Mid Argyll is a collection of beautiful towns and villages that offer superb delights for passer-by and day trippers.
The terraced cottages sit on the banks of the Crinan Canal, close to Kilmartin in Argyll. The area around Kilmartin in Argyllshire, north of Lochgilphead on the road to Oban , is steeped in pre-history, with ancient standing stones, stone circles, 5,000 year-old burial cairns, the site of a Dalriadic fort on top of a high hill and Kilmartin Museum which won the Scottish Museum of the Year Award in 1998.
The Nether Largie South cairn contained Neolithic pottery when it was excavated in the 19th century and the standing stones nearby (originally 22 stones of which 13 survive) have "cup and ring" carvings. Some historians believe they were used for astronomical observations 3,000 years ago. Close by is the Temple Wood stone circles and a few miles to the south are seven standing stones, a cairn and a henge (circular bank of earth with a ditch) at Ballymeanoch. Kilmartin church has an excellent collection of medieval carved stone grave-slabs.
To find all these sites (and others in the area) it is advisable to buy a guide book from the museum or go to Heart of Argyll.
The Crinan Canal offers wonderful scenery for fishing, canoeing, sailing, horse riding, walking and cycling, with many cycle tracks signposted throughout the glen and plenty of forests and hills nearby should you wish something more energetic. Wildlife includes many woodland birds and birds of prey, beavers in a new reserve at Knapdale, red squirrels, red and roe deer, seals, otters and occasionally pine martins. A walk, cycle or drive from Crinan to Ardrishaig is 9 miles and provides you with the perfect opportunity to take in the stunning views of Mid Argyll and watch the boats sailing by.
The nearby town of Lochgilphead has a variety shops, cafes and restaurants, hospital/doctors surgery, a swimming pool, golf course and sports center. There is also a shop where bicycles can be hired. Boats can be chartered from Crinan harbour and there are trips around the islands where it is possible to see whales, porpoise, seals, many sea birds including golden and white-tailed eagles, and the spectacular Corryvreckan Whirlpools. The Corryvreckan whirlpool is the World's Third Largest Whirlpool. Corryvreckan wildlife cruises depart daily with the opportunity to see minke whales, bottlenose dolphins, Basking Shark and porpoise from Easdale, Oban. Birdwatchers to Argyll should join this tour for the opportunity to see white tailed sea and golden eagle. Wildlife and history in Argyll Knapdale Forest is one of the most stunning parts of Scotland and is home to some of the country’s most spectacular wildlife.
As well as being the home of the beavers visit the beavers in Knapdale, this stunning landscape boasts Atlantic woodlands (containing internationally important mosses and lichens), beautiful coastlines, hills and glens. Beavers also share this landscape with red squirrels, ospreys, otters and eagles. Visible signs of thousands of years of human occupation can also be seen in the area, including prehistoric forts where ancient kings were crowned.
Mid Argyll is geographically and historically the heartland of Argyll and Scotland. Kilmartin Glen has many archaeological sites showing significant pre-historic habitation. The ancient hill fort at Dunadd is where the early Kings of Dalriada and the first king, Kenneth MacAlpine, of a unified Scotland were crowned. It takes a little imagination to work out today what Dunadd must have been like in its days as the capital of Dalriada. Dunadd the birthplace of Scotland, lies at the area's heart with magic and mystery.
The area is described as unbelievably rich in natural and historic wonders, offering tranquillity, adventure and gastronomy by visitors. Stretching from the picturesque fishing village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, in the south to Loch Craignish in the north, over to Knapdale and Crinan in the west across to Inveraray and Loch Awe in the east and with Kilmartin Glen in its midst the heart of Argyll boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. Mid Argyll is sandwiched between the Atlantic in the west and Loch Fyne in the east. It runs from Knapdale in the south to the yacht haven of Ardfern in the northwest. On the east side it swings through the county town of Lochgilphead along the shores of Loch Fyne to the pretty planned and castled town of Inveraray, then north to include the mountains of Glen Fyne. Between Ardfern and Inveraray it stretches across the southern part of Loch Awe, embracing the historically significant village of Kilmichael Glassary and following the old drovers roads over the moor to Brenchoillie and Auchindrain.
The famous Crinan Canal, offering quick and sheltered passage from the Clyde waterway system through to the Sound of Jura begins at Ardrishaig, on Loch Fyne south of Lochgilphead. It runs north and then west across the Moine Mhor nature reserve through to the beautiful wooded basin at Crinan on the Sound of Jura. The story of "the most beautiful shortcut in the world" began in 1771 when James Watt surveyed the district to find a course for the canal, originally planned by John Rennie. Only 9 miles in length, the Crinan Canal was built to improve access to the West offering a safe transit route from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne to Crinan, avoiding the long, arduous journey around the Mull of Kintyre Every year nearly 2000 boats, now mostly pleasure craft, make the journey while many walkers, cyclists and runners watch from the towpath. It is an outstanding piece of engineering with a dramatic history.
The Cairnbaan Hotel is less than a ten minute walk from the cottage andis a ghood stop of for coffee or glass of wine
Also recommended is the Crinan Hotel which serves fantastic seafood.
