Argyll is the strikingly beautiful and unspoiled mountainous region that separates the Scottish Highlands from the Lowlands. Sea lochs break up its deeply indented and exceptionally scenic Atlantic coastline. Inland shimmer numerous freshwater lochs, including world-famous Loch Lomond, Loch Awe and the picturesque Loch Katrine. Off its west coast rise the myriad islands of the Inner Hebrides, which provide the backdrop for spellbinding sunsets. The Scottish nation was born in Argyll. The Scotti invaders arrived here from Ireland in the 6th century and established their Gaelic-speaking Dalriada kingdom at Dunadd, so laying the foundations for modern-day Scotland. More recently, Clan Campbell was for a long time the all-powerful force in the region, and the Dukes of Argyll still live in the elegant, turreted castle at Inveraray. Extending from the Firth of Forth in the east, the Stirling region is mainly hilly, and reaches 3,192 feet in Ben Lomond. The historic city of Stirling commands a strategic position in Scotland's narrow central belt where most of the country's natural highways converge, and has as a result been the scene of many battles. It was here that William "Braveheart" Wallace and Robert the Bruce won independence for Scotland. Nowadays, Argyll's rugged coast and hills hide not freedom fighters but some of Scotland's most characterful inns and small hotels, whose rooms offer intensely peaceful relaxation, and whose kitchens serve some of the most delicious seafood you will ever taste. The author, a full-time Scottish resident, goes on to cover all the details of the surrounding area – the history, culture, sightseeing, how to get around, the places to stay, the restaurants and more.
