Inveraray has a magnificent position on the shores of Loch Fyne. This walk explores the area around the town, taking in Inveraray Castle and its fine estate and then a long forest walk through the plantations behind Inveraray.
Summary
Mostly good forest tracks; one very short boggy section. There are green waymarkers but much too infrequent to be of any use.
Terrain
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1. There is free parking on Inveraray main street or, if full, there is a large car park with a charge accessed through the archway on Front Street. Begin the walk by heading to Front Street with its great view over the the upper Loch, with the monument on Dun na Cuaiche prominent. Follow the main road to where a lane goes off left for Inveraray Castle. Follow this lane, forking right to continue to the castle car park, with a good view of the castle across its gardens along the way. The Castle is the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell. The clan - notorious as perpetrators of the Glencoe massacre - rose in importance through the centuries, perhaps as a consequence of their loyalty to the throne.
2. Beyond the castle car park take the lane heading left. This passes a memorial before crossing the ornate Frew's Bridge. On the far side is a cross-roads - go straight ahead. The lane continues through the trees with a view of a white cylindrical dove-cote far ahead. At the end of the woods the lane swings to the left. Continue on it but do not cross the bridge over the river, instead bending back to the right to continue alongside it to reach the dove-cote.
3. Continue through the farmyard; beyond it the lane becomes a simple track. This leads to the old, stone-built Carloonan Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn immediately left back downstream on the far side. The track soon leads to a white-washed octagonal building. This was built by the Duke to facilitate picnics and has a fine position overlooking waterfalls in the river. Continue downstream until the track almost reaches a white cottage; turn right before reaching its garden. The track now leads up to the road.
4. Go straight across the road and into the wood on the far side to join a track running parallel to the road. Turn right along this for a very short distance before a minor, initially very muddy track goes off to the left. Follow this track; it soon becomes dry and meets another track at a t-junction. Turn left here; further on the track is joined by a larger one coming in from the right. Continue ahead through the dense forestry; at the next junction, with the road visible down the main track to the left, fork to the right. Soon the track forks once more - again keep to the right. This part of the walk is mostly uphill, and soon the densest part of the forest is left behind and the views become more open. At another fork, with a derelict house visible down the left branch, keep right a third time. The track continues slightly uphill and there are some glimpses of Loch Fyne back to the left.
5. Ignore a track going steeply uphill off to the right and continue ahead; beyond ignore yet another, fainter track, also on the right. Soon the track swings round to the left and passes to the right of the fish pond marked on the OS map. Keep slightly right - almost straight on - at the next, wide junction where the main route goes left.
6. The track now descends through the valley of the Eas a Chosain, with delightful mixed woodland. It emerges beside a waterworks; turn right on the tarmac road and follow this when it bends to the left. Keep straight on - alongside the golf course - almost to the main road alongside Loch Fyne. Before reaching it a t-junction is reached. Turn left here to follow the lane back into Inveraray, entering the town through a housing estate. Keep straight on right past all the housing to reach the car park and the town centre.
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