Visitors to Argyll and the Isles on the idyllic west coast of Scotland will discover a whole host of exciting new experiences, adventures, accommodation, celebrations and food and drink in 2023. Many of the destination's latest additions reflect the growing global demand for new-wave wellness, slow-tourism, eco-friendly escapes, the finest locally sourced food & drink, and authentic 'live-like-a-local' experiences.

From holidays aboard a classic sailing boat, bespoke wild swimming experiences with a merman, experience snorkelling on Scotland's adventure coast and a new e-cargo service to the launch of the first ever Oban Gin School, the first ever Islay Supper Club, celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Whisky Year Zero, eco-friendly bothies set within the grounds of a castle and gin distillery and an £8m museum redevelopment – there will be so many new things to see and do in the destination in 2023.

Welcoming the new developments, Cathy Craig, Chief Executive at the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative said: “Argyll and the Isles is known globally for its stunning scenery, great outdoor adventure, abundant wildlife, rich history and heritage and the finest food and drink. There has always been so much to discover here, with something to suit almost every interest, and now thanks to these exciting and innovative new experiences, there's even more to enjoy! Set against the backdrop of Covid recovery, a climate emergency and a recession, these are real triumphs over adversity.”

Highlights include:

• The first-ever Islay Supper Club, on the southernmost island of the Inner Southern Hebrides of Scotland, Islay (pronounced eye-la), will take place on 20 January 2023 in the stunning Glenegedale House. Close to Scotland's annual Burns Night celebrations, the this will be the first in a series of monthly events, celebrating the island's fabulous food producers and the contribution they make to the local economy - from the island's famous local whiskies to fresh seafood and delicious farm produce.
  To book email: info@glenegedalehouse.co.uk For more information visit: glenegedalehouse.co.uk

• Brand new bespoke eco bothies opening early in 2023 in the grounds of the family-owned Torrisdale Castle, known as one of the Scotland's best eco-escapes and home of the multiple award-winning Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Ltd. The bothies offer stunning coastal views of the surrounding Kintyre scenery, across the Kilbrannan Sound, over to the Isle of Arran. Surrounded by stunning nature and landscapes, with no wifi or a television the pods, the bothies are the perfect Kintyre bolt hole for a digital detox. Price: starting at £130 per night.
  Booking: torrisdalecastle.com

• Oban's first ever Gin School in the 'Gateway to the Isle's' largest independent restaurant, bar and events venue, The View - The venue has teamed up with Kintyre's award winning Beinn an Tuirc Distillery to train participants to become masters of blending. Everyone who completes the course, will create their own gin from the contents of the venue's bespoke Drinks Cabinet (crafted by local cabinetmaker Michael Acey). Each 90-minute session covers the origins and history of gin, how it is distilled and produced and the skills of blending.
  Price: £49.50 per person.
  For more information visit: obanview.com/oban-gin-school
  
• From April 2023, Provident, a newly-refurbished 1924 Brixham Trawler, will be running eco-conscious sailing, walking and wildlife holidays taking in the stunning mountains and islands on Scotland's west coast from Oban and Mallaig. Reflecting the team's ethos is to respect nature and local communities, for 2023 the ship has now been fitted with a new heating system, modern galley, new toilets and showers and all new low voltage electrics. She has an engine and a generator, but the crew like to use these as little as possible. They believe “the joy of a sailing ship is the silence as she moves through the waves and follows the tides”.
  Duration: Provident offers a choice of voyages from 5-10 days
  Cost: from £900 - £1500 per person depending on length of trip.
  Booking: providentsailing.co.uk

• Dan the Merman, an Argyll-based professional wild swimming coach will be teaming up with Provident in September 2023 to offer a new 5-night wild swimming holiday taking in stunning remote and hard to reach swim spots around Argyll & the Isles. This will be an eco-conscious relaxed sail powered adventure, suitable for swimmers of all levels.
  Dates: 14 to 19 September, 5 nights and all inclusive.
  Price: £950 per person including all meals, drinks and accommodation, qualified safety support and professional open water coaching.
  Booking: to be the first to know when booking is available, visit swimdanthemerman.com and providentsailing.co.uk

• Dan the Merman offers high quality professional open water coaching and guided wild swim and snorkel experiences for all abilities across Argyll and the Isles, often referred to as Scotland's Adventure Coast. Dan is well-known for his commitment to sustainably and has purchased new e-cargo bike for 2023 to get to and from his private open water coaching sessions, guided swims and snorkels.
  For more information visit: swimdanthemerman.com

• In 2023, Argyll and the Isles is commemorating the 200th anniversary of 1823 Excise Act – Whisky Year Zero. The act lowered taxes on whisky, sparking a golden boom in production in places such as Campbeltown, which lead to the destination becoming known as the 'whisky capital of the world'. Argyll and the Isles is still a whisky-lover's heaven to this day, with 15 world-class distilleries dotting what's known as the 'whisky coast'. Visitors can follow this journey across Argyll, from Campbeltown in Kintyre, over to the Hebridean islands of Islay, Jura and Mull, and then to Oban to discover the region's whiskies and how the history, culture and landscapes of Argyll have shaped their distinctive taste. The region hosts a number of whisky festivals, including Feis Ile 2023 - the Islay Festival, which will take place Friday 26th May to Saturday 3rd June 2023.
  More details to be revealed early in 2023.
  For the latest information see: wildaboutargyll.co.uk/see-do/whisky-coast

• Cowalfest, one of Scotland's most popular walking festivals, will return after a three-year break in autumn 2023. The five-day festival will encompass 25 guided, core walks around Cowal in Argyll & Bute.
  Dates: 12th to 16th October 2023
  Prices: To be announced
  For more information follow @cowalfest on social media (new website to follow).
  
  
• Five exclusive new Above and Below Scottish nature-based trails, featuring insider tips from the local community, have been launched to help visitors slow down, travel responsibly and find some unique natural discoveries at sea and in the sky along the Argyll and the Isles coast in the west of Scotland - home to the UK's first ever Mission Blue Hope Spot and four internationally recognised dark sky sites.
  See: co.uk/see-do/nature-and-wildlife/above-and-below.
  
  
• To celebrate the launch of the new trails, highly acclaimed Basking Shark Scotland has launched new Above and Below experience snorkelling and wild swimming sessions. With assistance from their marine biologist guides and instructors, this new immersive experience will take visitors on an under-water adventure to discover the plentiful marine life and the lush kelp forests which grow abundantly round the coast. Experience Snorkelling sessions start at around £60 per person. See co.uk and wildaboutargyll.co.uk/see-do/nature-and-wildlife/above-and-below/snorkel-trail/
  
• Kilmartin Museum, which looks out over one of the world's most important Neolithic sites between Oban and Lochgilphead, will reopen in spring 2023 after a £8 million redevelopment. With over 250m2 new gallery space, the new-look museum will bring over 10,000 years of history alive, through thousands of significant archaeological artefacts from their own local collection, alongside items from the British Museum and National Museums Scotland.
  Ticket prices: TBC
  For more information: kilmartin.org

See notes to editors below for more information about each of these new developments.

For all the latest news from Argyll and the Isles, or to plan a visit to the destination, visit wildaboutargyll.co.uk