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Hi all,
Spending this week in Tighnabruaich on the southern end of the Cowal peninsula with my partner and our dog. Monday evening to next Monday afternoon. I'm working Tuesday to Thursday, but have evenings and then long weekend, Friday to Monday.
It was a bit of an impromptu trip so don't know a huge amount about the area other than a bit of googling, so would love some recommendations from anyone who knows the area.
Looking for suggestions on must-dos (or must-not-dos) for things like:
Art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants etc (looks like there are some decent ones according to Google)
Places to take our small dog - short hikes (Ben Donich looks good?), botanical gardens, beaches etc
Gravel riding, ideally from Tighnabruaich, but could start elsewhere and ride back.
Is it worth visiting Dunoon? For the gravel (I see the Dirt Dash is next weekend but don't think I can spend a whole day there..) or otherwise?
Worth getting ferry on to Bute? Or over to Tarbert and maybe even over to Islay/Jura?
Thanks!
Ferry over to tarbet and /or drive round to Kilmartin is well worth it if you like stone circles and stuff - loads of things to investigate
Islay ferry is a good few hours and if you take the car expensive. (You’ll presumably take the ferry to Tarbert and then from Kennacraig?). If you don’t take car requires careful planning as the return trip isn’t always from the same town (port Ellen v port askaig). People who like to spend their holidays driving would do it - I’d not consider it. Jura is either accessed from Islay or the infrequent passenger only service from Tayvallich. Tayvallich itself is nice but a fair treck from Tighnabruich. A Crinan canal Tayvallich/Carsaig/Keils trip (possibly combined with Kilmartin) is a nice thing to do without spending extra for a rushed trip to Jura. If you really wanted an island once you’ve crossed to Kintyre then Gigha is much more accessible for the day tripper (with lots of beaches). If gardens are your thing then there are some fancy ones there. (The botanical near Dunoon are also reputedly good but I’ve never been as I am horticulturally illiterate!) Small dog (and owners) probably enjoy a walk up Pucks Glen.
Bute is nice enough outside Rothesay which has the feel of a forgotten seaside town. Dunoon is similarly run down - you won’t be remembering your time there, but it’s probably your closest “proper” shops.
Food at the Marina at Portavadie is good, the Inn at Otter Ferry even better. Kames & Collintraive hotels were a bit more pub grub last times I was in (a long time ago) but are in great spots to watch the world sail by. If you do make it to Tayvallich then the inn is very good sea food if you can work the timings to be there for food - but you’ll need to prebook, probably even for lunch on a holiday weekend.
Went with two young kids a few years ago… not loads to do but we took bikes and did plenty of family rides, running, rock pooling etc. good fun. Very beautiful area and was devoid of the normal tourist rabble.
We got the ferry over to Bute which I don’t remember too much about. Rothesay was a bit grim but the rest of the island was nice enough.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Oh, and I have a feeling this is a big race weekend at Tarbet - so you should see a spectacle with lots of yachts etc - but will be busier everywhere ashore too…</span>
Always Another Adventure has a couple of gravel routes on Komoot which start in or close to Dunoon. I don't have a Komoot account but you can see the routes on his website
https://www.alwaysanotheradventure.com/index.html
Ferry to Tarbet and drive down to Campbelltown if Whisky is your thing. Springbank tour is very good.
Arran is lovely too.
Lucky you!
Botanica at the Barn. Best coffee that we found and properly tasty food. Whatever is fresh that day, baking, fish, herbs. Relaced restaurant and you can buy take away ingredients there to brighten up self catering fare. Friendly owners who were happy to recommend hidden beaches etc.
Portavadie. Where the ferry to Tarbert goes from. Spa complex there is only about £14 per visit : Outdoor infinity pool, hot tubs and saunas. Bookable.
Kilbride Bay beach. Nice walk down to a huge sandy beach. Park on road at Kilbride Farm. Teas and ice creams there.
And another vote for Kilmartin for a day out to see Megalith type stuff
A few gravel routes that you can cut to suit:
There are gardens further north of you drive out to Ardkinglas:
https://www.ardkinglas.com/ardkinglas-woodland-gardens.html
Bute is okay but the ferry is once an hour for the 2 minute crossing.
Punk On The Peninsula music festival in Dunoon from Thursday to Sunday if you fancy that kind of thing.
My band The Allergics open Friday’s proceedings at 2pm
Art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants
Yup, theres one of each of those on the 50m long 'main st' 😆
We used to sail up to the kyles, anchor there and row to the Tighnabruaich pub(hotel) outwith that the place was pretty boring. But the scenery is incredible, so as long as you go for that and that alone, and maybe use the coffee shop if its raining, or as a short break in your outdoor excursion its an ok place.
Spent a few days there last summer. Lovely place for a quiet holiday, but not a lot going on.
Second Botanica at the Barn and Kilbride Bay.
Walk down the coast to Carry Farm for coffee is with doing.
Thyme and Tide looked nice but very limited opening/availability meant we didn't get in.
Portavadie is a wierd place, but Glenan Wood was a nice wee walk.
Mind the ticks, the dog was practically dripping in them.