Argyll & Bute Accommodation

Dunnon's Victorian Pier

Dunoon Tourist Information

Dunoon on the south west of the Cowal Peninsula was a former grand Victorian resort and is still a main entry point into the Cowal Peninsula. It is Argyll's largest town having developed from a small village in the 19th century due to the influx of Glaswegian holiday makers.

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There is still some evidence of the Victorian grandeur of the resort in Dunoon Pier which is the only remaining Victorian pier on the Clyde. Around Dunoon the Cowal Peninsula has a huge range of stunning scenery including lochs, glens, sea, mountains and forests. Argyll Forest Park has a range of recently upgraded forest walking routes, cycle paths, horse riding bridleways and picnic areas.

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Dunoon Attractions

Dunoon is considered the gateway to the Cowal Peninsula and up into the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

The town is home to the Cowal's main Tourist Information Office at Tourist Information Centre, 7 Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, Argyll and Bute Strathclyde, PA23 8AB.

Dunoon is a good base for exploring the lochs, glens, sea, mountains and forests that surround it. Just north of the town is Holy Loch where a US nuclear submarine base was located until it closed in 1922. To the north of the loch are several Forestry Commission waymarked routes around Kilmun. The church and mausoleum here is where several Dukes of Argyll are buried. South of the loch is the 140 acre Benmore Botanic Gardens. There are themed areas with plants from all over the world that are able to survive in the mild climate here. here is also a caf and shop on the site.

Ferries to Dunoon

Although Dunoon is on mainland Scotland, many people arrive via the ferry from Gourock on the Ayrshire coast. It's something of a short cut than travelling by road and only takes around twenty minutes.

Car passenger ferries run every day, including Sundays and at least every hour, from March to October. Check the timetables though as some crossings are passenger only.

Western Ferries Ltd also run a car passenger ferry service from McInroy's Point, Gourock to Hunter's Quay, Dunoon. There are four sailings every hour at peak periods. Check their website for fares and journey times.

One old steamer is still operating on the Clyde albeit periodically, The Waverley. Famous throughout Britain s coastal resorts the Waverley sails between a variety of the Western Isles, Oban and Glasgow including the Isle of Bute, Dunoon, Kintyre and the Isle of Arran in Argyll.

Things to Do in Dunoon

Castle Hill is the centre of town on which Castle House stands. It was built in the 19th century by a wealthy Glaswegian, Lord Provost Ewing, and it caused some consternation at the time due to the land around the house being common land. The locals won and the grounds remained open to the public.

The castellated building is now home to Castle House Museum. The museum is run by a Trust and has displays on all aspects of Dunoon's history including 'Doon the Watter' related items tracing the trend of wealthy Victorian to come down the Clyde from Glasgow for day trips and holidays. The story of Highland Mary gives a different impression of Robbie Burns. He already had a pregnant wife when Mary became betrothed to him but died of typhus before the pair planned to elope to the West Indies.

Castle House Museum, Castle Gardens, Dunoon, Argyll PA23 7HH. Tel: 01369 701422. Email: info@castlehousemuseum.org.uk. Open Easter-October Mon-Sat.

Ardnadam Heritage Trail leads up from the car park to Dunan viewpoint where you get some fabulous views out over the Clyde and north to Holy Loch and the surrounding hills. The walk is a steep 2 mile climb. Check the Argyll & Bute Walks for more information. Try the links right for other outdoor activity ideas in the Dunoon area.

Argyll Forest Park

North of Dunoon is a huge area of plantation forest that makes up Argyll Forest Park. This was the first forest park established in Britain purely for the enjoyment of the public. It covers rugged hill country including mountains, glens, lochs and woodlands.

The park stretches from the village of Arrochar along the shores of Loch Fyne down to Holy Loch just north of Dunoon itself. This is where you'll find the most stunning scenery on the Cowal Peninsula including the romantically named Arrochar Alps, popular with climbers. The highest peak is Ben Ime at 3,318 feet. Ben Arthur also known as "The Cobbler" is the most distinctive at 289 feet.

There are also tracks for horse riding and cycling. Fishing and picnicking are also popular.

Check the Forestry Commission link right for events and ideas of where to go in the forest park.