Loch Long wildlife and fishing
Kilmun nestles by the shore of majestic Loch Long a remarkably deep sea Loch extending nearly 20 miles from the Firth of Clyde to the east of the Cowal peninsula, to Arrochar in the North just 2 miles from Loch Lomond.
Loch Goil also forms a branch on its western side. Loch Long width of between one and two miles is essentially a flooded valley carved out in the last ice age. Very close in by the shore the waters are deep. The fjord like appearance of Loch Long is emphasized by the name of the shoreside village "Ardentinny" once home to Viking invaders. Wildlife overflows in this area expect to see a variety of Marine animals from Common Grey Seals and Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphin, Basking Shark and even Minke Whale. Birdlife from many Herons and Mute Swans to Gannets, Herons, Eider Ducks, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Manx Shearwater, Kittiwakes, Shag, Common Terns, winter Wigeon, Oyster Catchers, Curlew, Lapwings. For the fisherman stocks of Sea Salmon, Brown trout, shoals of mackerel and some Pilchard.
The Benmore botanic gardens (left) and it's giant Redwoods (right)
Discover the true beauty and history of Scotland
The Cowal peninsula and Argyll Forest Park, some 54,000 acres, offer you a wide range of sporting activities including golf, fishing, various pleasure cruises, mountain-biking, cycling, organised horse riding and of course sailing and other water-based sports. Magnificent Loch Eck scythes through the centre of the Cowal Peninsula, surrounded by high, forested hills. The loch epitomises Cowal - rugged and spectacular but at the same time peaceful, where you can while away the hours fishing, walking or just taking in the scenery. Captivating Bute, once the island retreat of Scottish kings, lies at the heart of the Firth of Clyde, and is the favourite destination of the famous 'Waverley', the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world.
The very best of Scotland in miniature and packed into an area of only 35 x 25 miles and all within 60 minutes of North Lodge, Kilmun
"If you want to see all the best highlights and delights of scotland....
stay in Cowal for a week or two"
The Coylet Inn by Loch Eck and lovely Autumn views of Loch Eck
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 (pictured above), 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 golf courses within easy reach: Blairmore and Innellan (both 9 holes) and the Cowal golf course (18 holes). Fishing and sea angling is available on your doorstep 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 10 minute drive from North Lodge, you can also access Pucks Glen and a choice of 3 mouth watering woodland trails, Pet Friendly, sign posted and marked out offering a sometimes tropical rainforest 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 wonderfull Pucks Glen woodland walk with it's waterfalls, streams and pools (one of many walks in this area)
The PS Waverley paddle steamer boat trips on Loch Long
EXCURSIONS on the famous Paddle Steamer 'WAVERLEY' (pictured above) are available direct from Dunoon Pier or Blairmore pier just 2 1/2 miles from Kilmun in the summer season (up to 5 days) each week during the season, and is highly recommended and extremely popular. Further information is available from the
"PS WAVERLEYS website
The Spectacular Kyles of Bute
The spectacular Kyles of Bute as seen on television, can be easily reached in less than 1 hour from North Lodge 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 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 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 North Lodge, 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)
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
Inverary....the castle, the old Jail, the Puffer and museum
Well worth a visit during your stay 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)
Bus services to Dunoon, Inverary and Toward from North Lodge
If you are coming on holiday to actually take a break from driving, there is a fairly regular bus service run by West Coast Motors www.westcoastmotors.co.uk who run the 476 and 486 services between Toward, Innellan, Dunoon, Kilmun, Pucks Glen / Benmore Gardens, Whistlefield, Strachur, Loch Fyne Oysters and Inverary.
There are 5 return trips in each direction mondays to satudays and 3 return trips on sundays from Easter to the end of October. They also operate services from Dunoon to the Isle of Bute plus a number of other destinations in Cowal.
Toward lighthouse (left and middle) and the array of wildlife living around this point 10 miles south of Dunoon
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Bute Castle (left) and the Oyster Catcher Inn, Otter Ferry(Right)
Mountain bikes and Walking Holidays
For walkers and mountain bikers...you may choose to 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
Quadmania
For outdoor adventure for all the family, you must visit Quadmania just a short drive from North Lodge, Kilmun you can tear up the turf on quad-bikes, shoot clay pidgeons in the morning then kayak secluded lochs, explore ancient gorges, take an exhilarating rib-boat ride or whatever takes your fancy in the afternoon. Quadmania will organise your dream day and all you have to do is get out there and do it. All in the stunning scenery of Argyll in Scotland.
An evening in or out
Within a 50 metre walk from North Lodge you reach the shores of Loch Long
offering peacefull evening walks. Within 10 miles drive The 'TV famous' Whistlefield Inn a 14th Century inn with an open fire and inviting atmosphere. a fantastic selection of Malt Whisky and beers and a restaurant with great food and panoramic views over Loch Eck, the Inn is full of intrigue and history and you may well hear of ancient tales of smugglers, tunnels, ghosts and even an ancient massacre during your visit to the Inn. The Inn gained its well-deserved recognition on the TV series 'The House detectives'. A little further afield the Coylet Inn again beside Loch Eck very inviting with great food and drink.
The local area
The nearest good Pub / Bar is the
Cot House Hotel, Kilmun, open Monday to Sunday for exellent food and entertainment Tel 01369 840260. There is also The Pier hotel at Kilmun. The nearest shop is the Kilmun General Store Tel 01369 840261. The nearest petrol station is the Cot House filling station 1 mile away, very well stocked. There is also a Doctor's surgery at Kilmun.
Further afield in Blairmore less than 6 miles there is a small village shop, a craft and gallery plus tea shop. There is also a an "antique" shop. In the village of Strone, 3 miles the Strone Inn opens for good food and drink. There is also have a mobile shop with fresh fish and vegetables calling every Tuesday between 1 and 2 p.m. Laura carries an enormous range of very fresh fish fruit and vegs.
There is an hourly bus service into Dunoon. A Yellow Boat Taxi operates from Lochgoil to Ardentinny (on demand) or as and when people wish it in the summer time. The area is fantastic for walking and the owners will more than happily supply you with information and maps of all the long and short walks it is very safe for dogs as all these walks are all off the road. Ardentinny also have the best sandy bay in the district which is very safe for children and for swimming and where there are toilets and picnic tables.
