Track down a beaver, or sample a 14-year-old malt

British breaks: Argyll & Bute

What's On

Prehistoric cooking, clay modelling and an art competition are among the activities at the Campbeltown Museum Family Day on 3 October in the town of the same name (museumgalleries scotland.org.uk).

Scotland's premier week-long Gaelic festival, The Royal National Mod, takes place in Oban this year (homecomingscotland.com). Ceilidhs, concerts, exhibitions and talks will be held at venues across the island from 9 to 17 October.

Discover the history of Argyll's Cowal Peninsula at a special festival, from 9 to 18 October, offering a variety of things to do including walks, mountain bike rides, tours of great houses, art and food events (cowalfest.org/2009).

Grab your broomstick and head for the Glenbranter Information Centre in Argyll Forest Park for a spooky woodland play on 30 October, 7 to 9pm. The Witches in the Wood will be performed on the move through the forest by the Walking Theatre Company (forestry.gov.uk).

See the Sights

Follow the Scottish Seafood Trail to discover some of Scotland's most unspoilt landscape and try fabulous local seafood in Argyll's best waterfront inns and restaurants (theseafood trail.com).

Pack your binoculars and go in search of wildlife on the new Beaver Trail. Start out from Barnluasgan Information Centre to discover how these animals have been reintroduced to the area in a trial intended to establish whether they are of benefit to local nature conservation. Visit Knapdale Forest to see signs of these creatures gnawing, burrowing and building in their new habitat – for the best chance to see a beaver yourself, go in the early morning or early evening (visitscotland.com/autumn).

Try a drop of the hard stuff at Oban Distillery's Sensory and Flavour Finding Tour, where you can explore how the island's 14-year-old single malt is produced and take a sample straight from the cask. (discovering-distilleries.com/oban).

Further information

For more ideas and accommodation lists go to visitscotland.com/autumn