DUNOON the main town of the Cowal peninsula and the south-western gateway to the newly established Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, is one of the Firth of Clyde's foremost resorts. Local attractions include the award-winning Castle House Museum, Castle House Gardens, the Bishops Glen, Dunoon Ceramics, Morags Fairy Glen, the refurbished Dunoon Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre, Cowal Golf Club, tennis, bowling, and the extensive scenic Promenade. If you enjoy beautiful scenery, seabirds, seals and boats, and if you love the tranquility - without the long trek to the far North West of Scotland...Dunoon and Argyll is perfect for your needs.
Discover the true beauty and history of Scotland
Cowal (the area between Loch Long and Loch Fyne) boasts excellent opportunities for the Great Outdoors - particularly walking, hill walking, and cycling; and the Kyles of Bute & Tighnabruaich, with the beautiful sandy beach at nearby Kilbride Bay, should not be missed!
EXCURSIONS on the famous Paddle Steamer 'WAVERLEY' (pictured above) are available direct from Dunoon Pier up to 5 days each week during the season, and are highly recommended and extremely popular. Further information is available from the 'PS Waverley' Website.
The whole area is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains that are ideal for the hill walker. The highest local mountains are the
Binnien an Fhidleir
(2660 ft) and the Beinn Ime (3318 feet) and Cruach nan Capull (1854 ft)
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Would you like to see other cottages in this area?
"The Coylet Inn by Loch Eck" and "Loch Eck looking North"
Activities on your doorstep or less than one hour's travel
The Benmore Gardens, where you can enjoy a stroll along the avenue of Giant Redwoods, Dunoon, Bute, historic castles, numerous sea and fresh water lochs. Also the spectacular Kyles of Bute, as seen on TV. Numerous scenic forest walks and loch side trails with signposted footpaths, in particular to Carrick Castle on the shores of Loch Goil and through the sprawling Argyll Forest Park area. There are 3 local courses, - Cowal (18 holes) in Dunoon, Innellan, & Blairmore (both 9-hole). Fishing and sea angling is available locally beside Loch Fyne and Loch Eck and nearby rivers for Trout, Salmon and Sea Salmon. For those wishing to cruise on Loch Eck, motor or rowing boats are available to hire from the Coylet Inn. In Dunoon there is an excellent new indoor swimming pool. Around the area lie quaint lochside villages. Further north is Inverary and Lochgoilhead, with extensive facilities. The Arrochar Alps... gloriously rugged peaks for the more serious hill walker, stand high above Loch Long, looking onto the 'Rest and be Thankful', a fine viewpoint where cattle drovers once enjoyed a well deserved break after a tough climb. To the East, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs - Scotland's first National Park.
The Benmore botanic gardens
The Benmore Gardens, a specialist garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is a magnificent woodland garden set amidst the mountains of the Cowal Peninsula. Its 140 acres are renowned for the wide collection of trees and shrubs, which includes over 250 species of rhododendrons. One of the most spectacular views is the avenue of Giant Redwood trees (pictured below) which greets every visitor on entering the garden. Throughout there are waymarked walks, which lead to a beautiful pond and formal garden which display a wide variety of Himalayan and Oriental plants. Continue up the richly planted hill slopes, which rise to 450 feet to a dramatic viewpoint overlooking the Eachaig valley and the Holy Loch. Refreshments are available. The Botanics Shop sells a range of books, gifts and plants some of which can be found in the garden. Facilities are also provided for those less able, including wheelchairs.
The Pucks Glen forest and waterfall walks
Within an easy 15 minute drive from Dunoon you can also access Pucks Glen and a choice of 3 mouth watering woodland trails, sign posted and marked out offering a sometimes tropical rain forest feel with manificent views from the summits. The waterfalls walk (below) features a meandering tour up the valley invloving a series bridges crossing streams, cascading waterfalls and pools, particularly delightfull after a strong downpour of rain!
"The delighfull Pucks Glen...just 15 minutes drive away (Top Left and Right)
and the spectacular Kyles of Bute within 30 minutes drive (bottom left and right)
The Glen Massan trail
In the same area as Pucks Glen and the Benmore gardens, you will also find at the end of a delightfull single track trail that Glen Massan a great place to visit, particularly for fishing, leisure walkers, pet owners and those just seeking the peace and quiet. Here you can walk for miles along the easy the going river trail, there are also more challenging forest trails for the serious walkers and plenty of good places for a picnics.
The lovely Glen Massan where you can walk, picnic and fish
The Spectacular Kyles of Bute
The spectacular Kyles of Bute as seen on television, can be easily reached in less than 1 hour from whistlefield Lodges and well worth the journey as you pass through some delightfull little villages, Lochs, forest and Glens on the way there.
The spectacular Kyles of Bute (looking south towards Bute and the Firth of Clyde)
The magical Isle of Bute
Combine these most spectacular views...with a trip to the captiviating Isle of Bute a beautiful little island about 15 miles long and nearly 5 miles wide and within a hours drive of whistlefield Lodges, always a favourite day trip with much to offer with hills in the North and plenty of sandy beaches, ruined chapels and castles, yachting, fishing, golf, etc. Bute's many gardens benefit from the Gulf Stream which gives the island a mild climate enabling palm trees and other exotic plants to grow here. One of the main visitor attractions is the spectacular Mount Stuart house and gardens. Canada hill offers the best views from this island.
