Dunoon
The largest town in Cowal, and indeed the largest in Argyll, with 13,000 inhabitants, is Dunoon, one-time favourite holiday destination for Glaswegians, who came in their hordes on board the many paddle steamers that sailed "doon the watter" from Glasgow.
Dunoon still attracts visitors, albeit in much smaller numbers, but the town has fallen on desperately hard times with the recent closure of the US nuclear submarine base in the 1990s, nearby Holy Loch is considered as the life blood of the town.
Nevertheless, the town still comes to life during the Cowal Highland Gathering, held on the last weekend of August. This is the world's largest Highland Games and culminates in a spectacular march of massed pipes and drums through the streets. The Castle House Museum on Castle Hill overlooking the town, allows you to bone up on Cowel's often grisly past. Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 1030-1630, Sun 1400-1630, £1.50, concession £1, children free.
Phone code: +44 (0) 1369
Sport
Cycle hire - Highland Stores, 156 Argyll St.
PONY TREKKING - Velvet Path Riding & Trekking Centre, Rowan House, Innellan, by Dunoon. Tel. 01369 830580. Trekking and Riding Society for Scotland Approved Centre.
A warm welcome awaits at the Velvet Path, ride through spectacular scenery on our wonderful native ponies. Excellent pony trekking for that special holiday treat, beach rides for the experienced rider. Specialist in Riding for the Disabled. Tel. 01369 830580.
Eating Out
Also good is Ardfillayne House, a mile south of town on the Innellan Rd, Tel. 702267, Fax. 702501, A Victorian country house offering fine Scottish/French cooking (booking required).
3 miles north of Dunoon, on the A815, is The Anchorage Hotel & Restaurant, Tel/Fax. 705108, Also has a reputation for fine food (lunch mid-range; dinner expensive).
Abbot's Brae is a seaside hotel set in its own grounds near Dunoon on Scotland's West Coast Argyll.
Region
ArgyllTravel Directions to Dunoon
Getting to Dunoon
There are 2 ferry crossings to Dunoon from Gourock, with train connections to and from Gourock toGlasgow. There are also buses to Colintraive, Inveraray and Lochgoilhead.
The most popular ferry crossing is the CalMac car and passenger ferry which makes the 20-min trip daily all year round every 30 mins. The first leaves Gourock at 0620 and the last returns from Dunoon at 2105. There's also a Western Ferries service every 30 mins which arrives at Hunter's Quay, a mile north of the town centre, Tel. 01369-704452. For times and details of train connections from Gourock to Glasgow, Tel. 01475-650100.
There are buses to Colintraive 2-3 times daily Mon-Sat (40 mins), to Inveraray(on Tue, Fri-Sat; 1 hr 15 mins) and to Lochgoilhead (Mon and Fri; 1 hr 15 mins). For times, contact Western Buses, Tel. 01700-502076.
Cowal's main tourist information centre is on Alexandra Parade, Tel. 703785. Open Apr Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 1100-1730, Sun 1100-1500; May Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat-Sun 1000-1700; Jun and Sep Mon-Fri 0900-1800; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 0900-1900; Oct Mon-Fri 0900-1730.
Local Sights & Activities for Dunoon
There's not much to keep you in Dunoon but, if the weather's bad and you need to kill time, you could head for the Castle House Museum, on Castle Hill, which dominates the town centre, where you can bone up on Cowal's often grisly past. Open Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 1030-1630, Sun 1400-1630. A mile northwest, along the A855 to Sandbank, is the Cowal Bird Garden, an aviary with exotic birds such as parrots and macaws plus a small rare-breeds farm. Easter-Oct daily 1030-1800, Nov-Easter Sun only 1100-1600.
Dunoon Hotels & Accommodation
There are more than enough hotels and guesthouses to choose from. One of the best is the Enmore Hotel, Marine Parade (near Hunter's Quay), Tel. 702230, Fax. 702148, A small, family hotel in its own grounds overlooking the sea and with a reputation for good food (restaurant open to non-residents; mid-range- expensive) Late Rooms Availability for Enmore Hotel in Dunoon.
Nearby (on Hunter's Quay) is the very good Royal Marine Hotel. Recommended. Late Rooms Availability for Royal Marine Hotel in Dunoon
Self Catering Cottages in Dunoon
- Rashfield (Near Dunoon) - Border Lodge - Argyll Sleeps 4
- RASHFIELD(Near Dunoon) - Inveryne - Argyll Sleeps 6
- RASHFIELD(near Dunoon) - Benmore Lodge - Argyll Sleeps 7
- Clyde Cottage Sleeps 6
Self Catering Cottages Near Dunoon
- The Lodge Sleeps 4
B&Bs
There's lots of B&B accommodation, which can be booked at the tourist office, and there are 2 campsites nearby: Cot House Caravan & Campsite is at Kilmun, a few miles north of town, on the shores of Holy Loch, Tel. 840351; open Apr-Oct; and a few miles further north, at the southern end of Loch Eck, is Stratheck Caravan Park, Tel/Fax. 840472; open Mar-Dec.
