Inveraray Castle and Gardens

Home of the Duke & Duchess of Argyll

Inveraray Castle is a remarkable and unique piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic. This unmistakable Scottish Castle was the first of its size and type to be built in an remote part of Scotland.

Inveraray Jail

Living museum and top Scottish visitor attraction

Real people portray life in this award winning 19th century prison. Interact with costumed characters, watch courtroom trials, talk to the prisoners, meet the Warder, go to jail and witness cell life, sample the punishments, browse the exhibition of prison artefacts, then make your escape.

Cruachan Visitor Centre

The Hollow Mountain

Lying deep within Ben Cruachan is one of Scotland's most amazing engineering achievements. The world's first high head reversible pumped storage hydro scheme is housed in a gigantic man-made cavern. The Visitor Centre houses a free exhibition area.

Auchindrain

Original highland township

Auchindrain Museum brings a historic Victorian farming village back to life. Visitors step back in time to witness how a local community lived, worked and played.

Inveraray Bell Tower

All Saints Bell Tower can be seen for miles along Loch Fyne

The Bell Tower contains the second heaviest ring of ten bells in the world (the heaviest being Wells Cathedral, England). For a small admission fee you can climb the 176 steps to the top of the tower for a spectacular view of Inveraray and Loch Fyne. A Kodak moment.

Ardkinglas House and Gardens

House tours are available see events page

Ardkinglas House is an architectural gem in a fabulous setting. Designed by Robert Lorimer and built in 1907 it is still occupied as a family home and has remained virtually unchanged for 100 years. Open occasionally or by appointment.

Argyll Adventure

Ranked #1 Attraction in Inveraray by Trip Advisor March 2012

Located on the shores of Loch Fyne only 3 miles south of Inveraray. 8 fantastic activities on offer including Horse Riding, Pony Rides, Paintball, Paintball Range, Laser Storm Arena, Crossbow Shooting, Bungee Trampolines and Climbing Walls. Cafe and picnic areas.

Loch Awe Boats

Boat hire, fishing & sightseeing

Motor / Row boats and canoes for hire. Explore the ruined castles and enchanted islands along the loch. Loch Awe is renowned for large stocks of Wild Brown Trout (British Record), Rainbow Trout, Salmon, Char, Roach, Perch and Monster Pike. Scottish tourist board 3 star activity.

Loch Fyne SPA

Pamper yourself in a tranquil spa

The Loch Fyne Hotel Spa is open to non-residents. The spa include a 15 metre indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and outside hot tub. For that extra bit of indulgence, Loch Fyne Hotel's trained therapists soothe tired muscles and make your skin glow with a wide range of treatments.

Inverawe Country Park & Visitor Centre

Fly-fishing centre, smokehouse, walks & tearoom

This visitors centre is a must-see in Argyll. Inverawe boasts a traditional smokehouse where you can watch this ancient craft at work. It's also one of the finest stocked fisheries and fly casting centres in the country. You can also follow the Nature Trails and wander along the riverside walks then pop into the smokery shop and tearoom.

Crarae Gardens

A spectacular 50-acre woodland garden

Crarae has a wonderful collection of woody plants centred on the Crarae Burn, which is spanned by several bridges and tumbles through a rocky gorge in a series of cascades. A wide variety of shrubs and trees chosen for spring flowering and autumn colour.

Ardkinglas Woodland Garden

Home to the tallest tree in Britain

The woodland garden covers 25 acres of hillside near the mouth of the River Kinglas, surrounded by wild Highland scenery. It is open all the year round, with an outstanding collection of plants and trees, including the tallest tree in Britain, and a choice of delightful walks.

Conducted Tours of Inveraray

Learn about Inveraray's history, its buildings, industries and its place in a modern Scotland. A leisurly paced walking tour of approximately 1¼ hours. Niall Iain was Head Guide at Inveraray Castle for over 10 years until he retired in 2009. See more below.

Dun na Cuaiche Walk, Inveraray

The monument on Dun na Cuaiche is a prominent landmark from Inveraray; it is a wonderful viewpoint and visiting it makes an excellent circular walk of 4.5km/2.75miles or 1.5 - 3hrs. Further detailed information including maps and photos of the walk are available below.

