Loch Awe Holiday Park - 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.

St Conan's Kirk stands in the village of Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute. Designed by Walter Douglas Campbell, it was built in the 1880s, extended in the early 1900s and consecrated in 1930. It is a category A listed building, and a 2016 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland public poll placed it among the Top 10 Scottish buildings of the last 100 years.

Inside, the style mixes church designs from ancient Roman to Norman, all in local stone. Look for the chancel arch piers, made from large granite boulders from Ben Cruachan, and the oak beams in the cloister, believed to come from the broken-up warships HMS Caledonia and HMS Duke of Wellington. There are three chapels, including the Bruce Chapel with its carved wood and alabaster effigy of Robert the Bruce. The Kirk also holds a bone fragment said to be from the king. St Conan's Tower is half a mile away.

Tip: St Conan's Tower is only half a mile away, so you can see both in one outing.

Oban Distillery was founded in 1794 by brothers John and Hugh Stevenson, and the town grew up around it. It is one of Scotland's oldest and smallest working distilleries, with just two pot stills, and it sits in the centre of Oban near the harbour.

Guided tours explain how whisky is made on a small scale, with a tasting of the coastal Highland single malt. Oban is known for a balanced, gently smoky style with bright citrus notes, somewhere between the smokier island whiskies and the lighter, sweeter Highland malts.

It's an easy stop on a day in town. The distillery is a five-minute walk from Oban train station, and there is a bar and a retail shop on site. Oban is also the gateway to the West Highlands and the islands.

Tip: Allow extra time to find paid parking nearby, or walk from Oban train station, which is five minutes away.

Castle Stalker is a four-storey medieval tower house on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe, in the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area. It is one of the best preserved medieval tower houses in western Scotland and is Category A listed. You may also recognise it from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

It is privately owned and open to the public only at selected times in summer, by advance booking. A tour includes a short boat crossing of about 200 metres and a guided visit led by a member of the owning family. Groups are limited to six, and you should allow up to two hours. Access involves getting in and out of a boat and climbing numerous steps, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Tip: Book ahead via the website's Contact Us form. Tours for 2026 have finished and the castle is closed for winter; next dates are due February 2027. Wear weatherproof clothing and wellies for the crossing.

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.