Things to see & do

Dunoon is the main town of the Cowal Peninsula, an area of unspoiled mountains, lochs, forests and beaches, and is the south-western gateway to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Innellan is just 4 miles from Dunoon and has two pubs/restaurants, a village shop, a Post Office, a golf course, tennis courts, forest walks, pebbly beaches, a bowling green and a pony-trekking centre.

There’s so much to see and do that you’ll be spoilt for choice if you only have a week or two to explore.

Places to visit

Dunoon is ideally situated for exploring the towns and villages of Argyll, from Inverary and Loch Fyne in the north, to the Isle of Bute in the south. The countryside surrounding Dunoon boasts a host of lovely villages to explore, such as Kilmun, Tighnabruaich, Kilfinan, Colintraive and Strachur.

For longer day-trips there is the lovely harbour town of Oban and the splendour of Glencoe and the Highlands, while Glasgow is only an hour away across the Firth of Clyde.

Outdoor activities

Argyll is a fantastic area for the outdoor enthusiast. Hill-walkers can enjoy the beauty and freedom of the hills, without the crowds, while mountain-bikers and horse-riders have endless forest tracks and paths to explore. For something a bit different, Quadmania offers quad-bike tours, kayaking, rock-climbing and more.

Just behind Dunoon itself is the Bishops Glen, a favoured beauty spot with many delightful walks. A walk to the top of Bishops Seat (1655ft) is a must!

The Cowal Way is a long-distance walk of 47 miles from Portavadie by Loch Fyne in the west to Ardgarten by Loch Long in the east.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Argyll Forest Park are both nearby, and the many lochs and rivers, not to mention the Firth of Clyde, provide great opportunities for sailing, diving and fishing. The area is also host to a huge selection of wildlife, such as red squirrels, red and roe deer, buzzards, eagles, otters and dolphins.

Innellan itself also offers a host of activities, such as:

• Pony-trekking
• Golf
• Fishing
• Sailing
• Forest walks
• Tennis & bowling - Innellan Tennis/Bowling club: 01369 830470

Things to do

Other attractions in and around Dunoon include:

• Waverley paddle steamer - the last remaining, fully functional paddle steamer in the world, regularly departs from Dunoon during the summer months
• Benmore Botanic Gardens - over 100 acres of beautiful gardens surrounded by dramatic scenery
• Kilmun Arboretum - established in the 1930s, a series of wooded paths through a variety of exotic tree species
• Castle House Museum - one of Dunoon’s most historic buildings
• Cinema
• Swimming pools - at the Dolphin Leisure Centre and Riverside Leisure Centre
• Cheeky Chimps Kids Indoor Play
• Diving - The Professional Diving Academy runs a range of courses, particularly aimed at those looking to enter a new career in commercial diving

Festivals & Events

The Cowal Highland Gathering (Cowal Games) is held in August and is the biggest and most spectacular highland games in Scotland, with pipe bands, highland dancing, shinty and caber tossing.
ArtsFeast Cowal is an annual festival that combines art and food in venues all over Cowal, and gives visitors a taste of both the cultural life of the area and some of the best fresh local food in Scotland.
Cowalfest is an annual walking and arts festival featuring walks, mountain-bike rides, horse rides, historic tours, music and talks.

Places to eat

If all that activity leaves you feeling hungry, you’ll be spoiled for choice with wonderful places to eat, such as:

• The Villagers Royal, Innellan
• The Osborne Hotel, Innellan
• The Coylet, Loch Eck
• Chatters Restaurant, Dunoon
• Rio, Dunoon
• 51st State and La Cantina, Dunoon: 01369 703595
• The Point Indian Restaurant, Dunoon: 01369 706000
• The Cot House, Kilmun
• James Duncan Cafe, Benmore Botanic Gardens: 01369 840509

Shopping

• Gambit Gallery
• Juno Design Gallery
• Jan Ferguson - Wildlife Artist
• Delicate Essence
• Bell's of Dunoon
• Highland Stores
• Millcroft Scottish Lavender, Tighnabruaich
• Tighnabruaich Gallery
• Gallimaufry Gallery, Blairmore
• Courtyard Gallery, Benmore Botanic Gardens
• The Lido Shop & Post Office, Innellan