Argyll and Bute is a region in the western Scottish Highlands. It's a ramshackle, disparate region, but you can't blame the planners who created it from other counties in 1974. Blame the fjords, those long cold sea lochs that break up its terrain and force the roads to wind around and double back. What united it in the 19th and early 20th centuries was in-shore shipping from Glasgow using the Crinan Canal as a short cut: a fleet of "Clyde Puffers" like those of the Para Handy Tales of Neil Munro.
This page describes the Argyll & Bute mainland, plus those islands that are only a short ferry ride (ie Bute, Gigha, Luing, Easdale and Kerrara) or connected by a bridge (Seil). It doesn't include those with a longer sea crossing - they're part of this same region but feel quite different in character. They're described under Inner Hebrides, mainly Islay, Jura, Mull, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Lismore.
Argyll and Bute have only been amalgamated into one region in relatively recent history, only being created in 1974. All through the Middle Ages and into the post-Union period, the Duke of Argyll ruled all of Argyll. The Isle of Bute was held by other families, and formed part of the county of Buteshire along with other islands in the Firth of Clyde.
The Duchy of Argyll, although not having the same boundaries as the modern council area, was a major political force in Medieval Scotland. One of the most famous, and amongst certain clans, infamous clans of western Scotland, the Campbells had their seat in Argyll.
Many works of fiction including Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped have featured the wild and rugged coastline of Argyll as a setting.
Though less well known than Argyll and lying some way to the south, Bute has its own place in the regions past, primarily as the target of raids and clan rivalries.
Argyll and Bute is one of the major centres of Gaelic and Gaelic culture. this said, the sole universal language is English. In towns like Oban you may find Gaelic speakers as well as recent immigrants form eastern Europe. In effect though, everyone speaks English and communication should not be a problem. One points of caution though, the road signs are all in Gaelic and English and often have Gaelic first. If you can, make sure to read the full sign to find the English place name.
Glasgow Airport đ (IATA: GLA) is the principal airport for this region, with a good range of European and UK flights. For long-haul use Manchester (MAN) or London Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW).
By rental car from Glasgow Airport, head west on M8 to Greenock or Gourock for ferries to Cowal, or cross the Erskine Bridge for A82 north past Loch Lomond.
Campbeltown is on the mainland and barely 80 miles from Glasgow, so considering flying . . . seriously? Yes, but it's 180 miles along a twisty road, clogged with traffic in summer. There's a flight twice a day from Glasgow to Machrihanish đ (IATA: CAL), five miles west of Campbeltown. This is a good alternative route for Gigha and the Kintyre peninsula as far up as Tarbert / Kennacraig.
Your first task is to reach Glasgow, which has rail connections throughout England, Scotland, and (via Cairnryan) Ireland. From Wales change at Crewe.
Six trains per day run to Oban along the West Highland Railway from Glasgow Queen Street, taking 3 hours. The route is north via Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Rhu, Garelochhead, Arrochar / Tarbet and Crianlarich where the train divides: half continues north to Fort William, while half goes west via Taynuilt to Oban. An overnight sleeper also runs from London Euston via Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich to Fort William but doesn't connect with the Oban trains.
For the Isle of Bute, take the train from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay then the ferry to Rothesay.
Trains also run from Glasgow Central to Gourock, which has ferries to Kilcreggan, and to Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula.
The usual approach is by A82 along the west bank of Loch Lomond to Tarbet. (From the south or east, bypass Glasgow on M8 / M74 and cross Erskine Bridge.) Stay on A82 northbound for Crianlarich and Tyndrum, then A85 for Taynuilt and Oban. Or turn west onto A83 for Arrochar, Loch Long (where the side road to Dunoon and Cowal branches off), Inveraray, Lochgilphead, then south to Tarbert, Kennacraig, and all the way down to Campbeltown. Buses from Glasgow Buchanan Street ply these main routes.
Ferries sail roughly hourly between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on Bute, between Gourock and Kilcreggan, between Hunter's Quay near Gourock and Dunoon on Cowal, and between Portavadie on Cowal and Tarbert (Loch Fyne). A small, infrequent ferry runs between Claonaig near Skipness on Argyll to Lochranza on Arran. For details of the Hebrides ferries, see Islay, Colonsay, Mull, Coll, Tiree and Oban.
The Five Ferries is a cycle route of 51 miles, starting in Ardrossan in Ayrshire, crossing Arran to Kintyre then Bute and back to the mainland at Wemyss Bay. There are steep gradients along the route and it's often done as a charity challenge. From the first ferry landing at Brodick on Arran you'll have 75 min to cover 14 miles to catch the second ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig, otherwise your day unravels.
You probably need a car. Between points along the major routes there will be a couple of long-distance buses each day, and six trains for stations to Crianlarich. There are local buses around the main villages but most are timed for the daily school / shopping run and are not much help with sightseeing. However, Bute and Gigha are small enough to explore by bike.
May-Sept a ferry potters up Loch Lomond from Balloch (frequent trains from Glasgow Queen Street). On the west bank it calls at Luss, Tarbet and Inveruglas; on the east at Balmaha, Inchcailloch island, Rowardennan and Inversnaid.
Argyll in general is very safe. As with all rural parts of Britain crime is remarkably low. There are occasional incidents of theft in the major towns but these are very rare. It is not uncommon for people to leave their doors unlocked almost all the time. Although all normal precautions for travelers are advised there is little for tourists to worry about in terms of crime in Argyll and Bute.
Environmental hazards
In winter many roads in Argyll can, or at the least in the last two years have, been covered by snow. If you are not accustomed to driving on snow then extreme caution is advised during the snow. Even when there is no snow there can often be ice in winter and although less obviously dangerous Ice is a more common danger.
See this map for places with Wikivoyage articles nearby.
Primary administrative division