This excellent waymarked walk climbs through the forest in the most southerly part of Cowal. It gives superb views over the Isle of Bute, the Cumbraes and the Firth of Clyde.
Summary
Waymarked paths and tracks, muddy in places. This route has a fair amount of ascent.
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1. The walk begins from the Forestry Commission car park at Ardyne. There is an information board here giving details of three short waymarked walks (this is the longest of these variants, with blue marker posts) as well as the longer Corlarach Loop which is more suited to mountain bikers. Begin the walk along the wide path heading north; when it reaches a fork, turn left - the route from the right is the way back.
2. The path climbs a little and gives excellent views across Loch Striven; the forestry in this area has been felled and many native birches planted. When the path reaches a broader one, turn left. It heads towards a denser plantation but just before reaching this look out for the marker post indicating a turn to the right. The path now climbs more steeply and the views really begin to open up.
3. The path bears right beneath a plantation and eventually reaches a junction. The short red waymarked route heads back to the car park from here by turning right, but our route heads left, climbing up to reach a forestry track. Turn right along the track which slopes downhill and gives a wonderful view ahead of the Firth of Clyde, with Great Cumbrae on the left and the Isle of Bute on the right, as well as the mountains of Arran beyond.
4. The track reaches a path junction where the blue marker posts indicate both straight ahead and a turning on the right; the path on the right is the way back but the blue route makes a loop from here at first by going straight on. Look on the right to see the old Victorian Ivy Bridge. Take the next waymarked path off to the left.
5. The path climbs to the highest point reached on the route. At the next junction turn right - the long white mountain bike route goes straight on here whereas our blue route winds back down to the track left earlier. Turn right along this to return to the junction by the Ivy Bridge. Now turn left downhill to begin the return to the car park. Keep following the blue markers, turning right at the next junction to reach the ornamental Chinese Ponds and a huge picnic table. The path continues straight ahead here but it is worth diverting between the two ponds for a closer look; the lower pond has two pretty stone bridges. The ponds were built for the supply of Toward Castle in Victorian times, which at that time included a heated swimming pool.
6. Return to the path and continue to the next junction, following the markers to the right. Go straight ahead at the cross-roads; the path soon reaches the fork near the very start of the walk. Turn left here to return to the car park.
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