The area surrounding Port Appin is typical Argyll landscape. Mountains cascade down to beautiful lochs offering sweeping wide views. The population is sparse so remoteness and solitude are pretty much guaranteed and livestock farming is the main means of a livelihood.

Whilst the spectacular scenery is perhaps the greatest single reason to come to the area, history is also very prominent. There are many castles in the area of varying ages, the Robert Louis Stevenson novel ‘Kidnapped’ is based on a true story set in the area and there is the famous Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 for those interested in history.

Whilst the area is remote you will never be too far away from some where to eat. However, for the more discerning guest we will be happy to try and recommend suitable stops on your day trips.

The little picturesque hamlet of Port Appin, which is bound by Loch Linnhe to the south and Loch Creran to the east.  It lies directly across the strip of water called the Lynn of Lorn to the northern tip of the Island of Lismore.  You can get a passenger ferry (you can also take your bicycles across) from Port Appin to Lismore and this makes for a lovely day out- we can provide backpacks for you should you wish to take a packed lunch over with you, perhaps with a nice bottle of wine! Visit www.isleoflismore.com for more information on this unique little island. Port Appin boasts some wonderful views across Loch Linnhe which is a popular sailing area and yachts can moor near the pier should they need a break from the water. The back road behind The Airds offers a lovely scenic drive past interesting private houses and along the side of Loch Creran.

As you drive towards Port Appin you will immediately see Castle Stalker which was built in around 1320 by Duncan Stewart of Appin who was granted lands in the area by James IV for his support in destroying the power of the Lord of the Isles.  It was built to guard the Strath of Appin from invasion from the sea. The castle was taken by the Campbells before being recaptured by the Stewarts after a siege in 1685.  It was then abandoned in the late 1700’s and roofless by 1830.  It was then restored in the 1960’s and on set days of the year it is possible to visit the castle www.castlestalker.com. Also near the castle is a beautiful walk taking you over Jubilee Bridge, a rather unusual structure connecting Port Appin with Portnacroish and giving a wonderful view of the castle.

Another interesting walk is accessed just outside the entrance to Airds Hotel car park. This walk, known as Clach Thoul (Gallic for hole in the rock), takes you on a 35 minute stroll round a headland (with the hole) and offering lovely views across Airds Bay and down Loch Linnhe towards Oban. You can also detour to the top of the headland to see even better views.

Port Appin also has a number of lovely walks of varying degrees of difficulty and after one of these walks www.walkhighlands.co.uk why not reward yourself with lunch or afternoon tea at The Airds Hotel, a luxury country house hotel with stunning views across Loch Linnhe and the Morvern mountains.

Appin is probably most famous for the ‘Appin Murder’ and the subsequent miscarriage of justice in 1752. It was infamous even before the celebrated Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson turned it into his historical best-seller Kidnapped. A cairn marks the spot where the Appin murder took place – located in the Forestry Commission wood known as Leitit Mhor. www.forestry.gov.uk

The ‘Appin Murder’ was the shooting in the back of government agent Colin Campbell of Glenure – the ‘Red Fox’ in Kidnapped. He was assassinated in a ruthless ambush by an unknown hand in the Wood of Lettermore near Ballachulish by the side of Loch Linnhe in Argyll. The authorities suspected a local Jacobite of the murder and James Stewart was later tried by a jury of 12 Campbells and hung for the crime.  He protested his innocence whilst the most likely real suspect, Allan Breck Stewart, fled to France.  www.stevenson.org.uk

Port Appin has a small craft shop, a small grocery and post office, together with the ferry to the Island of Lismore.