefacts found at the castle, including part of a 1,000-year-old Viking sword. It suits history fans, families with curious children and anyone who likes a good view.

Tip: Book your visit online in advance; Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders can also get in using their pass.

Auchentoshan is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery on the edge of Clydebank, at the foot of the Kilpatrick Hills near the Erskine Bridge. The distillery was built in 1823 and rebuilt completely in 1969. It has a visitor centre, completed in 2005, and offers behind-the-scenes tours.

What sets it apart is triple distillation, which is unusual for a Scottish distillery. A third still, the Intermediate Still, is used before the final spirit is made, and the whisky is unpeated. The website describes the result as smooth, fresh and fruity. Maturation is mainly in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts.

There is also a bar on site. A bomb crater behind the distillery, left from the Clydebank Blitz, now serves as a cooling water pond, which makes a nice bit of local history for visitors interested in the area's past.

Tip: Tours can be booked through the distillery's website, and it's worth checking its current opening days and what the tour covers before you set off.

The Antonine Wall was a turf fortification on stone foundations, built by the Romans across the Central Belt of Scotland between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth. Construction began in AD 142 on the orders of Emperor Antoninus Pius, and for a time it was the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire. It ran for about 63 kilometres, with a deep ditch on its northern side.

Don't expect towering stonework. The turf and timber wall has largely weathered away, so its remains are less obvious than Hadrian's Wall, but some stretches are still visible and are cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. Look for the ditch, the forts and the fortlets that once lined the route. Rough Castle Fort is the best preserved of the forts, though also one of the smallest. It's a good outing if you enjoy Roman history and don't mind using your imagination.

Tip: Head for Rough Castle Fort first, as it is the best preserved of the wall's forts.

Titan Crane is a 49-metre cantilever crane at Clydebank, built for the John Brown & Company shipyard. It was the world's first electrically powered cantilever crane, and it lifted heavy engines and boilers into ships including the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The Category A listed crane was refurbished as a tourist attraction and shipbuilding museum. The work added a lift up to the jib, an emergency evacuation stair and a wire mesh around the viewing area, plus floodlights to light the structure at night. It has also won an Engineering Heritage Award and international historic landmark status. Anyone interested in Clydeside shipbuilding and engineering history will get the most from a visit.

Benmore Botanic Garden is a 120-acre mountainside garden on the Cowal Peninsula, run by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. You enter along an avenue of giant redwoods, then follow waymarked walks past a pond, a Victorian Fernery and a collection of towering conifers, including monkey puzzle trees and Douglas firs.

In spring and early summer more than 300 species of rhododendron bloom across the hillsides. Fitter visitors can climb to a viewpoint overlooking Holy Loch and the surrounding mountains, passing Bhutanese and Chilean pavilions on the way. Red squirrels live in the garden, and there is a wildlife hide for watching birds and other animals. An easy access route keeps to low-level paths, so it suits those who prefer a gentler walk. It will appeal to plant lovers, walkers, families and anyone who likes big scenery.

Tip: Dogs are welcome on a short lead, but not inside the Fernery. Parking is free, and the high viewpoint is a steep climb, so allow extra time.