Caravanning in Argyll and Bute

Caravanning suits Argyll and Bute well. It's a region of long sea lochs, forest roads and quiet single-track detours, and having your own bed and kettle with you takes the pressure off getting everywhere in a day. There are 21 caravanning stays published on BritStays here, spread from the sheltered inland lochs to open west-facing beaches, so the first job is working out which sort of pitch you actually want.

Where the sites are, and what that means for your trip

Ten of the 21 are listed simply under Argyll and Bute, which tends to mean a rural setting rather than a recognisable town address. Oban accounts for eight, making it the obvious base if you want a town within reach of your pitch. Inverary, Appin and Dunoon have one each, which is worth knowing: if you have your heart set on a particular one of those, you're choosing between very few options and need to plan further ahead.

For coastal trips, Point Sands Holiday Park is listed with both Beach Access and Sea Views — a useful combination, given only two sites in the set mention sea views at all. Carradale Bay Caravan Park is another coastal name with a bar and restaurant on site. If you'd rather have water without the wind, the loch-side and glen sites make more sense: Loch Awe Holiday Park, Loch Eck Caravan Park, Lochgoilhead Holiday Park, St Catherine's Caravan Park and The Secret Glen all sit in that inland category.

Matching a site to who's travelling

Families generally want somewhere with enough on site to fill a wet afternoon. Argyll Caravan Park in Inverary is the stand-out on that front in this set, listing a swimming pool, a bar and takeaway food. Castle Sween Holiday Park and Carradale Bay Caravan Park both list a bar and restaurant, which saves cooking after a long drive.

Couples after something quieter will find the smaller, plainer entries more appealing. Airds Bay CL is listed as near a train station, and Cot House Caravan Park as near a bus stop — both handy if you'd rather park the van once and leave it parked. The Secret Glen lists WiFi and little else, which tells you roughly what to expect.

Dog owners should read the listings carefully. Only five of the 21 sites list Pet Friendly, among them Creagan Station Tourers Camper Site in Appin and Castle Sween Holiday Park. That doesn't mean the others refuse dogs — many parks simply don't list it — but it does mean a phone call or email before you book is sensible, and worth asking about exercise areas and whether dogs can be left in the van.

What the facilities data tells you

Across the 21 stays, the most frequently listed facilities are WiFi (8), Toilets (7), Pet Friendly (5), a Bar (4), a Restaurant (4) and a Gift Shop (4). Parking appears on three. The headline is that most of these are modest touring and holiday parks rather than resort-style complexes, so assume you're self-sufficient unless the listing says otherwise.

• Toilets on only seven listings means motorhome and caravan owners should expect to rely on their own facilities at some sites.
• WiFi on eight is a reminder that mobile signal in the glens can be patchy — download maps before you set off.
• Ardfern Motorhome Park lists toilets, a gift shop and a picnic area; Stratheck Holiday Park lists toilets and WiFi; St Catherine's Caravan Park lists a cafe and gift shop.
• Loch Awe Holiday Park lists Guided Tours, which is unusual in this set and worth asking about.

Days out from the pitch

The region is thick with castles. Castle Stalker and Gylen Castle are the dramatic ones; Duntrune Castle and Dunderave Castle sit on the water too. For grander interiors, Mount Stuart House, Stonefield Castle Hotel and Colonsay House are all nearby options, along with Inverailort House.

On rainy days, museums carry the trip. Kilmartin House Museum and Auchindrain are the best known locally, with The Egg Shed, Strachur Smiddy and Colintraive Heritage Centre as smaller, quicker stops. Argyll Adventure gives families something more active. Just over the boundary in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, Weaver's Cottage and Greenock Fire Museum & Heritage Centre are worth a detour if you're passing.

When to book

With only 21 sites in the whole region and single listings in Inverary, Appin and Dunoon, July and August fill early — book those months several months out, and earlier again for anything coastal like Point Sands Holiday Park. May, June and September are easier and generally quieter on the roads. Always confirm pitch type (hardstanding or grass), electric hook-up, maximum unit length and arrival times directly with the park, and check cancellation terms before you pay a deposit.