#argyll holidays

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7 ways to immerse yourself in Argyll Culture this May

The sun is starting to make an appearance, the days are getting longer, and the nights are becoming lighter – what better time to immerse yourself in the culture across Argyll.

And with breaks from just £30 per person (more info here), it’s even easier to use one of our Holiday Parks as a base to embrace the west coast culture.

Visit a famous Castle

Towering at the edge of the quaint town of Inveraray, this iconic Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell and a must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. You can tour around the castle, or simply take a trip around the beautiful gardens. Argyll Holidays guests receive 20% discount on admission, and you can find more info here.

Enjoy traditional Scottish music

No trip to Scotland’s West Coast is complete without stripping the willow. Traditional Scottish music is hugely popular across this part of the country, and there’s no better place to enjoy it than our very own boutique music festival – Gig in the Goil, which welcomes award-winning trad bands across from across Scotland. More info here.

Go on a loch cruise

What better than witnessing the sheer beauty surrounding the famous Loch Lomond than from on the water itself? Cruise Loch Lomond, in Tarbet, and Sweeney’s Cruises on the East side of the loch both offer breath-taking cruises, with 15% discount for Argyll Holidays guests. Cruise Loch Lomond have recently added to their fleet as well, so it really is the perfect time to try them out! Bike hire is also available from their Tarbet base.

Visit an island

Argyll has 25 inhabited islands – more than any other region in the country. Cal Mac run regular ferry services to most of these islands, meaning you can visit as part of a day trip. Add to this the rich history that these islands possess, and the fact there’s so much to explore, and it’s easy to see why this is an essential ‘to-do’ when visiting the area. Visit the Cal Mac website for a full list of destinations to visit this May.

Explore glorious gardens

In a magnificent mountainside setting on the Cowal Peninsula lies Benmore, an enchanting Garden steeped in history and surrounded by dramatic scenery. The park is managed by experienced rangers, and offers a host of guided walks, explorer tours and kids activities. Enjoy the early-Summer colours from the flowers as you immerse yourself in the landscape.

Experience life behind bars

…don’t worry, they’ve promised they’ll let you out! Stepping through the doors of Inveraray Jail is stepping back in time to a 19th-century prison. Experience what life was like for the men, women and children who were locked up here. Explore the historic buildings and meet the costumed characters who animate the past in this unique living museum. Find out more here.

Follow a Gruffalo trail

Ardkinglas Woodland Garden lies in the small village of Cairndow and is renowned for its fine collection of conifer trees. The Gruffalo Trail will be sure to capture the imagination of your little ones, as they embark on an adventure, following the mouse to find the Gruffalo. A perfect family day out.

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Argyll Bucket List Ideas

Here at Argyll Holidays, not only do we offer a fantastic range of indoor and outdoor activities, but our holiday guests can also enjoy an exclusive discount at many of our local partner attractions, simply by flashing their accommodation key.

And with breaks from just £135 (more info here), it’s even easier to use one of our Holiday Parks as a base.

There’s certainly no excuse not to sit down and plan your 2018 bucket list right now.

Become an Archer

Ready? Aim. Fire!

Let an experienced Archery leader show you how to shoot a high-performance bow with accuracy and hit the gold with ease. With fun, games and competition, there is something in the sessions for everyone.

More Info

Sledge down a River

River sledging is big in the US and New Zealand, but it’s relatively new to the UK, so it’s fair to say that this activity is creating a lot of excitement around Loch Lomond. In Your Element are the new activity provider on the ‘bonnie banks’, and this is perfect if you’ve got the taste of adrenaline and adventure.

Even better, Argyll Holidays guests get 10% discount.*

Pilot your own Boat

Nestled on the shores of Loch Goil, Loch Goil Cruisers have a fleet of day boats for hire that are perfect for enjoying the stunning scenery, the diverse wildlife, on-board picnic-ing and fishing. Take your own boat out with friends or family come rain or shine, and enjoy all that this stunning loch has to offer. Guests of Argyll Holidays can take advantage of the free fishing rod hire.*

More Info

Learn to Fence

Work up a sweat in this fast-paced high intensity sport. With a British Fencing activity leader, you will learn all the footwork and sword skills you need to parry, riposte and disengage your way to victory. 

