In & around Loch Lomond National Park

Week-long walking / hiking holiday featuring a mix of hikes and gentler walks in one of the most accessible and beautiful yet least known corners of the Highlands of Scotland. The week is based at the western border of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The country The programme day by day Am I fit enough? Accommodation Clothing and equipment Dates and prices Booking

The country

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park encompasses around 720 square miles of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. It is an area of contrasts from rolling lowland in the south to high mountains in the north and has many rivers and lochs, forests and woodlands.

We will stay at the west-edge of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. We will walk in, and just outside the National Park, in an area where the walker can still get well off the beaten track, amongst the lovely scenery of the Cowal peninsula, the Isle of Bute and Inveraray.

Loch Fyne near Newton

Cowal is a land of quiet corners - beautiful and very much off-the-beaten-track. Rugged mountains such as Beinn an Lochan and Beinn Bhuidhe in the north give way to gentler hills, peaceful glens and a lovely coastline to the south. We should not see many people on the hills and we can often have the shore to ourselves too.

St. Blane's Chapel, Bute

South-west Cowal, a short crossing over Loch Fyne from Knapdale and mid-Argyll by the Portavadie - Tarbert ferry, shares in that area's prehistoric riches, having a number of burial cairns and standing stones and also a wealth of iron age forts. Around here the views from the shores of Loch Fyne towards Arran's sharp peaks are dramatic, and the Kyles of Bute around Tighnabruaich are especially beautiful. Further north, near Strachur, we'll see medieval Castle Lachlan on its shore-side rock and can try to imagine the life of early christian monks at the ruins of Kilbride chapel.

Across the Kyles (Gaelic 'caolas' = narrows), the Isle of Bute lies with its head tucked between two of Cowal's prongs while its tail seeks the open sea. A lovely sliver of land, Bute is a geological and scenic hybrid of highland and lowland. North of Rothesay and Loch Fad (Gaelic 'fada' = long) the hard highland schists of Cowal are continued on Bute, but the island's southern half is geologically lowland, except at its southernmost tip where the basalts of Garroch Head and St. Blane's Hill echo the ruggedness of the north. Our day on the island takes in this volcanic tail where steep little hills and rocky coasts look out to Arran's jagged skyline. Amongst the natural beauties are some man-made ones: the remains of mediaeval St. Blane's chapel, sitting serenely in a wooded hollow, offer a marked contrast with the ruined strength of a vitrified hill fort, less than a mile away above a rocky shore.

Scotch Argus (photo Derek Prescott)

Wildlife
For those interested in wildlife, there are good numbers of mammal species throughout the peninsula, including red and roe deer, otters, red squirrels and, unfortunately, invading mink. Pine marten have been reported in recent years but much more readily seen are common seals in the sea lochs. Encounters with mammals can be unpredictable, but, as our week will take us into a range of habitats, we will certainly see lots of birds. On the hills and moors, for example, we could come across curlew, snipe, ravens, red grouse, ptarmigan and golden eagle (at least 3 pairs in Cowal). On one or two of the hill lochans there are red-throated divers. Woodland gives flycatcher and redstart, warblers, finches and tits, with buzzards soaring overhead and sometimes black grouse. The shore gives many species, amongst which oystercatcher and heron, with eider and merganser nearby, are constant presences, while in summer the call of the sandpiper is a special mark of the west highlands. Offshore we can see the spectacular knife-dive of a gannet on a feeding trip from the huge colony on Ailsa Craig.

The programme day by day

A typical week, subject to variables such as the weather and any alterations to take account of lambing and deer stalking, could be as follows:

1. Sunday: Strachur and Strathlachlan 2, Monday: Loch Goil 3, Tuesday: Loch Lomond 4. Wednesday: Ardkinglas House and Inveraray 5. Thursday: Isle of Bute 6. Friday: Arrochar Alps

Saturday
We meet in the afternoon in Glasgow (city or airport). From Glasgow to Strachur, near where you will be based for the week, takes a little under one and a half hours.

