Vegan Argyll: A Vegan Guide to Argyll & the Isles

Are you a vegan travelling to Scotland (or just vegan-curious) and wondering where to go for delicious vegan food outside of the cities? Look no further than Argyll & the Isles, Scotland’s vegan-friendly paradise on the west coast. This is your ultimate guide to vegan Argyll: where to stay, the best places to find vegan food in Argyll and the Isles and more!

This post was commissioned by Wild About Argyll.

This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Find out more here. All opinions are my own.

I’m sure many travellers would be surprised to hear that Scotland is an incredibly vegan-friendly country to visit. Glasgow and Edinburgh have repeatedly won praise among Britain’s most vegan-friendly cities – but awareness for plant-based delights goes much further than that.

Over the last decade it has become a lot easier to eat vegan in Scotland. Most restaurants cater to a range of dietary requirements and it is easy to get by on plant-based options. Whether you are vegan yourself or you’ve got a vegan friend, family member or travel partner – isn’t it great to know that you can all share the same restaurant experiences?

It has also become more delicious to say no to meat, dairy & co. Personally, I don’t care about awards and Michelin stars – give me a chef who cooks a delicious vegan meal that is also creative and substantial, and I know they are good at their job.

In my search for the best vegan food in Scotland, I have often been surprised and more often than not, these surprises happened in Argyll. No wonder it’s one of my favourite regions in Scotland!

From vegan accommodation to amazing plant-based food, Argyll has a lot to offer to its vegan and vegan-curious visitors – including the first vegan trail in the UK. This vegan guide for Argyll includes:

• Vegan-friendly places to stay and fully vegan accommodation in Argyll,
• Where to find the best vegan food in Argyll,
• A few vegan-friendly things to do while you’re in the region,

…and of course also links to my detailed travel guides for different areas of Argyll and the Isles.

Argyll Vegan Trail

One of the best ways to explore Scotland with your sense of taste is to follow Scottish taste trails. You can find them all over the country and use them for guidance to find the best local produce, outstanding restaurants and chefs and many hidden gems or local favourites.

Argyll however has gone the extra mile and created a vegan taste trail, which includes a long list of cafes, hotels, restaurants and B&Bs across Argyll and the Isles that are either fully vegan or properly cater to vegans as part of their menu and offering.

Forget dry chickpea burgers or soggy risottos! Food is such an integral part of travelling and experiencing another country – it’s good to know you’ll be taken care of to culinary perfection.

And while I aim to make this vegan guide as complete as possible, it’s always a good idea to check out the Argyll Vegan Trail listings to see if any new eateries have joined!

Read next: Your complete guide to travelling Scotland as a vegan

Where to find the best vegan food in Argyll

First, the good news: as a vegan, you’ll never go hungry in Argyll. You can travel anywhere across Argyll and the Inner Hebrides and find some vegan food.

But as someone who loves to eat when I travel, I know how important it is to find not just vegan food – but mouth-watering, finger-licking, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious vegan food.

While there are very few fully vegan eateries outside of the Scottish cities, there are many places in Argyll & the Isles that have fantastic vegan options on their menus. Below I will focus particularly on places I’ve tried before, but also mention others that are part of the Wild About Argyll Taste of Place Vegan Trail.

Oban & Lorn

The Little Potting Shed is one of my favourite breakfast and lunch spots in Oban. Located close to the harbour, but tucked away in a quiet corner, it is a welcome haven of plant-based delights. The cafe is (and has always been) fully vegetarian, but they serve a wide range of vegan options including tofu scramble and classic homemade pies.

Like many restaurants in Oban, Etive Restaurant has a big focus on seafood. The restaurant offers two 8-course tasting menus, one with meat and fish dishes from land and sea, and one vegetarian menu made from land produce only. Lucky for vegans, the land tasting menu is fully adaptable and can be made entirely plant-based.

The cafe Food From Argyll at the Pier is a collaboration between several food producers from around Argyll. They deliver fresh ingredients for the cafe, while the retail section offers a wide range of locally sourced foods from Argyll and the Isles. Food From Argyll is located near the ferry terminal and the train station, so it’s the perfect place for a pick-me-up as you get on or off the ferry or train.

If you’re looking for a fully vegan eatery in Argyll, look no further than Catchacarrot. What started as a vegan pop up cafe with locations around the region, has now found a home in Kilmelford, 15 miles south of Oban. Catchacarrot is the only 100% vegan run cafe in Argyll.