Leacainn Walk, Furnace

This excellent circular walk of 8.5km/5.25 miles or 3 - 4 hours links the Loch Fyne village of Furnace with the folk museum at Auchindrain. It was waymarked to celebrate the millenium and features forests, waterfalls, rivers, pastures and loch views.

Beinn Bhuidhe Walk, via Glen Fyne

Beinn Bhuidhe is a Munro isolated from any others, and the long walk in means it is much less visited than the nearby Arrochar Alps. Nonetheless the approach is worthwhile as the summit is a fabulous viewpoint. The private road up the glen can be cycled.

Inveraray Forest Circuit Walk

Inveraray has a magnificent position on the shores of Loch Fyne. This walk of 10km/6.25 miles or 2 - 3 hours explores the area around the town, taking in Inveraray Castle and its fine estate and then a long forest walk through the plantations behind Inveraray.

Ardcastle Point Walk, Loch Fyne

This fine forestry walk of 7.5km/4.5 miles or 2.5 - 3 hours explores a section of the coastline of Loch Fyne with excellent views. Watch out for deer, perhaps even a pine marten, or seals and otters down by the shore.

Castle Dounie Circuit Walk, Crinan

This fine forestry walk of 6.5km/4 miles or 2 - 3 hours climbs high above the sea to give stunning views of Jura, Scarba and the Argyll coastline. Starting from picturesque Crinan harbour, it ascends to a dramatically situated iron-age fort on an airy summit.

Dunardry Walk, near Cairnbaan

This short 4.5km/2.75 miles or 1.5 - 2 hours, waymarked forestry walk climbs from a car park overlooking the Crinan Canal to reach a superb panoramic viewpoint above the trees.

39 Steps, Ardrishaig

This waymarked 3.25km/2 miles or 1 hour forestry walk climbs up amongst the trees and tumbling streams above Ardrishaig for views across Loch Fyne.

Glashan Burn, Loch Fyne

This straightforward 3km/1.75 miles or 1 hour forestry round visits Loch Glashan reservoir as well as tiny Risbys Loch.

Crinan Circular Walk

A great circular walk of 4km/2.5 miles or 1.5 - 2.5 hours taking in a lovely section of the Crinan Canal with the sea on one side and then through the ancient Crinan Woods with good views over the sea to Islay and Jura.

Achnabreck Cup and Ring Carvings Walk, Cairnbaan

This short 1.75km/1 miles or 45 mins - 1 hour forest walk visits the most extensive prehistoric rock carvings in the UK: the Achnabreck Cup and Ring rocks. The easy circular also gives good views over Lochgilphead towards the Isle of Arran.

Moine Mhor and Dunadd Walk

This is really two separate very short 1.2km/0.75 miles or 45 minutes each walks on the edge of the Moine Mhor, the Great Moss - one of Britain's finest boglands. The second part of the walk ascends the miniature hill of Dunadd, a remarkable historic site that is tied to the very beginnings of the Kingdom of Scotland.

Inveraray Golf Club

A testing nine hole PAR 70

The course is a nine hole PAR 70 and has a total yardage of 5456 yards. A very testing course, with spectacular views of Loch Fyne. The original course was situated in the grounds of Inveraray Castle and opened in 1893 but closed during WWII. The new course opened June 1993.

Lochgilphead Golf Club

A challenging nine hole PAR 64

The course offers a variety of challenges. If you play during the week then no booking is required although the number of tee times available at the weekend is varied. Clubhouse facilities include changing rooms and refreshments during the week, with a licensed bar open at the weekends.

Dalmally Golf Club

A nine hole PAR 64

A flat parkland set up, this beautiful 9 hole course is suitable for all standards of golfer. The picturesque Dalmally Golf Club is nestling between views of Ben Cruachan and Ben Lui and bounded by the rolling waters of the River Orchy.

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club

18 Hole Links Course

First 18-hole links golf course to be built on the west coast of Scotland in 100 years. An inspired routing for Machrihanish Dunes measuring 7,175 yards and featuring six greens and five tees at the ocean's edge.