Sunday: Strachur and Strathlachlan
Our first day takes us amongst rugged little hills overlooking Loch Fyne and along its quiet shores where seals and sea birds live peacefully beside the ruins of an early Christian chapel, a medieval castle and an abandoned farming township.
This area, with its birch and oakwoods fringing open hill land has been the home of the clan MacLachlan since at least the 15th century. Other records suggest that they have been here much longer than that.
9-10 miles (14-16 km) and 1200 feet (380m) - on a mixture of track, path and hill.

Lochgoilhead

Monday: Loch Goil
Either an end-to-end walk taking us through wild hill country between Loch Fyne and Loch Goil. There are a number of different possible routes that we could take, but we'll be starting from Strachur and finishing at Lochgoilhead. We might climb to a hill top or traverse a remote pass: either way we will be crossing some rugged country, the home of ptarmigan and eagle, where few people normally go. Features of all routes, particularly the passes, are some attractive river sections where dippers can often be seen splashing in the stream to feed. On one line, the likeliest, there is a hill lochan and a magnificent waterfall.
The shortest and likeliest option will be about 7 miles (11 km) with 1100 feet (340 m) of climbing.

Or a walk in the Ardgoil hills which dominate the village of Lochgoilhead and command glorious views over the length of a beautiful sea loch - Loch Goil. The most rugged of these hills - the Steeple - belies its 1280 feet (380m): with its silver-grey cliffs of schist, steep slopes and several landslip caves it has the feel of a much bigger mountain. By the way, the landslides happened at the end of the ice age, 10 000 years ago, so there's no likelihood that anything's going to fall on your head today!).
We may also walk part of the old track known locally as the 'Duke's Path' (once a major route for the Dukes of Argyll between their Inveraray home and the Lowlands); from it we can climb any one of a number of hills, small or large, depending on the weather and the fitness of the party - whatever our choice, the views will be good, with a high possibility of seeing a herd of red deer.

The minimum is 5 miles/8 km only, with a little over 1300ft /400m of ascent, but there is some steep (and quite a lot of rough) going. If we go well, we may cover up to twice this distance and height.

On the slopes of Ben Lomond

Tuesday: Loch Lomond
We will take the passenger ferry from Inverbeg across Loch Lomond to Rowardennan on the eastern shore. Loch Lomond is the largest fresh water loch of Scotland. The loch also crosses the highland fault line, noticeable in its changing character and more rugged terrain moving from south to north.
We will do a circular walk through Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and along open hillside of the slopes of Ben Lomond with spectacular views across Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alpes. Ben Lomond is a nature reserve, owned by the National Trust of Scotland.
7miles/11km, 1475ft/450m ascent.

If the group is very fit, we might even walk up Ben Lomond (974m/3193ft), the most southerly Munro in Scotland.

Inveraray from the watchtower at Duniquaich

Wednesday: Ardkinglas House and Inveraray
Today is a gentler day. We're going west of Loch Fyne to Inveraray. We will have a tour of Ardkinglas House, designed and built in 1907 by Robert Lorimer one of Scotland's leading architects. Lorimer was allowed a free hand and the result is a large neo-baronial style mansion of over 80 rooms set in its own gardens.

Inveraray Castle, set in elegant planned grounds and beside the equally planned and equally elegant white-painted 18th century town, is well worth seeing and there are excellent walks in the estate. Perhaps the best of these - all on path and track - takes in the riverside and some varied woodland on its way to the 700 feet high (220m) top of Duniquaich. The view from the watchtower here is, to my mind, the very best there is of Inveraray, the castle and Loch Fyne.

Thursday: Isle of Bute
Southwards, to-day, to the Isle of Bute, to its south end to see the wide seascapes of the lower Firth of Clyde, with views to Arran's wild mountains and to Ailsa Craig. The walk is a circular one along the coast past Glencallum Bay and Garroch Head, returning north across lava hills. Apart from the views, attractions include seals and seabirds, while those interested in history will particularly enjoy seeing the substantial ruins of a 12th century chapel with a much older early-christian enclosure, both set in beautiful surroundings. The graveyard near the chapel includes a Viking hogback-style gravestone. There is also lots of geological interest along the shore.
6 to 8 miles (10 - 13 km) and up to 1000 feet (300m) depending on detailed variations on the day. Some rough going beside the shore, but otherwise mostly easy underfoot. Easy option of visiting Mountstuart House instead; a glorious gothic palace in extensive wooded grounds.

