This beautiful part of Argyll is famous for its gardens, specialising in exotic azaleas and rhododendrons. It offers forest walks, cycle trails, bird watching, riding, good fishing, and many places of historical and archaeological interest.

Minard is thirteen miles (20km) south-west of Inveraray - an ancient stronghold of the Campbell Clan - which is noted for its castle and historic jail.

Other local attractions include the Auchindrain Folk Museum and the Argyll Wildlife Park. Minard is also well placed for touring this interesting area. Within easy travelling distance are the Crinan Canal and the prehistoric sites around Kilmartin.

To the south is the Kintyre Peninsular and Campbeltown. To the north are Loch Awe, the spectacular Pass of Brander, the tunnels of the Cruachan hydro-electric scheme, and Oban with its shops, distillery and ferries to many of the islands. Further north are Glencoe, Fort William and Loch Ness.

The village shop is a mile and a half (2km) away, and there is a wide choice of shops at Lochgilphead. There are two bars, a restaurant and a coffee shop within five miles. There are many good restaurants in the wider area. Oban, which is about fifty-five miles away, is the nearest large town, and is a very good centre for shopping.

The grounds around the house and two other nearby areas comprise 144 acres (58 hectares), much of which is planted with Christmas trees - hence the deer fence. Near the house a number of trees and rhododendrons have recently been planted as eventual replacements for those planted in the 19th century.

To the west of the house is a formal walled garden. North of the walled garden a large pond is under construction, and beyond it many interesting rhododendrons from the Himalayas and elsewhere are becoming established. Guests are very welcome to explore the grounds - vitally leaving all gates shut.