En-Garde!

More Info

Catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights

There are plenty of dark skies across Argyll, making it ideal for stargazing on a clear night. Watching the iconic northern lights is one of the most common things on the bucket list of visitors to Scotland, and you might just get lucky.

You can explore some stargazing locations here

Visit a new Island

Well, new to you!

Argyll has 25 inhabited islands – more than any other region in the country. Cal Mac run regular ferry services to most of these islands, meaning you can visit as part of a day trip. Add to this the rich history that these islands possess, and the fact there’s so much to explore, and it’s easy to see why this is an essential ‘to-do’ when visiting the area. Visit the Cal Mac website for a full list of destinations.

Bag a Munro

Up for a challenge?

Climbing a mountain is one thing, but in Scotland there are 282 mountains with a summit of more than 3000ft, including 19 right here in Argyll & the Isles.  These can be tricky to navigate but are certainly rewarding when you get the views from the summit.

If you fancy something a little more challenging, then we also have various long distance routes near our holiday parks, including the Cowal Way and the West Highland Way.

Admire the West Coast sunset

With the longer evenings, come breath-taking sunsets. There are many spots in Argyll that make for the perfect location to sit back and catch a glimpse of the stunning colours in the sky as the sun disappears below the horizon – check them out here.

Try Wakeboarding

If you’re into the adrenaline rush then you might want to try this - Loch Lomond Wakeboard is Scotland’s first purpose-built wakeboard school and they guarantee you the ride of your life, on the calm waters of Loch Lomond.

Argyll Holidays guests enjoy 20% off wakeboarding excursions & lessons.*

More Info 

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Gold Rush

To celebrate our 50th anniversary we have an amazing choice of brand new and pre-owned holiday homes across our parks. Not only are these models fantastic quality, but they come with an array of free gifts for you to choose from.

Choose any of the following holiday homes and you will benefit from: ★ UPVC double glazing  ★ Combi boiler central heating     ★ Patio doors & panoramic windows for those stunning views! ★ Increased thermal efficiency, to save on utility bills ★ Free siting & connection (inc aerial & gas) ★ Choice of plot ★ Premium turnaround 

Plus one of the following free gifts: ★ UPVC Sundeck ★ Deluxe BBQ ★ Fantastic Rattan Corner Suite ★ State of the art Patio Heater 

Victory Grovewood Lux (2 Bed) at Hunters Quay

New for 2017, the Grovewood Lux builds on the appeal of the popular Grovewood. It is larger in size (12.5 wide) and offers a wealth of extra features including upgraded appliances, music centre, high performance cladding and beautiful sliding patio doors. With its lavish dark wood interior and unique column feature in the open plan living area, the Grovewood Lux offers a luxury lifestyle in a truly premium quality leisure home. 

ABI Ashcroft (2 Bed) at Loch Eck Caravan Park

The ABI Ashcroft has all the standard features but the lounge is an impressive living space with feature chandelier lighting, scatter cushions and beautiful upholstery.  These are just a few of the many extra features that make The Ashcroft the perfect upgrade to an already outstanding holiday home.

Victory Echo (2 Bed) at Stratheck Holiday Park

The brand-new Victory Echo represents fantastic value with standard features such as large panoramic windows, USB ports and beautiful contemporary fabrics. This really is the perfect family holiday home.

Pemberton Marlow (2 Bed) at Drimsynie Estate

The ever popular Marlow range continues to surprise and impress with it’s style and charisma. The warm oak wood effect throughout extends to the interior doors and evokes a real air of luxury. The L shaped kitchen has considerable worktop space and doors are Shaker style in a gloss finish. Surrounding the glass top table are plush dining chairs in a duck egg colour. An armchair is available as an option in the lounge in an accent fabric and the redesigned sofas incorporate ample seating with maximum comfort. This Marlow will live up to your every expectation with its exceptional specification.

