Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 53

1 LOCH FYNE OYSTER BAR

Loch Fyne Oyster Bar On the A83 two miles north
of Cairndow and eight miles east of Inveraray
T 01499 600236, W loch-fyne.com. On the shores of
Loch Fyne sits the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar , which spawned
the Loch Fyne chain of restaurants. The food is utterly
delicious and beautifully thought out, from the chilled
crab gazpacho and salmon ceviche (£9.50), to grilled

halibut (£21) and hand-dived Islay scallops (£16.50).
The restaurant itself oozes class, though it's anything
but stuffy, and there's also a superb marble-topped
oyster bar where you can tuck into prawns, clams,
cockles and heaps of other tasty wet stuff. The gorgeous
on-site shop/deli is a great place to assemble a gourmet
picnic. Daily 9am-10pm; reservations advised.

Village Inn In the southern part of Arrochar T 01301
702279. If you need a bite to eat, head for the Village Inn ,

which has tables outside overlooking the loch as well as
a cosy real-ale bar. Daily 10am-midnight.

Dunoon
The principal entry point into Cowal by sea is Dunoon . In the nineteenth century it
grew from a village to a major Clyde seaside resort and favourite holiday spot for
Glaswegians, but nowadays there's little to tempt you to stay, particularly with attractive
countryside beckoning just beyond. That said, it is worth visiting on the last weekend in
August, when the famous Cowal Highland Gathering ( W cowalgathering.com) takes place
here. The largest event of its kind in the world, it culminates in the awesome spectacle of
the massed pipes and drums of more than 150 bands marching through the streets.

Castle House Museum
Castle Gardens • Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 10.30am-4.30pm, Sun 2-4.30pm • £2 • T 01369 701422, W castlehousemuseum.org.uk
The centre of town is dominated by a grassy lump of rock known as Castle Hill ,
crowned by Castle House, built in the 1820s by a wealthy Glaswegian and the subject
of a bitter dispute with the local populace over closure of the common land around his
house. The people eventually won, and the grounds remain open to the public to this
day, as does the house, which is home to the Castle House Museum . here's some good
hands-on nature stuff for kids, and an excellent section on the Clyde steamers, as well
as information about “Highland Mary”, betrothed to Rabbie Burns (despite the fact
that he already had a pregnant wife), who died of typhus before the pair could see
through their plan to elope to the West Indies. A statue of her is in the grounds.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION DUNOON

By ferry There are two 20-minute ferry crossings across
the Clyde from Gourock to Dunoon. The more frequent
service is on Western Ferries ( T 01369 704452, W western
-ferries.co.uk) to Hunter's Quay, a mile north of the town
centre. CalMac's ferries ( T 0800 066 5000, W calmac.co.uk)
arrive at the main pier, and have better transport connec-
tions if you're on foot.
Destinations Gourock-Dunoon (hourly; 20min); McInroy's
Point-Hunter's Quay (every 30min; 20min).

By bus Buses stop on Alexandra Parade, not far from the
main pier.
Destinations Colintraive (Mon-Sat 2-3 daily; 1hr);
Inveraray (Mon-Sat 3 daily; 1hr 10min).
Tourist o ce On Alexandra Parade, a five-minute walk
from the CalMac terminal (Easter-Oct daily 9am-5pm;
Nov-Easter Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; T 01369 703785,

W visitcowal.co.uk).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Abbot's Brae West Bay T 01369 705021, W abbots
brae.co.uk. The welcoming Abbot's Brae is a beautiful
family-run Victorian villa set in woods above West Bay with
lovely views over the Clyde. The eigh t sp acious rooms hold
photographs depicting local history. £75
Chatters 58 John St T 01369 706402, W chatters

dunoon.co.uk. Despite its unappealing location next to a
supermarket, this is Dunoon's one real restaurant of merit,
offering delicious meat dishes like pan-fried wood pigeon
on couscous (£9) and roast saddle of lamb (£19.50). Tues
noon-3pm, Wed-Sat noon-3pm & 6-11pm.