This area is home to many towns and villages and is a popular tourist destination because of the wealth of wildlife & stunning scenery together with diving, sporting and fishing opportunities that are available in the region.
The city landscape of Glasgow transforms to lochs, sea, mountains, forests and castles. Dunoon is the main town in the area with a prominent seaboard, and has been a popular holiday spot since the 1800's. Once there, it is hard to believe you are less than 1 hour away from Glasgow.
Fancy some nostalgia? The last seagoing paddle steamer, the Waverley, still calls in at Dunoon, Blairmore and Tignabruaich Piers throughout the summer months.
In the area there are plenty things to see and do. Benmore Botanical Gardens is one of Cowal's major attractions, with 150 acres including the spectacular avenue of Redwoods. Pucks Glen is a popular walking area and if you like salmon or trout fishing then fishing permits can be obtained. The River Massen is probably the best known for fishing. From Dunoon, some of the best sea angling is available in an area known as the Gantocks.
The most popular place to visit in Cowal is the Castle House Museum, detailing the history of the area from ancient times to the present day.
Dunoon and Cowal offer plenty of wide open spaces on land and sea. It is an area for both the outdoor enthusiast as well as those who would like to try an active pursuit.
Quadbiking, fishing, kayaking, gorge walking are all recommended activities and we will be happy to assist you with more information. There are many cycle routes on the many quiet country roads or on the many forest trails.
Fishing
There is a varied amount of fishing available and boats can be chartered for sea angling. Loch Eck is renowned for Brown Trout and there are many piers, inlets, coves and beaches where you can fish. Trout and salmon fishing permits can be obtained for the River Finart in Ardentinny and other rivers and lochans nearby.
Walking
The Cowal Peninsula, presents breathtaking vistas of lochs, sea, mountains, glens, rivers and forests. If you like fresh air and walking in glorious surroundings, then Cowal offers a wide variety of routes and hiking trails, to suit all grades of walker. Generally gentler than the more rugged terrain further north, Argyll is a good area for family rambling. There are plenty forest trails, coastline walks, sweeping beaches, and island strolls.
The number of trails is overwhelming - The Cowal Way is one example, 47 miles long. Or for the more challenging, there are some great peaks in the Arrochar Alps.
Golf
Cowal Golf Club is an excellent 18 hole, 6063 yards course. Par 70. Designed in 1924 by James Baird the legendary Scottish golfer, who also created the Kings Course at Gleneagles. Green fee is between £25 - £35 per round. Visit www.cowalgolfclub.com or Tel 01369 705673 to book.
There are also two 9 hole courses which you can book, Blairmore & Strone Golf Club, with exceptional views of the Clyde estuary and Drimsynie Golf Club, a scenic lochside course in good condition for all standards of golfer for under £10 a round.
