The areas covered in this section includes some
of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland, and offers a superb range of walks covering
everything from high mountains to old railways, coastlines and islands to forests and
glens.
Coastline and
Islands
The coastline and islands of Argyll are a wonderland. The islands are an individual
delight and a collective cluster of jewels off Scotland's west coast. The largest, Mull,
offers its own distinctive Munro, Ben More with, as you would expect, a glorious panorama
from its summit. There are other fine hills on Mull and the coast contains much of
interest from the amazing rock formations of the Carsaig Arches to the Fossil Tree of Burg
and the sweep of Calgary Bay, after which the town in Canada was named.
The Paps of Jura are rightly renowned for their
grandeur and remoteness, and another smaller island offering excellent walking is Kerrera,
near Oban. Its coastline provided a lovely outing, passing the imposing ruin of Gylen
Castle at the south end. On Bute, a new network of walks has recently been developed.
All over Argyll you can find coastal walks,
forest trails, beautiful stretches of water such as Loch Awe and mountains of supreme
beauty including Ben Cruachan with its plethora of peaks. Southwards lie the extensive
forests, lochs and hills of Cowal, a walker's delight to explore, and the long peninsula
of Kintyre.
Loch Lomond and
the Trossachs
Between Argyll and Loch Lomond there are more fine high hills guarding the
approaches to Loch Lomond, one of the most famous sheets of water in the world. Ben Lomond
is the most southerly Munro of all and very much 'Glasgow's mountain'. From the top the
loch presents a pattern of islands.
A little east of here is Trossachs country,
forever associated with Rob Roy MacGregor and Sir Walter Scott. Callander is one of the
main touring centres, and in the area between here, Balquhidder and Aberfoyle are dozens
of fine walks covering areas such as Loch Katrine, where Rob Roy was raised, and
Strathyre, with its 'fairy hill', Ben Shian. The David Marshall Centre, in the forests
above Aberfoyle, has a whole series of walks laid out, and near here too is Doon Hill,
associated with the Rev Robert Kirk, who is said to have stolen the secrets of the fairies
for which he was himself abducted. For the more serious walker the area includes the twin
peaks of Ben More and Stobinian, highest in the Southern Highlands, and all the hills
around Crianlarich and Tyndrum, favourite among them perhaps Ben Lui.
Arrochar is another major centre for walkers, at
the head of Loch Long and overlooked by the unmistakable shape of The Cobbler. The fine
group of Munros here is known as the Arrochar Alps, while Corbetts include The Brack,
which commands a stupendous view across Cowal and the Kyles of Bute.
This is an area which will amply repay as many
visits as you can find time for, encompassing as it does all the finest elements of
Scotland's scenery.
Argyll Tourist Board: http://www.scottish.heartlands.org |
