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Sea View Villa by the Shore, Toward, Cowal, Argyll
A classic holiday home....with it's gardens extending to the shore
A classic holiday villa in one of most desirable areas of scotland, its gardens extending to the banks of the Clyde Estuary with fantastic sea views over to Ayrshire and panoramic views to Cumbrae Island, Arran and the Kintyre Peninsula. Easily accessable even in the winter, Sea View Villa is located by the shore in the cherished village of Toward (just 8 miles south of Dunoon) Its large lounge and sun porch offering Luxury, midge free accommodation with panormic sea views. Enjoy a wonderfull holiday of relaxation, take in the sea views, watch seals and porpoise play and pleasure boats including the waverley paddle steamer, royal navy ships and sailing yachts pass.
You can also take a lovely evening walk to Toward point it's Lighthouse or castle, an easy bike ride to along the shore road to Innellan, Dunoon or beyond...or explore the most beautiful, scenic and most undiscovered area Argyll...Cowal is Scotlands best kept secret. This fantastic location is ideally situated for Cowals 3 best golf courses and the ideal place for wildlife spotting, fishing and rock pooling.
Why visit Argyll, Cowal and Bute? Why not head North to Oban and Fort William? 90% of Scotland's most appreciated tourist do just that...year after year. Yet Argyll, Cowal and Bute offer you the most populated area of lochs and walkways, spectacular scenery, botanic gardens, castles and wildlife in Scotland and because it is off the beaten tourist track, a very peaceful and relaxing place in which to stay. The very best of Scotland in miniature and packed into an area of only 35 x 25 miles and all within 60 minutes of Sea View Cottage, Innellan, Argyll. "If you want to see all the best highlights and delights of scotland.... stay in Cowal for a week or two" The Benmore botanic Gardens and it's Giant Redwoods (within 10 minutes drive)
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. For the walker choose from Seaside / Lochside trails to Woodland forest trails through what is accepted as the most beautiful scenic area of Scotland, notably Pucks Glen, Glenbranter and the manificent world renowned "Benmore Botanic Gardens" Toward lighthouse (left and middle) and the array of seals and other wildlife living around this point
Loch Eck and Argyll Magnificent Loch Eck just over 6 miles long and 67 feet above sea level, 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 walking, taking in the scenery and fishing in Loch Eck for Salmon trout, the Gwyniad or fresh-water Herring and a remarkably translucent fish 4 or 5 inches long called the Goldie. 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 area abounds in wildlife. Seagulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Eider Ducks and Swans and Seals are frequent passers-by.
This location and property not for you? The Coylet Inn by Loch Eck and lovely Autumn views of Loch Eck
Activities on your doorstep or less than one hour's travel There are numerous scenic forest walks and loch side trails with signposted footpaths, in particular to you can pay a visit to the present day Castle Toward built in 1820, replacing the original castle owned by the Towards of Clan Lamont The castle is set in 150 acres of mixed woodlands, lawns and Chinese lakes incorporating the ruins of the original sixteenth century Toward Castle...with access to the shore, and stunning views over the Clyde estuary. Toward Castle is now a residential training centre operated by Actual Reality Scotland and offers fantastic days out for bored restless children, Castle Towards outdoor education activities include catwalks and a high jump, as well as gorge walks and hill walks. The castles long history has led to a number of ghost stories. As well as outdoor education, the house is used for residential courses for young people in music and art. The Glasgow Schools' Symphony Orchestra and West of Scotland Schools' Symphony Orchestra visit regularly. The children's BBC TV series Raven also use Castle Toward as a film location. You can contact Actual Reality Scotland Tel: 01369 870249 Fax: 01369 870337 Quadmania, Dunoon For outdoor adventure for all the family, you must visit Quadmania just a short drive away 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.
Toward outdoor education centre, the chinese lakes and the local wildlife
Local Golf Courses There are 3 local golf courses within easy reach of you accommodation Innellan and Blairmore (both competitive 9 hole course) and the Cowal golf course, Dunoon (18 holes). Fishing and sea angling is available on your doorstep at the foot of the front garden. Or numerous nearby rivers offer Brown Trout, Salmon and Sea Salmon. For those wishing to cruise on Loch Eck, motor or rowing boats are available to hire. In Dunoon there is an excellent new indoor swimming pool. Around the area lie quaint lochside villages. Further north is Strone, Ardentinny and Strachur...further north still is Inverary, Lochgoilhead and Oban all 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 25 minute drive from Sea View Villa, you can also access Pucks Glen and a choice of 3 mouth watering woodland trailsl 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 un-surpassed Pucks Glen a series of streams and waterfalls cascading down a fantastic woodland valley trail
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 Sea View Cottage 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 1 hours drive of Sea View Cottage, 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 at Sea View Villa and around just 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 Pucks Glen from Sea View Villa 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.
