Cowal and Bute
Flanked by Loch
Fyne and carved by the beautiful Glendaruel and Loch Eck, the Cowal
Peninsula is a land of rich highland diversity and home to charming
hamlets and villages like Tighnabruaich, Strachur and Lochgoilhead.
Dunoon, with its Victorian pier and craft shops, cafes and museums,
is the peninsula's main town and home of the world's premier Highland
Games, the Cowal
Gathering. Fringed by beautiful shores, rich in seafood and stunning
seascapes, and filled with dramatic mountain and loch scenery, home
to magnificent birds of prey and red deer, Cowal is a wonderful introduction
to the West Highlands of Scotland.
A short ferry crossing from Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula
takes you to the emerald gem that is Bute. Once the island retreat
of Scottish kings, the captivating Isle
of Bute lies at the heart
of the Firth of Clyde. For such a compact island, Bute has some
amazingly varied landscapes: from the lush, fertile rolling hills
at the heart of the island to the craggy, heather covered moorlands
of the north and the delightful sandy beaches around the coastline.
Home to feral goats, buzzards and roe deer, the north of the island
is separated from the mainland by the beautiful sea channel called
the Kyles of Bute. The island's main town, Rothesay, has a main
ferry pier at one end of the bay, which is lined with a splendid
Victorian frontage. Worth a visit are the dramatic, moated Rothesay
Castle and the house and gardens of Mount
Stuart, belonging to
the Marquess of Bute.
Activities
Quadmania offer a great outdoor experience. Within a 2,000 acre
estate, you can enjoy quad biking, archery, clay shooting or a
team challenge course. Adults of any age and ability and children
from age 8 can spend an hour or more on one sport or try multi-activity
packages, which will provide you with a truly unforgettable day.
Cumbrae Voyages offer unforgettable marine adventures and wildlife
tours amongst the beautiful islands of the lower Clyde. On board
the 12 seat rigid inflatable boats, clients will enjoy frequent
sightings of seals, oyster catchers, gannets, cormorants and occasionally
porpoise, dolphins and whales. You can book a variety of group
days which can include meals, helicopters, golf, clay shooting
and quad biking.
Benmore
Botanic Garden, with its magnificent mountainside setting,
is a joy to behold. Its 140 acres - entered via the spectacular
Giant Redwood Avenue - boast a famous collection of flowering trees
and shrubs, including over 300 species of Rhododendron. Trails
throughout the garden lead to the beautiful Formal Garden, hillside
woodlands and a dramatic 450 feet viewpoint overlooking the mountains
and Holy Loch. You can also enjoy the cafe, shop and exhibitions
in the Courtyard Gallery.
Mount
Stuart House, Britain's most spectacular Victorian Gothic
house, is the architectural fantasy of the third Marquess of Bute.
Situated on the Isle of Bute, the house and grounds are open daily,
spring and summer, giving visitors the opportunity to explore at
their own pace or to take a guided tour. Over 300 acres of gardens,
pasture and woodland unroll towards the unspoiled coastline.
X Bikes Argyll have mountain bikes for hire a short distance from
the Marina. Explore Cowal's forestry trails and enjoy the views
or cycle along the seafront to Dunoon. Kides' bikes, trailer bikes,
baby seats and delivery service are available. Puncture kits, helmets,
locks and route maps are all provided.
Near Dunoon, Chainsaw Craft's Andy Maclachlan has, for 20 years,
created sculptures inspired mainly by local wildlife. Visitors
can browse the carvings on display, whilst watching Andy use only
a chainsaw to carve sculptures from locally grown timber. Most
works are bought as garden or patio features and many are commissioned
for public spaces and often appear all over the world.
Come on an interactive guided theatre walk with Argyll's Walking
Theatre Company, experiencing our environment and history through
drama. Enjoying Cowal's breathtaking and inspiring landscape, join
in our adventures, inspired by Scotland's rich culture and dramatic
history. Meet Jacobite rebels, highland smugglers, warring clan
chiefs, or naughty sprites.