Bute Castle (left) and "Mount Stuart" and it's gardens (centre) and the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute (right)
Inverary....the castle, the old Jail, the Puffer and museum
Well worth a visit during your stay in Dunoon and less than 60 minutes drive is the lovely town of Inveraray (Inbhir Aora in Gaelic) a former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, located on the western shore of Loch Fyne near its head. One time traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll, who founded the town in 1745, alongside his new home, Inveraray Castle. Its distinctive white buildings on the loch shore make it very photogenic and it is a very popular tourist destination, with a number of attractions in addition to the castle. The Georgian Inveraray Jail in the burgh is now a museum. Other attractions include the Argyll Folk Museum at Auchindrain. The Celtic Inveraray Cross can also been seen in the town. The Arctic Penguin ship Maritime Museum is moored at the pier, along with the Clyde puffer VIC 72, renamed Eilean Eisdeal.
Panorama of Inverary (left) and the high street (right)
Dunoon and the Cowalfest
The highly popular October walking festival know as the Cowalfest is now firmly established as a highlight of the year in the Cowal calender, with all the walks graded and numbered. There are also cultural and social events to accompany this event, which usually last about 10 days around the middle of the month - A 'must' for walkers! and based around the popular capital town Dunoon, which offers all services, including 2 x supermarkets, high street shops include giftware, electrical, grocery, health, woolworths. One local hospital (Dunoon general), doctor, vet. Numerous leisure facilities include crown green bowling, tennis courts, swimming baths, quad biking, golf and crazy golf. There are 2 ferry regular ferry crossings to Gourock and the Waverley Puffer calls in the summer
Panoramas of Dunoon, the high street and square
Mountain bikes and Walking Holidays
For walkers and mountain bikers...you may choose some of the local mountains from the (the Arrochar Alps), the highest are Bheinn Ime, Bheinn Narnain, Ben Vane, Ben Vorlich, & Bheinn an Lochainn (all Munros). The most famous Corbett is The Cobbler (2891 ft) and Ben Donich a cllose 2nd. Nearer Dunoon the best known hills are Ben More (Glen Massan), Ben Bheula & Bheinn Ruadh (at Loch Eck) and the local hill (behind Dunoon), Bishop's Seat (app 1600 ft).
You can alsoo sample a part of the Cowal way. The Cowal Way is a long distance footpath split into 6 sections, running the length of the Cowal Peninsula. It starts at Portavadie, beside Loch Fyne, and finishes in at Ardgartan, by Loch Long. It is 47 miles (75 km) long, climbing 5050 ft (1540 m) on the way. The route follows existing rights of way and public roads, most of which are extremely quiet, or cross Forestry Commission land, which includes a good deal of open hill. Access is not an issue. For more information on guided walks, please contact Nikki Dayton Tel 01369 860324 or For further information please click here You can hire bikes daily / Weekly from either Quadmania Ltd 01369 810246 Or ProAdventure Scotland 01369 707456
"More views from the garden and from Firthview's Terrace"
An evening in or out
Many of the local hotels serve good meals, at different standards and prices. Within 30 minutes drive are the Coach Inn at Cairndow, and The Creggans at Strachur. Other excellent inns / restaurants include: The renowned Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and shop, the Coylet Inn by Loch Eck, and the 'TV famous' Whistlefield Inn www.whistlefield.co.uk, a 14th Century inn with an open fire and inviting atmosphere. Also the Strone Inn open for good food and drink. Also The Pier at Kilmun the Cothouse Hotel 3 miles away
Your Accommodation
Lyall Cliff Cottage (Sleeps 4)
Lyall Cliff Cottage is an attached cosy cottage set back slightly from the promenade, offering attractive accommodation with capacity for up to 4 persons, consisting of 2 upstairs bedrooms (1 double & 1 twin), and downstairs sitting room, dining room, kitchen, & bathroom (with bath & electric shower). It has gas central heating, double glazing, an electric cooker, fridge, & washer-dryer, as well as microwave, toaster, kettle, and all utensils etc. Equipment in the comfortable Sitting Room includes a 2-piece suite, TV/Freeview/VCR, coffee tables and information leaflets and books. Cars can be parked in front of the cottage, providing easy access. Fine sea-views can be enjoyed from upstairs and from the sitting room.
"Hire charges include bed linen, starters towels, and power, but please note there is an EXTRA CHARGE for gas"
Firthview House
(Sleeps 8)
Firthview House enjoys wonderful open sea views from 5 of the 7 rooms. There are 4 en-suite bedrooms (2 double, 2 twin) each with WHB, WC, & electric shower, a lounge, sitting room, and spacious kitchen/dining room.
A short access ramp provides disabled access and the ground floor accommodation comprises the TV lounge (equipped with leather suite, electric stove, & Toshiba TV/Freeview/DVD Combi), a large fitted kitchen/dining room (fitted with fridge/freezer, washer-dryer, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, 2 kettles and all necessary utensils), and one twin bedroom.
There is an additional toilet / shower room near the entrance hallway.
Upstairs, the double bedrooms and the wicker Sitting Room enjoy extensive sea views north towards the Loch Lomond hills and south to Arran and the Cumbrae islands. Gas central heating and double glazing ensure a cosy stay, and most bedrooms have a small TV. All are well appointed and comfortable.
Both holiday homes have gas central heating, sea-views, and independent access, while Firthview House also has disabled access and one ground-floor bedroom.