Another place for excellent seafood is the Tayvallich Inn
· Distance from:
· 1 hour 39 minutes drive from Dunoon (65 miles)
· 2 hours 6 minutes drive from Glasgow (91 miles)
· 2 hours 59 minutes drive from Edinburgh (134 miles)
The terraced cottages sit on the banks of the Crinan Canal, close to Kilmartin in Argyll. The area around Kilmartin in Argyllshire, north of Lochgilphead on the road to Oban , is steeped in pre-history, with ancient standing stones, stone circles, 5,000 year-old burial cairns, the site of a Dalriadic fort on top of a high hill and Kilmartin Museum which won the Scottish Museum of the Year Award in 1998.
The Nether Largie South cairn contained Neolithic pottery when it was excavated in the 19th century and the standing stones nearby (originally 22 stones of which 13 survive) have "cup and ring" carvings. Some historians believe they were used for astronomical observations 3,000 years ago. Close by is the Temple Wood stone circles and a few miles to the south are seven standing stones, a cairn and a henge (circular bank of earth with a ditch) at Ballymeanoch. Kilmartin church has an excellent collection of medieval carved stone grave-slabs.
To find all these sites (and others in the area) it is advisable to buy a guide book from the museum or go to Heart of Argyll.
The Crinan Canal offers wonderful scenery for fishing, canoeing, sailing, horse riding, walking and cycling, with many cycle tracks signposted throughout the glen and plenty of forests and hills nearby should you wish something more energetic. Wildlife includes many woodland birds and birds of prey, beavers in a new reserve at Knapdale, red squirrels, red and roe deer, seals, otters and occasionally pine martins. A walk, cycle or drive from Crinan to Ardrishaig is 9 miles and provides you with the perfect opportunity to take in the stunning views of Mid Argyll and watch the boats sailing by.
The nearby town of Lochgilphead has a variety shops, cafes and restaurants, hospital/doctors surgery, a swimming pool, golf course and sports center. There is also a shop where bicycles can be hired. Boats can be chartered from Crinan harbour and there are trips around the islands where it is possible to see whales, porpoise, seals, many sea birds including golden and white-tailed eagles, and the spectacular Corryvreckan Whirlpools. The Corryvreckan whirlpool is the World's Third Largest Whirlpool. Corryvreckan wildlife cruises depart daily with the opportunity to see minke whales, bottlenose dolphins, Basking Shark and porpoise from Easdale, Oban. Birdwatchers to Argyll should join this tour for the opportunity to see white tailed sea and golden eagle. Wildlife and history in Argyll Knapdale Forest is one of the most stunning parts of Scotland and is home to some of the country’s most spectacular wildlife.
As well as being the home of the beavers visit the beavers in Knapdale, this stunning landscape boasts Atlantic woodlands (containing internationally important mosses and lichens), beautiful coastlines, hills and glens. Beavers also share this landscape with red squirrels, ospreys, otters and eagles. Visible signs of thousands of years of human occupation can also be seen in the area, including prehistoric forts where ancient kings were crowned.
Mid Argyll is geographically and historically the heartland of Argyll and Scotland. Kilmartin Glen has many archaeological sites showing significant pre-historic habitation. The ancient hill fort at Dunadd is where the early Kings of Dalriada and the first king, Kenneth MacAlpine, of a unified Scotland were crowned. It takes a little imagination to work out today what Dunadd must have been like in its days as the capital of Dalriada. Dunadd the birthplace of Scotland, lies at the area's heart with magic and mystery.
The area is described as unbelievably rich in natural and historic wonders, offering tranquillity, adventure and gastronomy by visitors. Stretching from the picturesque fishing village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, in the south to Loch Craignish in the north, over to Knapdale and Crinan in the west across to Inveraray and Loch Awe in the east and with Kilmartin Glen in its midst the heart of Argyll boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. Mid Argyll is sandwiched between the Atlantic in the west and Loch Fyne in the east. It runs from Knapdale in the south to the yacht haven of Ardfern in the northwest. On the east side it swings through the county town of Lochgilphead along the shores of Loch Fyne to the pretty planned and castled town of Inveraray, then north to include the mountains of Glen Fyne. Between Ardfern and Inveraray it stretches across the southern part of Loch Awe, embracing the historically significant village of Kilmichael Glassary and following the old drovers roads over the moor to Brenchoillie and Auchindrain.
The famous Crinan Canal, offering quick and sheltered passage from the Clyde waterway system through to the Sound of Jura begins at Ardrishaig, on Loch Fyne south of Lochgilphead. It runs north and then west across the Moine Mhor nature reserve through to the beautiful wooded basin at Crinan on the Sound of Jura. The story of "the most beautiful shortcut in the world" began in 1771 when James Watt surveyed the district to find a course for the canal, originally planned by John Rennie. Only 9 miles in length, the Crinan Canal was built to improve access to the West offering a safe transit route from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne to Crinan, avoiding the long, arduous journey around the Mull of Kintyre Every year nearly 2000 boats, now mostly pleasure craft, make the journey while many walkers, cyclists and runners watch from the towpath. It is an outstanding piece of engineering with a dramatic history.
The Cairnbaan Hotel is less than a ten minute walk from the cottage andis a ghood stop of for coffee or glass of wine
Also recommended is the Crinan Hotel which serves fantastic seafood.
Another place for excellent seafood is the Tayvallich Inn
· Distance from:
· 1 hour 39 minutes drive from Dunoon (65 miles)
· 2 hours 6 minutes drive from Glasgow (91 miles)
· 2 hours 59 minutes drive from Edinburgh (134 miles)
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