Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 61

1

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. The castle's
more recent claim to fame is that it was chosen as the location for the shooting of
an episode of Downton Abbey .
Gracing the extensive castle grounds is an attractive Celtic cross from Tiree, and one
of three elegant bridges built during the relandscaping of Inveraray (the other two are
on the road from Cairndow). Of the walks marked out in the grounds, the most
strenuous takes you to the tower atop Dùn na Cuaiche (813ft), from where there's a
spectacular view over the castle, town and loch.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION INVERARAY

By bus Buses stop on Front St, opposite the tourist o ce.
Destinations Dalmally (Mon-Sat 3 daily, Sun 2 daily; 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).

Tourist o ce Front St (daily: April, May, Sept & Oct
10am-5pm; June-Aug 9am-5.30pm; Nov-March 10am-
4pm; T 01499 302063); it has stacks of information and
can also arrange local accommodation.

ACCOMMODATION
Creag Dhubh Shore Rd T 01499 302430, W creag
dhubh.com. Set in a large, lush garden overlooking Loch
Fyne down the A83 to Lochgilphead, this lovely mid-
nineteenth-century sandstone building accommodates
five warmly decorated, and very reasonably price d, rooms,
two of which overlook the loch. March-Oct. £70
Loch Fyne Hotel Shore Rd T 01499 302980, W crerar
hotels.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 Rd 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 the
Gothic-style church windows, through which there are
splendid view s across the loch. Particularly welcoming to
families. £90
SYHA hostel A short walk up the A819 to Oban, just
beyond the petrol station T 0870 004 1125, W syha
.org.uk. Small, low-key hostel in a low, wood-and-stone
chalet-type building. Twin and quad rooms, all with shared
shower facilities, as well as a lounge and kitc hen for use.
Breakfast £3.75. Easter to Oct. Dorms £18.50

EATING AND DRINKING
Brambles Main St West T 01499 302252. Fabulous
bistro/bakery that's invariably packed to the gunnels with
punters to natter over a cup of freshly roasted coffee and
home-made cake. Daily 8.30am-6pm.
George Hotel Main St East T 01499 302111. The
rambling, and very convivial, restaurant/bar of the George

feels like a truly proper pub, with its flagstone flooring,
log fires, and dimly-lit nooks and crannies in which to
linger in over a pint. Decent food too: haggis, neeps and
tatties (£7.95), and steak pie with mash and buttered
carrots (£9) are typical of the menu. Daily 11am-11pm.

Oban and around
The solidly Victorian resort of OBAN enjoys a superb setting - the island of Kerrera to
the southwest providing its bay with a natural shelter - distinguished by a bizarre
granite amphitheatre, dramatically lit at night, on the hilltop above the town. Despite a
population of just eight thousand, it's by far the largest port in northwest Scotland, the
second-largest town in Argyll, and the main departure point for ferries to the Hebrides.