Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute is one of the most rewarding parts of Scotland for van travel, combining sea lochs, islands, ancient Atlantic oak forest and some of the best coastal scenery in the UK. The sheer scale of the area is striking – it covers more coastline than France, much of it accessible only by single-track road or ferry.

The Kintyre Peninsula alone offers days of quiet driving, from the fertile farmland around Tarbert down to the lighthouse at the Mull of Kintyre. The west coast of Kintyre faces Islay and Jura across the sound, and on clear days the Irish coast is visible beyond. The road to Oban opens up ferry connections to Mull, Islay, Jura, Colonsay and the smaller islands.

Loch Fyne, Loch Awe and Loch Etive are among the longest sea lochs in Scotland and all have their own stop-worthy scenery. The road around Loch Awe passes the ruins of Kilchurn Castle at the northern end – one of the most photogenic castle ruins in Scotland and accessible with a short walk from the car park.

Overnight stops range from lochside campsites to quiet laybys on single-track roads with views across the sound. Roads here are slow and winding, which is exactly why they work so well for vanlife – the journey itself is most of the point, and there is rarely any reason to rush.