The sea interweaves with the land all along this area's western edge. Its influence keeps the climate mild and the greenery lush. One bonus is that you can walk through real temperate rainforest in the region's many western oakwoods, such as the reserves at Taynish and Crinan woods near Lochgilphead and Glasdrum between Oban and Fort William. Walk their trails to enjoy a brilliant variety of mosses, flowers and birds, including buzzards. You can look for signs of otters anywhere along the coast,and you're sure to encounter a few of the region's thousands of grey and common seals.

A sea trip, whether by ferry, chartered yacht, whale-watching vessel or fast patrol boat, can pay huge dividends. You can see seals, porpoise and seabirds out from Oban, plus you can visit the 3rd largest whirlpool in the world -Corryveckan whirlpool. Go to Mull, and you can blend superb onshore wildlife variety - including both golden and white-tailed eagles - with the best minke whale watching opportunities in Britain. Boat trips from Tobermory frequently allow sightings of minke whales, porpoise and common dolphins. Or meet some of Scotland's tamest puffins on a day trip from the west side of Mull to the Treshnish Islands.

On Jura - island of deer - an accompanied ramble can lead you through a true wilderness to see herds of red deer and brilliant coastal scenery. On neighbouring Islay (the best single Hebridean island for variey of breeding birds) see tens of thousands of geese on a winter visit to Gruinart, near Bridgend.

Loch Lomond - Britain's largest expanse of freshwater - has trails through the developing woodland at Cashel (butterflies, warblers and grouse all feature) and at Inversnaid (spring flowers and redstarts) at the end of the B829. To the east, but also in the Loch Lomond National Park, Aberfoyle is a good place to begin exploring the huge network of trails in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.

Enjoy many different kinds of woodland in this part of the Trossachs. Then witness the sheer expanse of Flanders Moss - the largest surviving raised bog in Britain, between Aberfoyle and Stirling. View it from interpretation points along the A873, and watch for big pink-footed geese flocks in autumn and winter.