Argyll And The Road To The Isles

Dramatic mountain peaks tower over moors dotted with tumble-down crofts and castles laid waste in clan feuds. Icy streams ripple through wooded glens and into lochs teeming with salmon and trout -- the delight of anglers. Golden eagles soar above the rocky crags and red deer roam the moors, near scattered villages haunted by tales of murder and treachery in days gone by. Click for a map.

Achnacloich Woodland Garden
Castellated mansion on promontory among gardens protected by oaks and larches. Views west to Mull and east to Ben Cruachan. More information >>

Ardanaiseig Gardens
Rhododendrons and azaleas set paths ablaze with colour in wood-land gardens overlooking Loch Awe. Walled garden, 1 acre, with herbaceous borders. More information >>

Ardrishaig
Sailing boats moor in harbour at southern end of 9 mile long Crinan canal, started l794 by John Ronnie to link Loch Fyne with Atlantic Ocean and cut out the 120 mile voyage round Kintyre.
Guide To Ardrishaig

Auchindrain Open Air Museum
Restored cottages and barns survive from ancient communal farm by families who shared Visitor centre shows life of Highlanders in past centuries. More information >>

Barcaldine
Crofters' fields surround scattered houses. Huge Douglas firs line paths to Gleann Dubh, where waterfalls plunge. Views of the Western Isles from reservoir.

Benmore
Dawn redwoods and eucalyptuses line forest paths near Loch Eck. Avenue of 130ft Wellingtonias leads to grounds of Ben-more House and botanic garden. More information >>

Bonawe
Restored 1753 charcoal ironworks above Loch Etive. Exhibition of smelting process and local life. Boat cruises leave from pier.
http://www.bonawehouse.co.uk/


Castle Sween
Probably Scotland's earliest stone castle, built in mid-12th century. Stronghold of the MacSween family; destroyed in 1647. Ruins retain their original proportions.

Ellary & Castle Sween occupy the little known and infrequently visited peninsular between Loch Sween and Loch Caolisport. This is an area of wild natural beauty and is interesting for holidaymakers who seek quietness and relaxation.

There are thousands of acres of hill and coastal woodlands to explore and special interests for naturalists and archaeologists. Boating people can explore the hundreds of islands and inlets. Photographers can capture the fabulous scenery and those who just want to relax will find Ellary & Castle Sween equally accommodating for this activity.

You can experience all of this by either renting our accommodation for a fortnight, week or weekend, or by owning your own accommodation. Choose the Loch Caolisport side (Cottages and Chalets) for extreme peace and quiet and the Loch Sween side (Holiday Caravan Homes) for privacy and charm for families who like to be closer to the facilities which Castle Sween provides.

http://www.ellary.com/


Clachan Bridge
Humpbacked stone 'Bridge over Atlantic', designed by Thomas Telford 1792, links Seil Island to mainland across arm of ocean.

Cornalees Bridge visitor centre and Overton Cut
Location Landranger 63
Access is from the A742 6km west of Greenock via a minor road. The visitor centre has a large car park at GR 248721.
Distance 9km

The route is very simple but has great views over the Clyde estuary. Go left out of the car park and go along the tarmac road with Compensation reservoir on your right. Continue generally north past Loch Thom Cottage to the top of the hill and then down hill to Overton. The Overton cut starts here though a gate and continues on a pleasant level grassy way for the next 4 km, only getting a little muddy near the end. Cross the minor road and walk past Sheilhill farm along the cut Follow the cut to Compensation reservoir dam and back up to the car park.

Connel
Falls of Lora swirl beneath bridge across narrows of Loch Etive. Stained glass in village church depicts bridge and falls.

Connel Bridge has had an odd history. From soon after its construction road vehicles were sometimes carried across on a railway wagon. In 1914 it was converted to allow road vehicles to drive over it, and for the next 50 years the bridge was used by both road and rail traffic. This stopped with the closure of the Ballachulish Branch Railway in 1966, and since then the bridge has been used exclusively by road traffic, controlled through the narrow roadway by traffic lights.

Connel itself is an attractive village. Apart from the bridge, the main landmarks are the large Falls of Lora Hotel, built in 1894, and the nearby St Oran's Church. This was built in 1888 and offers visitors an attractive interior and a nice collection of stained glass windows. There are also good views of Loch Etive from the grounds.

Near the north end of the bridge is North Connel, now bypassed by the main road. It is also home to Connel Airfield. This started life in the 1930s before being developed by the RAF during WWII. It is mainly used for training and leisure today, though efforts are under way to make more use of it as an airport for Oban.

Crinan Harbour	The entrance to Crinan Harbour

	In the nine miles from Ardrishaig to Crinan there are 15 locks and the canal reaches a height of 65 feet above sea level. The summit reach of the canal is relatively short and every time a boat goes through the locks about 300,000 litres of water are used. No fewer than seven reservoirs feed the summit reach to ensure that the Crinan Canal does not run dry.
Crinan Canal at Cairnbaan
	http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ areaduno/ http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ bute/ferries/index.html http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ lateavailability.html
Dunardry Locks