This excellent circular walk links the Loch Fyne village of Furnace with the folk museum at Auchindrain. It was waymarked to celebrate the millenium and features forests, waterfalls, rivers, pastures and loch views.
Waymarked walk on paths and tracks through forests and fields.
Both Auchindrain and Furnace are served by buses.
Furnace.
NOTE: This route is now open but forestry works continue - please obey warning signs. The walk can be begun either from Furnace or Auchindrain, though note that the car park at the latter is locked when the museum closes at 5pm. In Furnace, there is a parking area with recycling bins, adjacent to the shop. From here, begin the walk by crossing the road and following the pavement to the right, joining the main A83. After 150 metres a wooden signpost for the walk indicates where to carefully cross the road and head up a track on the far side, adjacent to a pretty white cottage. The track, with views back of Loch Fyne, climbs towards Goatfield Farm; where it bends to the left a marker post indicates the route, leaving the track and heading through the gate on the right. The path runs along the top of the pasture to reach a second gate and pass into the woods.
The path continues through the fine deciduous woods to reach the ruins of the Powdermills - a gunpowder works. These used the power of the Leacainn Water and local charcoal to process the powder. In 1883 the works closed when an explosion killed the manager. Continue on the path, passing a bench with a very fine outlook back to Loch Fyne. Further on a signpost indicates not the route but instead the traces of old charcoal burners. Continue on the path until it reaches a grassy track; here turn right. The track soon swings sharply to the left and almost descends to the main road. Keep left to find where the path continues from this large turning area.
The path is now running just above the Leacainn Water. More signposts points out the sluice gate that diverted the water to the Powdermills, and further on the ruins of the so-called Roman Bridge - though the Romans of course never occupied this area. The path bears left beside a fence and then passes through a gate, crossing a tributary on a wooden bridge to reach a track. Turn right briefly on the track towards the beautiful old double-arched bridge; do not cross this but instead turn left through a gate to continue upriver.
The path soon follows a small tributary, crossing a bridge of wooden planks across the way before also crossing this tributary, this time on a footbridge with a handrail. The signpost pointing left a short distance on is just for indicating another old bridge and like others is not marking the route, so don't follow the track to the left and instead go straight ahead through a small gate. Cross the new track and turn right towards the agricultural building. The route continues, briefly following a wire fence alongside the new track. Cross in front of the new building heading towards the Leacainn Water. There is a gap in the wire fence; turn left following the bank uphill, passing the site of an old corn-drying kiln. A short distance further a bench has a view of the fine Miller's Falls, named after a mill which once stood on the banks. The path leads up to a well-made track above; turn right to follow it, crossing the bridge above the falls. The track is followed for almost a kilometre, almost to Auchindrain, before a gate on the right cuts down through the field. Follow the right hand edge of the land drain until the waymarker points left to the small gate to cross the A83 carefully just below the museum. Cross the road carefully here; leaving the track has removed the need to walk along the road.
Go through the gate on the far side to a path junction. You can turn left here to reach the excellent Auchindrain Museum which is well worth exploring; it also has a small cafe. To continue the walk instead, follow the path ahead across a boardwalk and footbridge to a gate. Head to the right, parallel to the road, to reach a track, then turn left up this. The track forks; go right here to pick up the start of a waymarked path which climbs steeply uphill. A signpost indicates where a waterfall can be seen down in the ravine on the right. Beyond this, a boggy section leads to another footbridge. Cross this and turn right, now sloping downhill and passing through gaps in the forest.
Eventually the path heads down some steps to the right and almost reaches the main road before heading left, deep into dense forestry. A signpost pointing to the right indicates the Wolf Stone, a short distance off route amongst the trees; one legend has it that this was where the last wolf in Argyll was shot. Continue on the broad path, soon reaching a felled area permitting better views of Loch Fyne ahead. As the edge of Furnace is reached the track joins a tarmac drive. Continue down to the road in the village; a short detour to the left here reveals the remains of the old Iron Furnace which gave the village its name, dating back to 1755. To return to the start, instead follow the road to the right across the bridge to reach the shop and parking area.
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