1. From the centre of Tighnabruaich follow the coastal road, passing the shops, post office, cafe and hotel and then continuing past the houses, pier, and the settlement of Port Driseach. Keep on the shore road until you reach the boatyard and slipway at then end of the public road.

2. Continue on the well surfaced track ahead, this skirts the edge of the water, although in places rhododendrons obscure the view. After curving round the bay, the track rises beneath a crag. When a fork is reached, keep left to head slightly uphill to go behind the houses at Glen West and pass a waterfall. At a second junction keep on the main track ignoring the track to the left. Soon afterwards there is a small viewpoint with a bench just to the right of the track. This looks out across the Kyles.

3. Eventually a small white lighthouse comes into view with Eilean Dubh just behind it. Follow the track around the bay, ignoring the path up to the Lily Pond. When the track starts to climb uphill past the buildings and area known as The Pheasantry, keep on the main track ignoring a path to the left and track to the right which leads down to the houses. Notice the Cowal Way marker signs, red on white, which will become crucial for the next section of the walk. Soon the buildings at Caladh Farm come into view on the bay. Turn right immediately after the small green shed on the right and before the first house to descend a path to the shore.

4. This next section is much more rugged and it is necessary to keep an eye out for the marker signs. Keeping on the shoreline, work your way across the bay in front of the houses crossing three streams (the third has stepping stones). At very high tide this section may be impassable. Continue right to the far end of the bay,where rocks go down into the water. Here look for the marker sign pointing inland. Climb up the slabby rock here, taking care as it can be slippery and follow the narrow path into the trees.

5. The path weaves through the trees, rhododendrons and numerous mossy boulders. Soon you reach a narrow ledge where a rope provides a useful hand hold. Keep looking for the marker signs, if you do not see one for a few minutes, retrace your steps to check that you have not left the faint path. The path next climbs through silver birch before descending to the shoreline. A huge rock sticks out towards the water, turn left here to go behind it, passing to the right of another rock with a massive split in it and a shelter underneath. Descend again to the shore and when it looks as though the way is blocked by boulders bear left to clamber behind them and follow the path through a wet area of dense rhododendron.

6. Eventually the top of the descent to Ormidale Lodge is reached with the bay and road visible ahead. The descent is steep and wet underfoot. Towards the bottom the path bears right to emerge at the gate to the pretty Lodge. Unless you have arranged a car to meet you at the parking area a short distance further, or are walking back the same way, follow the road around the bay passing a chalet and cottage. This quiet road, at the water's edge, comes as a welcome relief from the battle of the previous section. It leads back to the A8003 at a t-junction; it may be possible to catch one of the infrequent buses from here to return to Tighnabruaich.

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