One of my favourite places to eat in Argyll is Loch Melfort Hotel. The location is hard to beat – the hotel overlooks a quiet bay with the Slate islands lining the horizon. There are Highland cows out on the meadow and next door, you can wander among giant rhododendrons at Arduaine Garden. And then there’s the food. The bistro is open all day and always has several vegan options on offer.

Some restaurants turn tiny villages into foodie destinations – the Pierhouse Hotel in Port Appin is one such place. While the restaurant has a clear focus on locally caught seafood, they also have a separate vegan menu and regular vegan specials.

Other vegan-friendly restaurants in Oban include Baab Meze & Grill, and nearby Tigh an Truish on the Isle of Seil (just across the Bridge over the Atlantic) and Sorcha Scotland, a vegan micro bakery.

You might also like my Oban travel guide.

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Heart of Argyll

If you’re a sweet-tooth, you’ll find what you’re looking for at The Salty Dog in Lochgilphead. The cafe is well-known for its stunning cakes and they usually have a few delicious vegan treats on the menu.

The Smiddy Bistro in Lochgilphead serves breakfast, lunch and cakes and has a separate vegan menu with plenty of options, including desserts. Not always a given, ey?

Lucy’s Ardfern is a cafe not far from Kilmartin Glen, in the coastal village of Ardfern. Stop here for delicious home baking, fresh sourdough bread and sweet, sweet cakes. You’ll always find vegan options here.

During the summer months, the owner also runs a pop up cafe at Kilmartin Museum, while the museum and its cafe are undergoing redevelopment.

For more vegan-friendly restaurants in the Heart of Argyll read this blog post by Sara from Kings Reach Self Catering (see more below).

You might also like my travel guide for Kilmartin Glen (Heart of Argyll)

Helensburgh & Lomond

One of my favourite eateries on the west shore of Loch Lomond is the beautiful Lodge on Loch Lomond. Their restaurant has easily one of the best views in Scotland. And their food isn’t shabby either! They have clearly marked vegan options on their menu and go the extra mile to make their vegan food creative, pretty and tasty.

Other vegan-friendly eateries in the Helensburgh and Lomond area include the Coach House Cafe and the Village Rest in Luss, and Padrone Pizza and Park Pavillion in Helensburgh.

You might also like my Helensburgh & Lomond travel guide.

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Kintyre peninsula & Isle of Gigha

Who doesn’t love chocolate? Fetcha Chocolates is a vegan-owned chocolate company based in Campbeltown. So far their chocolate treats have only been available to order online, but a little birdie tells me that they are soon opening a shop in town too.

In the past, I have tried several vegan-friendly restaurants in Kintyre, including Drumfearne Tearoom in Carradale, Glenbarr Cafe and the restaurant at Ardshiel Hotel. On the Isle of Gigha, try the Gigha Hotel.

You might also like my Kintyre peninsula travel guide.

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Cowal peninsula & Isle of Bute

The Whistlefield Inn lies in the heart of the beautiful Cowal peninsula. They always have at least 3 vegan main courses and light bites, and usually also 3 different vegan desserts. Another big plus: they mark vegan wines on their menu!

For a great lunch spot in Dunoon, check out the cafe at Dunoon Burgh Hall. They offer homemade soup, sandwiches and delicious cakes that are made in house. Vegan options are always available.

Over on the other side of the Cowal peninsula, in Tighnabruich, Five West dishes up a range of lunch staples (soup, sandwiches, rolls) and homemade cakes, pastries and biscuits with plenty of amazing vegan options.

Other vegan-friendly eateries on the Cowal peninsula include the Boat Shed Cafe on Loch Goil, the Ardentinny Restaurant, Coast Cafe in Dunoon and The Blairmore.

Another one of my favourites: Creggans Inn isn’t specifically on the vegan trail, but they have a few delicious vegan options.

Isle of Mull & Iona

I have had some of my favourite vegan meals in Scotland on the tiny Isle of Iona. Both hotels on the island – the Argyll Hotel and the St Columba Hotel have super passionate kitchen teams and grow some of their own produce. You can really taste the difference as their food is incredible.

I’ve always found Mull a little harder for vegan food – even though most restaurants probably have options… I just don’t know them well enough.

MacGochans in Tobermory, though, always has at least 1-2 vegan options for starters, mains and desserts. I can’t wait to try it on my next trip.

You might also like my Isle of Mull travel guide.

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Isle of Islay, Jura & Colonsay

Can you believe that one of the best vegan meals I’ve ever had was at a hotel restaurant on Islay, but unfortunately the chef has since moved on – I’ll have to go back to check if their vegan options still hold up.

