Things to see and do in Ardnamurchan.

With empty roads and even emptier hills, the Ben View is the perfect place to explore the best-kept secret in Britain - Ardnamurchan.

Burial cairns, sea life centres, folk museums and loch cruises are all available within a short drive of the Ben View.

This is a west coast wonderland where the shifting interplay of light on sandy coves, heather moors and rocky outcrops can catch the visitor's breath; where the sound of silence is broken only by the rushing waters and the curlew's cry.

Ardnamurchan Point, with its lighthouse open to the public, is the most westerly point on the British mainland: whales, dolphins and basking sharks regularly pass by. On the way you can stroll round the RSPB bird reserve at Glenborrodale.

You can cruise the length of Loch Shiel, watch red deer herds grazing by the roadside, or drive to the Sunart Oakwoods wildlife hide, just five minutes from the Ben View and see otter, herons and golden eagles. If you're lucky you may spot a white-tailed sea eagle, but don't confuse it with the common buzzard, the 'tourist eagle'. If you can stand the excitement, try a whale-watching expedition from Laga Bay.

Castles in the area include Castle Tioram, home of the Moidart Clanranalds, and Mingarry Castle - across on Mull, reached by a short ferry trip from Lochaline, there are two other ancient castles.