Dog walks

DOG WALKS / WALKS

As with all walks, please take a charged phone and water and appropriate clothing and footwear. Check the weather and make sure you know what time it goes dark. The weather can change very quickly.  Please keep control of your dog around livestock.  Some dogs who are not used to them might chase sheep and cattle.

FROM THE LODGES:

Out of the lodges and back onto the glen road. Turn right and then almost immediately left up the  track. Keep your dog on a lead past the first house on left – Bob has many rare chickens and ducks! After that they can be off the lead if well-behaved. You can walk up here for as far as you want, the track rises to some lovely views. An up and back walk. There is a loop you can do ( look at Google maps) but it is a very long way ( over 10 miles). Easy but hilly.

Out of the lodges onto the glen road and turn left. Up this road for about half a mile, and you will see a large forestry road on your left with a metal gate. You can walk up here onto Kirnan’s land but be aware there is shooting up here and Rob puts up signs if birds are nesting. Up and back walk. Easy but hilly.

Buirenich hill. This is the big hill you can see as you drive up the glen. Out of the lodges, turn left up the hill. Walk until you see the drive to Fearnoch House on your right. Through this gate and up track. Where the path forks (straight on up hill, right to house) look for a small opening in the trees to your left. Up here – bit of a scramble – and you will see a clear walked path. Past a ruined village. This path takes you right to the top, the loan pine tree! Then along the top and see path down the other side. Down here, over a broken-down fence and you meet a forestry track. Turn left and follow this into Succouth woods, then left at the next track which takes you back onto glen road. About 5 miles, strenuous.

SHORT CAR DISTANCE ;

Onto the glen road and turn left. Up the glen road and past the wooden chalet houses. See the forestry track on your right before the loch and you can park in the entrance, but do not block it. Into Succouth woods – you can either go left or walk up the hill, it is the same loop. If up the hill continue for about a mile, with two undulating dips, then see a grassy track to your left. Down here, and at the bottom look for a small entrance into the trees on left before the big puddle. When you turn you will see the path and you know it’s right as you almost immediately go through a small stream. Continue on until you reach the original path. About 4 miles. Easy.

Rhudle track. Left up the glen road. Past the houses, Succouth woods and Loch Leathan. After the loch look for a forestry track with a gate on left. Past this, then see a layby with a brown gate – you can park here. Through the gate, up a narrow steep path which joins the forestry track. You go through several gates, up and up until you are on the top with fabulous views down to Crinan. You can walk as far as you like – eventually the track goes on to Rhudle and you will come to a padlocked gate. Up and back walk. Strenuous.

LONGER CAR DRIVE BUT WORTH IT!

One of our favourite walks is at Taynish Nature Reserve past Tayvallich. Drive past the pub and café in Tayvallich, take the left fork marked Taynish and park at the mill. There is a board with the walks – several options. Either a loop walk down the track in front of you, then through the field in front of Taynish House and back through lovely oak woods to the mill. Or back up the track you have driven down, look for the sign into the woods on left and up steep steps to the top. Fabulous views. Down the steps and onto the track to the mill car park – either turn left for shorter walk or right to do the longer loop walk. Or before the gate in front of Taynish House you can follow the wave signs and walk down to the sea – either The Shore ( shorter) or go straight on past the Piggeries to the Narrows which are utterly beautiful and there is a hide to watch otters and sea birds.

Lochs Coillhe Bharr and Barnluasgan. Drive towards Tayvallich – for Barnluasgan take the left fork in front of the memorial and car park on left. A shorter walk around this loch ( loop) or you can branch off half way round up the hill to make it longer. For Coillhe Bharr take right fork and go on half a mile until you see the Knapdale car park. You can either do a loop walk around the loch ( you’ll need a lead as part is on the road) or follow the signs to the Faerie Isles and you can walk right to the end – a long walk but lovely views of Loch Sween and there is a picnic table at the end.

Beaches – our nearest beach is at Crinan Ferry. Out of the glen road onto the main to Lochgilphead and turn right. Then up to sign saying Crinan Ferry, left here. Follow signs – go straight over the first crossroads ( no sign). Park by the houses. This is very tidal – sometimes no beach! The water is shallow here for miles and dogs love to run through it.

Kilmory Beach is lovely. Take the road to Tayvallich, left fork to Achnamara. Go through the little village of Achnamara and keep going – it’s quite a long way ( about 5 miles). Just keep going right to the end and you will come to Kilmory beach – there’s a lovely old church here too.

Beaches on the Kilberry road – when you drive the Kilberry loop you go past several beaches – our favourite is Achahoish. Lovely and sandy and great for swimming.

The biggest and longest beach near us is at Macrahanish. This is a long drive, but worth it. Down to Lochgilphead, straight on to Tarbert and then follow signs to Campeltown. It’s about 40 miles – keep going until almost in Campbeltown and you will see the car park at the top of your hill on right. Park here and through turnstile. This is the most fabulous beach and goes on for miles and miles – it’s famous for surfers and the waves can be very high.