Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SOUTH ARGYLL
Cowal
The remote Cowal peninsula is cut off from the rest of the country by the lengthy fjords of
Loch Long and Loch Fyne - it's an area more accessible by boat than by car (there are fer-
ries from Gourock to Dunoon in eastern Cowal, and from Tarbert to Portavadie in the
west). It comprises rugged hills and narrow lochs, with only a few small villages; the
scenery around Loch Riddon is particularly enchanting. The only town on the mainland is
the old-fashioned holiday resort of Dunoon.
From Arrochar, the A83 to Inveraray loops around the head of Loch Long and climbs up
Glen Croe. The pass at the head of the glen is called the
Rest and Be Thankful
- when the
original military road through the glen was repaired in the 18th century, a stone was erected
at the top inscribed 'Rest, and be thankful. This road was made, in 1748, by the 24th
Regt…Repaired by the 93rd Regt. 1786'. A copy of the stone can be seen at the far end of
the parking area at the top of the pass.
There's a Forest Enterprise
visitor centre
(
01301-702432; admission free;
10am-5pm Apr-Oct)
at the foot of the glen, with information on various walks on the Cow-
al peninsula.
As you descend Glen Kinglas on the far side of the Rest and be Thankful, the A815 forks
to the left just before Cairndow; this is the main overland route into Cowal. From Glasgow,
the most direct route is by ferry from Gourock to Dunoon.
DUNOON & AROUND
Like Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Dunoon (population 9100) is a Victorian seaside resort
that owes its existence to the steamers that once carried thousands of Glaswegians on pleas-
ure trips 'doon the watter' in the 19th and 20th centuries. As with Rothesay, Dunoon's for-
tunes declined in recent decades when cheap foreign holidays stole its market - however,
while the Bute resort appears to be recovering, Dunoon is still a bit down in the dumps.
The
tourist office
(
01369-703785;
www.visitcowal.co.uk
; 7 Alexandra Pde;
9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun Apr-Sep, 9am-5pm Mon-Thu, 10am-5pm Fri
& 10am-4pm Sat & Sun Oct-Mar)
is on the waterfront 100m north of the pier.
