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Argyll And The Road To The Isles ( part 2)
Dunstaffnage was build in a strategic spot on the Firth of Lorn. It was built upon an immense rock and the shape of the wall was altered to accommodate the odd shape The castle was built by Duncan or Ewen MacDougal around 1275 (Lords of Lorn). In 1309 it was captured by Robert Bruce. The castle was then turned over to the Campbells in 1470. A chapel was constructed outside of the castle walls by the Lords of Lorn. There is a burial aisle of Dunstaffnage Campbells. The Campbells added this gate entrance along with the gate tower inside for additional protection.
 The museum was set up in 1980 by the then owner of the island, Chris Nicholson. The Curator, Jean Adams MBE is a direct descendent of one of the quarry workers, Duncan McGreggor. It was Jean who, with the assistance of local residents and the families of past quarry workers who had maintained their associations with the island, collected, collated and arranged displays of photographs and artifacts all of which originated in the locality. Eredine Forest  Dense forest skirts lochside road, ideal for picnics. View of Innis Chonnell Island with ruins of former Campbell stronghold.In the first third of the 20th century the land that is now Eredine Forest was a hill farm similar to those that still exist nearby at Ballimeanoch, Blarghour and elsewhere. The lower slopes were rough grassland with patches of rush bog and areas of deep peat with heather and cotton grass. There were also small patches of oak woodland and open parkland with scattered oaks, rowans, birches and alders. The rocky gorges of the hill burns had a greater variety of trees including ash, elm and aspen. The hill ground was largely blanketed with deeper, eroding peat and almost continuous heather/cotton grass bog - as it still is. In the first third of the 20th century the land that is now Eredine Forest was a hill farm similar to those that still exist nearby at Ballimeanoch, Blarghour and elsewhere. The lower slopes were rough grassland with patches of rush bog and areas of deep peat with heather and cotton grass. There were also small patches of oak woodland and open parkland with scattered oaks, rowans, birches and alders. The rocky gorges of the hill burns had a greater variety of trees including ash, elm and aspen. The hill ground was largely blanketed with deeper, eroding peat and almost continuous heather/cotton grass bog - as it still is.
Unfortunately, the Scots pine was not our native tree, which was despised by the foresters of those days, but a strain from the continent of Europe, and it has not grown well. Most of the others have made good growth and now stand over 35m tall. Norway Spruce The estate was acquired by the Forestry Commission in the mid-thirties and the first phase of a forestation, confined to the better, in bye, land, set in train along the lines then in vogue. The main planting was of Norway spruce with some pines, larches and Sitka spruce and with a few groups of noble fir, grand fir and Douglas fir and western hemlock Unfortunately, the Scots pine was not our native tree, which was despised by the foresters of those days, but a strain from the continent of Europe, and it has not grown well. Most of the others have made good growth and now stand over 35m tall. Glen Nant Glen Nant forest walk Distance Approximate Time Height Gain OS Map 3.2 kms 120 minutes 0 metres
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Recreation at Inverliever Forest Dalavich, Taynuilt, and Ford are the nearest towns or villages. OS Grid Reference: NM924103 Set along the shores of Loch Awe and Loch Avich, Inverliever Forest offers trails for walkers and cyclists along the shore of Scotland's longest loch or through ancient Oakwoods and impressive old conifer woodland. With great fishing, wildlife watching and horse riding opportunities available, Inverliever Forest has something to offer everyone. How to get there: Inverinan Forest Kilmartin There are more than 350 ancient monuments within a six-mile radius of the village of Kilmartin, Argyll: 150 of them are prehistoric. This extraordinary concentration and diversity of monuments distinguishes the Kilmartin valley as an area of outstanding archaeological importance. more on Kilmartin >>
Although Kilmory’s deceptive castellated appearance and air of antiquity have caused it to be popularly referred to as a castle, it is in fact simply a rambling nineteenth century mansion house. Both the house and its extensive grounds were largely created by one man, the highly individual, near eccentric Sir John Powlett Order of Kilmory and North Uist, over a period of fifty years from 1828 until his death in 1878. The new Laird of Kilmory at once set about improving his estate with great energy, adding to it by purchasing the adjoining properties, constructing estate roads and buildings, planting and enclosing and laying out the pleasure-grounds round his house. As part of these improvements Sir John swept away what was left of the old Kilmory House and began to build a new house on the site, in a fashionable, up-to-date Gothic style what a contemporary account calls “in the English style”.
Lochawe
To Lochawe Village Just before Lochawe Village Hall, which caters for a variety of local activities, the outlook over the mouth of the River Orchy to the hills beyond is a view worth seeing. At the approach to the village are two impressive Victorian buildings, the one to the left being The Tower of Glenstrae, a welcoming guest house. Loch Creran From 1819 Ardrishaig had a regular steamer connection to Glasgow, with an onward connection along the canal to Lochgilphead. In 1831 Lochgilphead acquired its own pier, and by then it had also been linked to Oban by road. Oban Oban stands unchallenged as the capital of the western seaboard of Scotland. It was a late starter, existing only as a small fishing and trading village until the steamers of the early Victorian era started arriving in ever greater numbers. It became the main point of departure for the Western Isles and a regular stopping-off point for the steamers linking Inverness with Glasgow via the Caledonian and Crinan canals. And the arrival of the railway in 1880 only confirmed its growing status.
Taynuilt lies near to the south shore of Loch Etive where the A85 to Oban descends west from the Pass of Brander. The bulk of the village lies to the north of the main road, and for most people Taynuilt is represented by a glimpse of the Taynuilt Hotel as they drive past.
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Aberdeen & Stonehaven Annandale & Eskdale Argyll, Dunoon & Oban - this area is used as one of our bases Aviemore & Cairngorms Ayr & Kilmarnock Ballater & Banchory Banff & Buchan Ben Nevis & Great Glen C Grampian Highlands Clydebank, Cumnock, Lowthers Edinburgh Fife Galloway Glasgow Island of skye - frequently visited on our tours Kintyre, Arran & Bute Loch Lomond & Trossachs Loch Ness & Inverness Lothian Lower Speyside Montrose, Arbroath Nithsdale & Galloway Hills Orkney Outer Hebrides Perth & Dundee Area Shetland Southern Inner Hebrides Sutherland & Dornoch Firth Teviotdale & Lauderdale Thurs, Wick and Caithness West Lothian Wester Ross - frequently visited on our tours |
Dunstaffnage Castle
Norway Spruce The estate was acquired by the Forestry Commission in the mid-thirties and the first phase of a forestation, confined to the better, in bye, land, set in train along the lines then in vogue. The main planting was of Norway spruce with some pines, larches and Sitka spruce and with a few groups of noble fir, grand fir and Douglas fir and western hemlock
Bronze Age symbols adorn burial chambers in village. . Medieval stone sculptures in churchyard.
Ruined church contains medieval cross and Celtic grave slabs. Views look across to Papa of Jura.
Sheltered bay with fishing boats and Hebrides ferries. Creeper-clad ruin of Dunollie Castle, former MacDougall stronghold. McCaig's Tower above town is Colosseum replica built 1890s.