Swift Moselle (2 Bed) at St. Catherine’s

This stunning 2 bedroom holiday home comes fully equipped with double glazing and central heating. Massive front bay windows to take in the views of Loch Fyne from the comfort of your lounge!

Victory Torino Super (2 or 3 Bed) at Stratheck Holiday Park

Enjoy panoramic views thanks to the unique three panel windows that bring the outdoors into your living area with the Torino Super. The spacious open-plan living area and innovative new layouts including ample storage make the new Torino Super both practical and contemporary. With natural tones throughout, the Torino is perfect for couples and families alike to create their ideal getaway.

Offer ends 31st August. T&Cs apply.

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7 ways we’ll entertain you this May

There’s so much to do in Argyll in May, some even refer to it as ‘May Madness’ - and we’ve a host of fantastic live entertainment to keep you occupied every evening. Plus, with breaks from just £175, there’s never been a better time to book.

1 - Team Showtime

Our award winning entertainment team host a series of brand new shows – expect lively performances with plenty singing and dancing.

2 - Live Cabaret

We are joined by the best live cabaret throughout the month, with acts performing every Saturday evening. With great vocals, songs to suit all ages, and top crowd interaction, these are must attend events!

3 - Rusty & Rosie

Everyone’s favourite squirrel mascots – Rusty & Rosie join us for regular live performances.  They’ve music, dancing, high-fives & hugs – perfect for the little ones.

4 - Beat The Team

Do you have what it takes to beat our Entertainment Team? Join us for a fun-filled night of competitive entertainment, and plenty banter.

5 - Got your number?

Whether backing a horse, competing at cash bingo, or our family prize bingo, where we have some super-cool merchandise up for grabs, we have it all covered.

6 - Eurovision Fun

It’s not a proper Eurovision contest without us throwing a HUGE party – join us on the 13th May for the ultimate Eurovision bash, with a live party band guaranteed to get you dancing the night away.

7 - Stars in their Eyes

Just one of our regular gameshows – This one is a TV classic, with a holiday park twist. Watch the team compete to be the ultimate Celebrity impersonator!

Click here for May breaks from £175

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7 Holiday Homes for 2017

Here at Argyll Holidays, we’ve just taken stock of some brand new Holiday Homes for 2017 - and we thought we’d pick out some of our favourites to show you. Plus, our shiny new website is now online, so there’s never been a better time to head over and browse our range.

Victory Grovewood Lux at Hunters Quay

The Grovewood Lux builds on the appeal of the popular Grovewood. It is larger in size and offers a wealth of extra features including upgraded appliances, music centre, high performance cladding and beautiful sliding patio doors. With a lavish dark wood interior and unique column feature in the open plan living area, this offers a luxury lifestyle in a truly premium quality leisure home.

Swift Alsace at Hunters Quay

The Alsace Lodge is an exciting new range that captures modern day design influences found in people’s homes today. The inside will really appeal to those wanting fresh design with a high specification. The master bedroom is also enhanced with a walk-in shower.

ABI Sunningdale at Hunters Quay

However you choose to spend your holiday, whether that is alfresco dining, long walks or relaxing nights curled up with a good book, the Sunningdale is the perfect choice. This is the return of one of our classic holiday homes, with a new fresh and stylish interior design. With quality fabrics and serene tones throughout, this is a holiday home with a real sense of quality and comfort.

Pemberton Marlow at Drimsynie Estate

The ever popular Marlow range continues to impress with its Oak effect throughout and L shaped Kitchen. The Lounge has two generous sofas, a separate armchair, and wall mounted brackets for the TV above the lovely Fireplace. This Marlow will live up to your every expectation with its exceptional specification.

