Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
circumnavigate the town's Neoclassical
church
: originally the southern half served the
Gaelic-speaking community, while the northern half served those who spoke English.
Inveraray Jail
Church Square • Daily: April-Oct 9.30am-6pm; Nov-March 10am-5pm • £8.95 •
T
01499 302381,
W
inverarayjail.co.uk
Inverary's most enjoyable attraction is
Inveraray Jail
, comprising an attractive
Georgian courthouse and two grim prison blocks that, in their day, were the
principal ones in Argyll. he prison blocks ceased to function in 1889, though the
courthouse continued in one form or another until 1954. he jail is now a
thoroughly enjoyable museum, which graphically recounts prison conditions from
medieval times to the twentieth century.
Following a trawl through some of the region's most notorious crimes, you get to listen
to a
re-enactment
of a trial of the period, staged in the original semicircular courthouse
of some 170 years ago. More fascinating, though, are the prisons themselves; built in
1820, the Old Prison housed all convicts - men, women, children, the insane - until
1849 when the New Prison was built, whose twelve cells held male prisoners only. In the
courtyard stands the minute “
Airing Yards
”, two caged cells where the prisoners got to
exercise for an hour a day, though they were forbidden to talk to each other.
6
Inveraray Castle
A 10min walk north of Main Street • April-Oct daily 10am-5.45pm • £10 •
T
01499 302203,
W
inveraray-castle.com
Inveraray Castle
remains the family home of the Duke of Argyll, the present
(thirteenth) incumbent being Duke Torquhil Ian Campbell. Built in 1745, it was given
a touch of the Loire in the nineteenth century with the addition of dormer windows
and conical corner spires. In truth, the interior is fairly dull, save for a pair of Beauvais
tapestries in the Drawing Room, and the armoury hall, whose displays of weaponry
- supplied to the Campbells by the British government to put down the Jacobites - rise
through several storeys. Otherwise, look out for the small exhibition on Rob Roy,
complete with his belt, sporran and dirk handle. he castle's more recent claim to fame
is that it was chosen as the location for the shooting of an episode of Downton Abbey.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
INVERARAY
By bus
Buses stop on Front Street, opposite the tourist o
ce.
Destinations
Dalmally (Mon-Sat 3 daily, 2 on Sun; 25min);
Dunoon (3 daily; 1hr 10min); Glasgow (4-6 daily; 2hr);
Lochgilphead (2-3 daily; 40min); Oban (Mon-Sat 3 daily, Sun
2 daily; 1hr 5min); Tarbert (2-3 daily; 1hr 30min).
INFORMATION
Tourist office
Front Street (daily: March & Nov
10am-4pm; April, May, Sept & Oct 10am-5pm;
June-Aug daily 9am-5.30pm;
T
01499 302063).
ACCOMMODATION
Loch Fyne Hotel
Shore Road
T
01499 302980,
W
crerarhotels.com.
Refined spa hotel out on the road to
Lochgilphead offering the full complement of spa facilities
(pool, hot tub, steam room and jacuzzi), in addition to a
suprem
ely co
mfortable range of rooms, many with a tartan
theme.
£110
Ì
Newton Hall
Shore Road
T
01499 302484,
W
newtonhallguesthouse.co.uk.
This former church
now accommodates an outstanding ensemble of seven
rooms, each one named after an Argyll island. Each has
been conceived in a completely different style, though
they're all possessed of strikingly bold colours and cool,
modern furnishings; a couple of rooms have even retained
Gothic-style church windows, through which there are
splendid
view
s across the Loch. Particularly welcoming to
families.
£90
SYHA hostel
T
0870 004 1125,
W
syha.org.uk.
Small,
low-key hostel in a low, wood and stone chalet-type building
a short walk up the A819 to Oban (just beyond the petrol
station). Twin and quad rooms, all with shared shower
facilities, as well as a lounge and kitch
en for c
ommunal use.
Breakfast £3.75.
Easter to Oct.
Dorms
£18.50
