This is the Southern Highlands & West Highland Way chapter from Lonely Planet’s Scotland’s Highlands & Islands guidebook.

Here, sea travel is as important as road and rail - dozens of ferries allow you to island-hop your way from the Firth of Clyde to Oban and beyond, via the whisky distilleries of Islay, the wild mountains of Jura and the scenic delights of diminutive Colonsay.

• walk the West Highland Way around the edge of Loch Lomond
• maps
• watch the yachts in the Firth of Clyde while strolling along the promenade at Dunoon
• restaurants & accommodation
• transport
• appreciate the spiritual atmosphere that pervades the sacred Isle of Iona

Coverage includes: Loch Lomond & around, Ben Lomond Walk, Crianlarich & Tyndrum, Helensburgh, Arrochar, The Trossachs & around, Aberfoyle & around, Callander, Lochs Katrine & Achray, Balquhidder & around, Killin, Cowal Peninsula & Isle of Bute, Dunoon & around, Tighnabruaich, Cowal’s West Coast, Isle of Bute, Isle of Arran, Brodick & around, Tour Around Goatfell, Corrie to Lochranza, Lochranza, West Coast, South Coast, Lamlash, Kintyre, Mid-Argyll, Inveraray, Crinan Canal, Knapdale, Kilmartin Glen, Oban & around, Isle of Kerrera, Isle of Seil, Isle of Luing, North Argyll, Loch Awe, Connel & Taynuilt, Appin & around, Isle of Lismore, Southern Hebrides, Isle of Islay, Isle of Jura, Isle of Colonsay, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, Isle of Coll and Isle of Tiree.