This fine forestry walk explores a section of the coastline of Loch Fyne with excellent views. Watch out for deer, perhaps even a pine marten, or seals and otters down by the shore.
Summary
Forest paths and tracks
Terrain
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1. There are three waymarked routes from the Ardcastle Forest car park; the short red route, the longer blue route and the longest, the yellow route as described here. The waymarkers for the yellow route are not frequent enough to follow the route using them in an anti-clockwise direction as described here, so if not using the description consider going the other way around. From the parking area a path up to the right as signed to a viewpoint but isn't really worth the extra detour; instead begin by following the path that starts from the car park, heading downhill to the right of the bench. When the path reaches a track turn right along this.
2. The track eventually swings left; go straight ahead here on a fainter track (no marker here), starting through a gate. This track slopes downhill and reaches another gate. Further on, when it reaches a junction, turn left; when this track meets a larger one, turn right. As the shores of Loch Gair are approached the track swings left and passes above the historic cemetery at the site of St Bride's Chapel. At the next junction, follow the main track which turns to the right.
3. There are excellent views across Loch Gair before the route reaches Ardcastle Point (or Rubha nan Drochaid, the Point of the Bridge, according to OS maps), at the corner between Loch Gair and the main part of Loch Fyne. The path now heads round to a bay and then climbs uphill into the forest, keeping straight ahead at a junction and soon reaches a picnic table with a good view back down to the bay. As the grassy path continues it reaches another junction. Straight ahead leads to another picnic table, this time with a view up Loch Fyne, whereas bearing left continues the walk.
4. At yet another junction (few markers hereabouts) turn right and follow the route downhill, soon reaching the shores of the loch. The route then heads inland slightly; bear right at a t-junction to soon return again to the shores, with views across to the Cowal peninsula. There's a platform with a railing on the water's edge. From here follow the track inland, turning right at the junction to pass above a picnic table.
5. When this track bends left, continue directly ahead on a smaller one. The shores are reached yet again and the blue route comes down to join from the left; keep an eye out for otters on this stretch. There is a fish farm just offshore, and if the weather is very clear the Arrochar Alps can be seen in the distance. Eventually the track bends left uphill. Keep left where a track goes off to the right, but then turn right onto a path at the next junction. This leads to another track; turn right to meet the car park access road and turn left along this to return to the start.
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