Victory Parkview at Drimsynie Estate

This is the perfect, practical choice for families of all sizes and ages. The Parkview  is a three bedroom Lodge equipped with en-suite bathroom. It offers comfort and style and is designed to take the rough and tumble out of your everyday living, so you can unwind and escape those everyday pressures.

Willerby Linear at Drimsynie Estate

The lounge has a sumptuous freestanding L-shaped sofa and the chrome footed feature fireplace adds a real wow factor. In the kitchen you’ll find designer touches everywhere you look. And the luxury doesn’t end there. The main bedroom resembles a high end boutique hotel. The over-bed lighting and textured wall panel has a cool aesthetic. Not forgetting your own stylish en-suite, large second bedroom and high end master shower room, all of which make the Linear hard to beat.

Prestige Argyll at Drimsynie Estate

The Prestige Lodge is finished to a very high standard with 2 Bedrooms of which the Master has an en-suite shower room and walk in wardrobe. The views are spectacular an ideal place to sit and enjoy beautiful Loch Goil.

Check out our brand new website for more information, or to book an appointment with one of our team.

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Our Loch Lomond Sunset Cruise with Sweeney’s Crusises

There’s a lot to be said about the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.  But we’ve found that the best way to see Loch Lomond is by getting off the banks and out on the water.  We’ve been lucky enough to try all sorts of boats during our time as the Argyll Holidays Active Family, and on a lovely sunny evening this summer we got to try out a cruise.

The cruise leaves from Balloch, and takes you along past the plush Cameron House and Carrick golf club and around the island of Inchmurrin.   

There was plenty to see as we cruised, with lots going on on the Loch - speed boats, jet skis and other boats, as well as the information about the places we passed.

It was a really nice way to spend an evening, and at 90mins just long enough to keep the kids entertained - no doubt the biscuits and juice from the bar helped too!

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Loch Lomond Holiday Park pt1

Our first blog as the Argyll Holidays Active Family for 2015! We're so excited about our year of experiencing all that Argyll Holidays can throw at us, but we also didn't know what to expect when we turned up for our first Active Family holiday.

We had our first stay at the end of April, at the Loch Lomond Holiday Park, and we needn't have worried about what was in store. As soon as we were shown to our lodge, we felt right at home. The lodge was cosy, comfy and had plenty of space for all five of us (and the dog). It really was like a home-from-home, which we think is what you need if you're away with young children like our toddler Rhys. The lodge even had a washing machine, though thankfully we didn't need to ruin the holiday vibe with laundry!

There was one thing the lodge had that we don't have at home though...a sauna! Mum and Dad took turns in escaping for some time to crank up the heat and chill out.

And chilling out is what we think the Loch Lomond Holiday Park is all about. How can you not be relaxed when this view is right outside your lodge? 

We made the most of the chance to spend family time enjoying a DVD and playing board games, as well as checking out the adventure playground.

Our favourite thing about the park was that it was right on the banks of the Loch, so it has it's own beach. Our dog Darcy loved the chance to swim, and Rhys got to feed the ducks. Big brother Ryan wanted to throw on his trunks, but we managed to talk him into waiting until the water gets warmer!

We got out and about during our stay at the holiday park too, look out for our next blog about what there is to do around Loch Lomond!

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My thoughts - Calum

I had fun at my first argyll holiday last weekend. The activities were the best aspect for me so I will focus on these. The first was fencing, taken by the wonderful Jackie. It was fast paced fun action and I BEAT EWAN NO MATTER WHAT HE SAYS! The next, and my favourite, was Body Zorbs taken by Andy (who was wonderfully geeky). Such games as “The Bridge of Khazad-Dum” and “sumo” were played. The next day we had archery which Mum took a liking to. According to that, I drive a ford fiesta, am a health inspector and LIVE IN A VOLCANO???? After that, we had Water Walkerz. I was very good at falling. After that was the most physically challenging, climbing wall. It made me fall after an hour and a half. It was a good experience and I cant wait until April. Thanks Argyll Holidays.