Ardfern is a wonderful centre for a holiday with short walks to the village and along the loch. At end of the Craignish Peninsula (4 miles), fantastic sunsets can be seen looking between Jura and Scarba, where lurks the infamous Corrievreckan whirlpool. A mile nearer the house, there is a beautiful little mediaeval chapel with its ancient burial stones and a shallow bay where you can swim. There are beautiful sandy beaches within an hourThe focus of the village of Ardfern is the 200-year-old drover; pub - The Galley of Lorne - with its open fires and easy atmosphere. There is a restaurant and bar meals are also served. On sunny days, one can drink outside while the kids play on the grass. Opposite the hotel is for coffee, cakes and crafts as well as, in season, lunch and dinner. The church service is at 10:15 a.m.. There is also a well stocked, licensed, village shop and post office 08:00 (08:30 Sun) to 19:00hrs, and a thriving marina from which daily boat excursions depart.Ardfern and its sister village of Croabh Haven boast an excellent riding centre with Appaloosa horses, daily boat trips and a watersports centre with canoeing, windsurfing and sailing. There are golf courses at Lochgilphead, Seil and Oban. If canoeing and riding is all a bit too energetic, then you can just soak up the beautiful scenery or enjoy the many lovely local walks and gardens. The area is ideal for photographers and artists and there is also plenty of bird and sea life to be seen. Should you wish to venture further afield you are well placed for touring Argyll and the islands. The recently re-intoduced beavers can be found at Dubh Loch less than an hour from the house.Mid Argyll is one of the most fascinating parts of Scotland to explore. There are more prehistoric sites, stone circles, standing stones, cup and ring marks in these few square miles than anywhere else in Scotland. The first Scots kings were crowned at Dunadd fort. Archaeological exploration is centred on the village of Kilmartin (15 minutes drive from the house) and its Museum of Ancient Culture. The adjoining café is a family favourite.The bustling port town of Oban is the embarkation point for many islands including Kerrera, Mull, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and the Outer Hebrides. Mull is an easy day trip. Its attractions include: Duart Castle, the fishing and distillery town of Tobermory, and Toronsay House and gardens (linked to Craignure by a narrow gauge steam railway). From Mull, it is a short hop to Iona (where St Columba landed in 563 AD) with its famous Abbey and white sandy beaches; and to the geological spectacle of Staffa and Fingal's Cave which inspired Mendlesohn's Hebridean Overture. There are several organised full day excursions from Oban which include Mull, Staffa and Iona. North of Oban, via the Connell bridge, is the village of Port Appin; embarkation point for the island of Lismore and/or lunch stop at The Pier Restaurant - if you want to push the boat out – try the Michelin-starred Airds Hotel. Just to the north is Castle Stalker. On wet days, children might prefer the Sealife Centre at Benderloch (1 hour from Ardfern) or the subterranean Ben Cruachan Hydro Electric Visitor Centre. On hot days there are beaches and diving at Gannavan and Tralee. Around Taynuilt there is the Bonawe Iron Foundry museum (Apr – Sep) and cruises on the Loch Etive. Other attractions include: Kilchurn castle, Oban Rare Breeds Park and Oban Distillery.The Island of Seil is halfway between Oban and Ardfern, and accessed by the 1793 Thomas Telford “Bridge over the Atlantic”, where lunch can be had at Tigh na Truish (House of the Troussers!). Further on, at Ballvicar, there is a rough-and-ready 9-hole golf course and next to the Inshaig hotel, the beautiful gardens of An Cala (Apr – Oct). The road ends at Ellanbeich from where the tiny car-free island of Easdale with its historic slate quarries and fascinating museum is reached in 3 minutes by ferry. Half an hour south of the house is Crinan, a busy hamlet (with upmarket hotel and coffee shop) by the lock gates at the seaward end of the Crinan Canal. From here, excursions run to the remote north end of Jura (where Orwell wrote 1984). Beyond Crinan, at Kilmory lie beautiful large white sandy beaches (a sinuous 1-hour from the house). There is a small beach at Carsaig (30 mins). If the sea is too cold(!) then you can try the warmer hill lochens above the house or the swimming pool at Lochgilphead. Further down the Kintyre peninsula, the island of Gigha (house, gardens and hotel) makes a great day trip. Islay and Jura are reached from Kennacraig and Ireland from Campbeltown.Argyll is walking country with 25 Munros within 90 minutes including Ben Cruachan, Ben Lui and Glencoe (where one can also ski). Sea fishing can be arranged from Oban and Croabh, and there is good fresh water fishing in Loch Awe and in other smaller lochs. There are fine gardens: Arduaine NTS (15 minutes) and Old Portalloch (20 minutes), It is 1 hour south to Inverarey with its beautiful white houses, castle (home to the Duke of Argyll) and historic jail. The Auchindrain Crofting Village Museum, Crarae gardens and a wildlife park are on the way. Glasgow and its museums/shopping is 1 hour further.