Mountain bikes and Walking Holidays Along with numerous local walks, more serious walkers can sample a part / all 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. Fot the mountain bikers there is also the more local to where you are staying Glen Kin way an easy 6 mile / 10 Km circuit of a small glen in Cowal, Argyll that suits beginners and provides more experienced riders with optional challenges 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
Evenings out
The Osborne Hotel, (approx 2 miles), provides a friendly atmoshpere, good food, drink and entertainment. Dunoon is only a short drive from your accommodation and has a selection of excellent restaurants, fast food takeaways and a new cinema. Further afield but within easy reach are a number of excellent seafood restaurants and country pubs, in particular the Coylet Inn and the renowed Loch Fyne Oyster Bar where you can sample some of the world famous oysters from the shores of Loch Fyne. Also the famous Whistlefield Inn a cosy 14th Century inn with an open fire and inviting atmosphere, with a fantastic selection of Malt Whisky and beers and a restaurant with great food.
The 14th century Whistlefield Inn (Left) and the Oyster Catcher" Inn / Restaurant (Right)
Local area Information The nearest village shop and post office are in Innellan (approx 2 miles) The nearest hotel is the Osborne Hotel (approx 2 miles) a small family run hotel situated directly on the banks of the Firth Of Clyde. The hotel is open all year round offering a wide and varied choice of menu including an exciting Chef’s Choice list offering fresh homemade specialities and the exellent Innellan Golf Club 9 Holes is just 2 miles away. Dunoon Golf Club 18 holes is just 8 miles away. The nearest supermarkets, doctors, cinema and restaurants are in Dunoon (8 miles)
Sea View Villa is accessed via the main A815 Shore Road from Dunoon and offers you extremely spacious comfortable accommodation. Fully double glazed with gas central heating throughout, its stone walls keeping the cold winters and oppresive summer heat waves away. Living Spaces relax and settle into a good book in front of the living rooms open fire comfortably furnished with a Luxury 3 piece suite, this room is warm and well lit and you will also find a TV / DVD / VCR with fantastic sea views from the bay windows from the sun lounge.
The kitchen is fully equipped with all the necessary modern equipment including a cooker; oven; microwave; fridge Ice box; toaster; kettle; washing machine; dishwasher: iron and ironing board, radio/cassette player and breakfast bar. Other essentials such as glasses, crockery, cutlery and a corkscrew are also provided for your convenience. The Dining room has a dining table and 6 chairs; a futon bed settee and a lovely old HMV record player The master double bedroom, stretch out on relax after a long day of relaxation, this room has ample hanging and drawer space, fantastic sea views and a viewing telescope. The childrens bedroom, has a standard single bed and a further small folding bed if required. The downstairs double bedroom, has a standard double divan bed, with ample hanging and drawer space. The two Bathrooms (1 x Upstairs 1 x Downstairs) feature standard size relaxing baths with overhead showers, toilets and wash basins.
This cottage is also child friendly with a large selection of books and games available. Regret for safety reasons and Scottish law no smoking inside the cottage please.
"Pet Friendly" We are pet friendly by prior arrangement well-behaved dogs are welcome, but are only permitted to stay in the rear porch and must not be allowed into the interior.
Boat hire on Loch Eck and fishing permits Motor boats are available from (£12 per hour / £40 per day / £25 half day) Rowing boats are available from £5 per hour / £15 per day / £10 half day Tel 01369 840576.
Salmon Fishing permits are available for the river Eachaig from May and Loch Long from early February at £5 per day / £20 per 7 days. The Brown Trout Season is from the 15th of March until the 6th of October, Coarse fishing, Sea fishing and Rainbow Trout fishing are permitted all year round and no national rod licence is required in Scotland. Fishing permits of all kinds are available from the Coylet Inn Tel 01369 840426 Fishing Tackle hire in Dunoon For the novice and if you are not bringing your own fishing tackle you can visit or call the tackle shop in Dunoon. I.C. Purdie 112 Argyll Street, Dunoon. Tel. 01369 703232 for fishing advice and permits for all the local Lochs and Rivers. Don't forget the view The front patio & decking (left) the view of the sea from front (middle) the rear garden swing and slide (right)
Scottish Weather? Click Here... you might well be surprised! Travel
This location and property not for you?
Satisfied Customers
Weekly holidays starting from just £295.00 per week low season, sleeping up to 6 persons. Low season weekend / short breaks are usually available in November, December and January.
"Availability"
Scale of (7 day) weekly hire charges
Hire charges include all "Heating, Electricity, Towels and Bedding"
Low season Winter Breaks, Short breaks and Weekend breaks available November, December, January from as little as £295 for 7 nights.
"Pet Friendly" We are pet friendly by prior arrangement only, clean well-behaved dogs are welcome at a surcharge of just (£10 per pet per week booking) to cover extra cleaning
For further information please complete this short questionnaire For further information of any kind / special requirements and to reserve directly with the owners by Credit / Debit card, Cheque, Postal order or other. Please complete the short form and press the submit button below and we will contact you by return. In the event of this Holiday home not being available for the dates you require, we will email you details of all other available holiday homes in this region suiting your requirements
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