Many other restaurants on Islay, including Peatzeria, Bowmore Hotel and the Old Kiln Cafe at Ardbeg Distillery have vegan options – it’s fairly easy to get by.

The same counts for Jura. There aren’t many restaurants to begin with – only the Jura Hotel and the Antlers Bistro in Craighouse – but it’s nice to know that both can cater to vegans.

The real star of these islands though is the award-winning Colonsay Pantry on the Isle of Colonsay. Considering that this restaurant is on such a small island, it’s incredible to see vegan options as a key part of their menu.

You might also like my travel guide for the southern Hebrides.

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Isle of Tiree & Coll

Coll and Tiree are fairly small islands with a rather small number of restaurants. On Tiree, I’ve eaten deliciously at the Tiree Lodge Hotel, but I have not been back since it was taken over by management.

That said, I still dream about my meal at the Coll Hotel, the only hotel, pub and restaurant on the island. As long as you let them know in advance (island hotels always need a bit of extra time to get supplies from the mainland), you’ll be spoilt rotten by the kitchen team!

You might also like my Isle of Coll travel guide.

Vegan things to do in Argyll

Now, most things to do in Scotland are vegan-friendly. Going on a hike, touring a distillery, visiting a castle – you name it. Throughout this guide, I have linked to more detailed travel guides for each area or island, so it’s easy for you to find more information about things to do in different parts of Argyll.

If you are looking for outdoor activity providers who centre the protection of wildlife, environmental conversation and fair relationships with local communities, check out the listings on Wild Scotland.

One of my favourite experiences so far has been a boat trip to the Gulf of Corryvreckan with Seafari Adventures (based on the Isle of Seil near Oban). We saw quite a bit of wildlife on the way, even though they also have more dedicated wildlife tours. The best news: some of their boats head out to Iona, Staffa and Lunga to see the puffins.

If you’re on the Isle of Bute, check out the Incredible Edible Food Trail, a network of free food sites all over Rothesay. Stops include fruit trees and bushes, but also places to learn about gardening, historic sites and quiet spots to just sit and relax.

Vegan accommodation in Argyll

Most hotels and B&Bs in Scotland are well equipped to cater to vegans, but if you want the full package, I recommend booking a stay at a vegan-run accommodation. Only then can you be sure that not just food, but also toiletries and soft furnishings around the accommodation are vegan-friendly.

Kings Reach Self Catering, Kilmartin Glen

Kings Reach Self Catering in Kilmartin Glen (formly also a vegan B&B) is a fantastic place to stay and explore the area. Hosts Sara and Sean fell in love with this part of Scotland and it’s not hard to see why. The self-catering apartments offer stunning views of Dunadd Fort, one of many prehistoric sites in the glen, and the beautiful meadows surrounding the house.

Sara and Sean are also, without a doubt, a driving force behind the entire vegan food trail in Argyll. I know Sara is always talking to local restaurants and businesses about their vegan offerings to make sure her guests are well taken care of.

You can read more about my stay at Kings Reach Self Catering here.

Garragh Mhor B&B, Isle of Seil

Alternatively, book a stay at Garragh Mhor B&B in Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil. This bed & breakfast is fully vegetarian, but used to also cater to vegans. Their breakfast menu includes scrambled tofu, pancakes and more.

Killean Farmhouse & Cottages

Another great vegan-friendly place to stay in Argyll is Killean Farmhouse in Inveraray. Their breakfast is 100% plant-based.

Apart from the hotels already mentioned above, other vegan-friendly accommodations in Argyll include:

• Eco Nature Holidays self-catering cottages on the Cowal Peninsula. The business is run by vegans and if you want, they can deliver vegan breakfast boxes, lunch platters, cakes or dinner to your cottage.
• Tigh na Mara Guest House on the Isle of Coll. They offer a variety of vegan options on the breakfast and dinner menus.

As you can see, Argyll is a paradise for vegan travellers who are looking for delicious plant-based food and vegan-friendly accommodation in Scotland.

It’s one of my favourite regions in Scotland because there is so much to do and see. Many parts of Argyll, such as Kintyre, Cowal and Kilmartin Glen are off the beaten path, and the islands are always just a ferry ride away.

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or simply plant-based-curious, I hope I’ve convinced you to plan a vegan foodie trip to Argyll!

The Wild About Argyll Taste of Place Trails initiative, which includes the vegan trail, is led by AITC working in partnership with Food from Argyll and is funded by VisitScotland Growth Fund, Argyll & Bute Council and Calmac Ferries.