Ardentinny is a forestry village in a beautiful location on the western shore of Loch Long. This scenic route starts from the waterfront and links the various waymarked trails to make a longer route, as well as visiting an idyllic pebble beach.
Waymarked paths throughout; several ascents and descents.
Bus service from Dunoon; the walk passes the bus stop in the village.
Ardentinny Forestry car park.
Begin at the large forestry car park (charge) at the north end of the Finart Bay, where there are toilets, picnic tables overlooking the pebbly beach of Finart Bay and across Loch Long. There are several waymarked trails here; this route links the red, green and yellow routes to make a more substantial walk. Begin by walking to the very far end of the car park, where a wooden post indicates the start of a through path to Carrick Castle.
The Red Trail almost immediately turns off left up concrete steps, but before heading this way it is worth continuing to the end of the broad path to visit the secluded cove of White Bay. It's a peaceful spot - but on shore opposite is Coulport, a servicing and storage area for Trident, the UK's nuclear weapons; an oddly incongruous thought.
Return to the steps and head up the first flight; do not cross the bridge and continue up the steps, instead continuing straight ahead on the near side of the tiny burn - the next red waymarker post is hiding behind a tree. Pass to the left of a fenced area with a shed, bearing right to begin the climb. The path swings left for the steepest section before curving right again through beautiful native woodland. Pass through a gate in a deer fence for a more open section, then plunge back into the forest at a second gate. At length the path emerges on a forestry track; turn left here.
Continue down to reach a tarred lane and follow this down to the wooden eagle sculpture by the entrance track. Turn right here and follow the track until just before the bridge - then turn right (green marker) to begin the second (very short) waymarked walk, which heads up through the trees by the Glen Finart Burn. Fork left to stay by the burn, continuing until the path emerges on at a track by a stone bridge.
Turn left to cross this, then turn left down the track on the far side. When a t-junction is reached, go straight across onto a footpath; you are now beginning the yellow waymarked route. This beautiful path leads round the back of Finart Bay; part way round there are some benches enabling a leisurely appreciation of the superb views. At the far end ignore the turning on the right to the forestry houses and instead follow the track ahead. It emerges on the road in Ardentinny by the bus stop and public toilets.
Head directly across the road into the car park opposite. At the far end of the car park take the obvious footpath ahead. This runs alongside a stream through fine woodland at first before climbing up into the forestry. When it emerges on a forest track turn right along it. The track soon passes a fenced memorial stone (to one Archibald Douglas) - it is worth detouring to the far side of the memorial to reach a bench with a more open view over the bay. Return to the track and continue along it, now downhill, to reach the road.
Go straight ahead along the road before turning right onto the next track (still following the yellow waymarkers). The track crosses the fields below the Glenfinart caravan park and the derelict remains of Glenfinart House. Continue ahead on the track, passing a bungalow, to once again reach the bridge near the entrance to the Forestry car park. Continue straight ahead to return to the start.
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