Aside from the hotels listed above, the best food can be found at Chatters, 58 John St, Tel. 706402, an informal and outstanding little restaurant offering French-style Scottish cuisine (lunch mid-range; dinner mid-range-expensive). Open Mon-Sat.
Dunoon Cottages and Holiday SelfCatering
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The Old Ticket Office, Loch Long - Sleeps 2
Situated on the shores of Loch Long in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, this Victorian listed cottage has been stunningly restored. Standing detached at the end of the restored Blairmore Pier t...
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Pier Holiday Cottage, Holy Loch - Sleeps 2
Situated on the shores of the Holy Loch, in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, this restored, former ticket office is ideal for a relaxing holiday. -
Ballochyle Cottage, Dunoon - Sleeps 10
Located a mere 5 minutes from the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park this spacious semi-detached holiday cottage is one of four dwellings created from a restored courtyard farm steading and is located w... -
Larch. nr Loch Long - Sleeps 5-6
Beautifully perched overlooking panoramic views of Loch Long and magnificent mountains within Scotland’s first National Park, this is an ideal holiday base for touring Argyll or to chill out and enjo... -
Clover Cottage, Toward Point Lighthouse - Sleeps 2
Beautifully positioned on the Cowal Peninsula at Toward Point, home to the renowned \'Toward Point Lighthouse\' , this idyllic holiday home exudes an individual charm, character and style. Newly .... -
The Lodge, Argyll Forest Park - Sleeps 4
In an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Argyll Forest Park, this timber lodge is one of a small group set amongst trees and lawns, enjoying peace and seclusion. The area encapsulates the .... -
Kilmun Apartment, nr Dunoon - Sleeps 4
Set on the edge of the beautiful Argyll Forest Park and enjoying stunning views of the River Eachaig and Holy Loch beyond, this charming apartment is set within a private residential development. .... -
Hunters Quay Lodge, Holy Loch - Sleeps 6
Located in a charming "wild Argyll" setting beside Holy Loch and the Firth of Clyde, this timber lodge is set within a popular holiday park. The beautiful setting boasts wonderful views and a sense .. -
Hunters Quay Cottage, Dunoon - Sleeps 3
Nestling in an almost botanical paradise, this charming detached cottage boasts an exquisite shrubbery with trees from all over the world. Westerly air-streams and the North Atlantic Drift dominate .. -
Dunoon Cottage 1 - Sleeps 6
Set in beautiful rural surroundings, in a very peaceful location, these two newly converted cottages stand in a traditional courtyard. The cottages offer a very high standard and the lovely .... -
Dunoon Cottage 2 - Sleeps 9
Set in beautiful rural surroundings, in a very peaceful location, these two newly converted cottages stand in a traditional courtyard. The cottages offer a very high standard and the lovely .... -
Ardenmohr Cottage, nr Dunoon - Sleeps 4
Within the beautiful Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is this peaceful and well equipped, semi-detached forestry cottage. Being a waterfront property it enjoys stunning views across Loch Long and, the fo... -
Clyde Cottage, Dunoon - Sleeps 6
Situated on the sea front, with wonderful views of the Firth of Clyde, this 19th-century, listed, detached holiday cottage is tastefully furnished and equipped to a very good standard. Convenient for the t... -
Dunbheag Cottage, nr Dunoon - Sleeps 4
Enjoying wonderful views over the Holy Loch, this detached, single-storey property with its own garden stands in the village of Strone within the Argyll Forest Park, which is part of Loch Lomond and the Tr... -
Lochside, Loch Long - Sleeps 4
Situated on the shores of Loch Long, in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, this single storey waterfront cottage is ideal for a relaxing holiday and enjoys stunning views over Loch Long and the f... -
Chestnut Cottage, nr. Dunoon, Sleeps 8
This spacious detached modern holiday home is situated in an elevated position and located in the village of Innellan on the Cowal Peninsula which is renowned for its beauty and tranquillity. Offering an e... -
Kevington Coach House,Dunoon, sleeps 4
This lovely holiday cottage sits close to the banks of the Firth of Clyde at Hunters Quay 2 miles north of Dunoon in a quiet residential location. Set on the edge of Lomond and Trossachs National Park amid... -
Stonefield Farm Cottage,Glen Massan, sleeps 4
A warm charming cottage, attached to the owner’s house, located on a working farm at the foot of An Creachan, with spectacular panoramic views to the Firth of Clyde and The Holy Loch. Ideally situated for ... -
Rock Cottage,Ardentinny, sleeps 4
Situated within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, with magnificent views over Loch Long to the sea and mountains beyond. This cottage makes an ideal base for touring this relatively undiscovered part...