Friday: Arrochar Alps
Today's walk takes us to the summit of one mountains of the Arrochar Alps, as a fitting climax to our week. We've had a fairly gentle day on Thursday, so should be OK to make the most of today.
The Cobbler is one of the hills we might do. Superlatives are appropriate for this mountain with its dramatic rocky top. This is a real mountain walk with some scrambling. This will be a hard day, but one offering great rewards, with views far into Argyll and accross Loch Lomond - weather permitting! - and a sence of achievement.

The Cobbler

6 miles (9km) and 2990 feet (910m)
Note: If weather conditions are poor, we may take an alternative walk at lower level.
Alternative hills along Loch Eck side: Beinn Donich (easier), Beinn Mohr. The choice will depend on the group's fitness.

Saturday
After breakfast, we will take you back to Glasgow (city centre or airport).

Am I fit enough?

If you walk regularly, especially if you walk in the country or on rough paths, the answer is probably yes. Age itself is no problem. Fit men and women in their seventies can cope with this programme and others like it. No day's walking is more than 11 miles, and, if you really would like an especially gentle day there is always the possibility of opting to 'potter' in and around Rothesay and perhaps visit Mountstuart House when the others are walking on Bute. The same applies to our day around Inveraray when you could opt to spend all day in the town and the castle grounds.

On no day do we plan to hurry. Having said all that, you will have to cope with rough going on ground that is sometimes steep, wet or broken because the West Highlands and Islands are like that, and their greatest rewards often go to those who are prepared to step away from the beaten tracks. If you're still not sure whether or not you can cope after you've read this and the details of the week's programme, please get in touch to discuss it further.

Accommodation

You will be based near Strachur for the week. As with all About Argyll's holidays, this is either in selected B&B or in hotels, as you prefer. You can rely on the quality of the accommodation that we find for you - its comfort, its food and the welcoming nature of those who run it. If you have particular requirements, please let us know so that we can do our best to meet them.
Details of where you will be staying will be sent to you well in advance of your holiday.

Clothing and equipment

You will need to bring boots with a good tread that provide adequate ankle support, warm clothing, waterproofs (top and over-trousers) and a rucksack big enough for your spare clothes, a packed lunch and whatever else you normally like to have with you (binoculars, a camera, etc.). Boots are especially important. They don't have to be particularly heavy, but wearing ultra lightweight ones may mean your feet get wet and trainers definitely aren't adequate nor, on some of the rougher and steeper going, however short it may be, are they safe.

Dates and prices for 2008
Description	8 days (Saturday to Saturday), accommodation in Strachur in carefully selected B&B or hotel.
Walking	6 to 11 miles (10 to 18 km) daily, with a mix of rough going and path. Four quite strenuous days, though not at a fast pace, and two gentler ones, with less ascent.
Code	Date	B&B	Hotel	Comments
LL1	24-31 May	£625.00	£835.00	single room supplement: B&B £50.00 hotel £100.00
LL2	21-28 June
LL3	9-16 August
Groups of 4 or more can book other dates. Please ask.

The price includes:

The services of our well-qualified, well-informed and welcoming guide
Small groups - usually between 4 and 8
An attractive, well-thought-out walking programme
Carefully selected accommodation - B&B or hotel, double/twin room - plus picnic lunches on walking days
Transport by minibus and ferries, as needed, throughout your holiday, including evenings and from/to Glasgow/Glasgow airport at its beginning and end
Get-togethers to set the scene for the next day
Entrance fee to museums, if visited

Personal care and attention in all that we do for you.

For full details on booking and insurance, please click here.