The Loch Lomond and Cowal Way ranks as one of Scotland's most scenic long distance routes, running for around 90 kilometres along the length of the Cowal peninsula. Formerly known simply as the Cowal Way, it begins at Portavadie in the southwest, where the ferry runs from Tarbert in Kintyre, and includes forests, waterfalls, the shore of sea-lochs and hill-passes along the way to end at Inveruglas on the shores of Loch Lomond. It passes through rugged countryside rich in wildlife. From Inveruglas a ferry across the loch enables a link with the West Highland Way, so with the possible link to the Kintyre Way via the Portavadie Ferry, the Loch Lomond and Cowal Way could be one link in an epic walk through Scotland. Another option is to link from Arrochar with the Three Lochs Way which leads to Balloch.
The route was originally devised by Jim McLuckie.
Stage descriptions | Length | Time | Done |
---|---|---|---|
1: Portavadie to Tighnabruaich | 10.5km | 3-4 hours | |
2: Tighnabruaich to Glendaruel | 18.25km | 5-6 hours | |
3: Glendaruel to Strachur | 25.5km | 6-7 hours | |
4: Strachur to Lochgoilhead | 14.5km | 4-5.5 hours | |
5: Lochgoilhead to Arrochar | 14.5km | 4.5-5.5 hours | |
6: Arrochar to Inveruglas | 7.75km | 2.5 hours |
The route is now well waymarked, but is still a rugged route crossing several exposed passes; some sections of the route can be boggy underfoot.
Portavadie at the start of the way has a marina with accommodation and a cafe.
Tighnabruaich and neighbouring Kames offer a good choice of Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation. Tighnabruaich also has a shop.
The hotel at Clachan of Glendaruel has been closed for several years. There is a campsite and a bed and breakfast further along the Way up the glen.
Strachur has Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, as does Lochgoilhead at the end of the following stage. Both villages have shops selling supplies.
There is a choice of hotels and B&B at Arrochar. Arrochar also has a shop, cafes and a takeaway.
There is a bus service from Dunoon that serves Tighnabruaich and Portavadie, also with infrequent links along the main road through Glendaruel. Dunoon itself can be reached via ferries across the Firth of Clyde, linking with trains and buses to Glasgow.
Strachur has bus links to Dunoon, Inveraray and to Lochgoilhead.
Arrochar shares a rail station with nearby Tarbet on Loch Lomond, and is also reached by bus.
Finally, Inveruglas at the end of the way is on the Citylink bus routes between Glasgow, Fort William and points north.
Timetables for all the routes can be found on Traveline Scotland.
There are 112 Walkhighlanders who have completed the Loch Lomond and Cowal Way. To record if you have completed the route, you must register and be logged in. Our users have contributed 11 public walk reports for the route. These are ordered below with the most popular ones first.
Title | Author | Date walked | Likes |
---|---|---|---|
The Cowal Way - A Summer Solo Hike | Contours | 01/06/2017 | 10 |
Cowal Way in a Day | smiffysmc | 13/08/2015 | 9 |
Kneedeep in a bog & high on heights: Cowal Way & the Cobbler | nitamiriam | 20/07/2017 | 6 |
Solo On The Cowal Way | mountainburd | 26/05/2018 | 6 |
3 days wild camping | zhickman | 11/05/2016 | 5 |
the cowal way | johnm1615 | 14/06/2016 | 4 |
The Cowal Way in May | andrewl7642 | 23/05/2015 | 2 |
Cowal Way: Glendaruel to Glenbranter | nigheandonn | 28/07/2018 | 2 |
Cowal Way: Glenbranter to Lochgoilhead | nigheandonn | 25/07/2019 | 0 |
LLC way and Cobbler in September | Nanook | 24/09/2019 | 0 |
Cowal Way | stapper | 12/09/2013 | 0 |
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