This beautiful and varied circuit from Ardgartan begins with a road stretch, but soon leads along the shores of Loch Long and then follows the wooded banks of the Croe Water.
Bog Factor
Paths, tracks and minor road.
Ardgartan car park.
Citylink bus.
NN269037
Start from the Ardgartan car park, signed from the A83 just north of Ardgartan off the Rest and Be Thankful road; there's public toilets, picnic tables and a view of the south peak of The Cobbler. Follow the tarmac lane over the bridge and then curving to the left on the far side. Continue along this quiet minor road as it undulates through the attractive woodland.
Keep right at a junction to stay on the tarmac. After 1.3km there's a Lomond and Cowal Way marker post - turn left downhill on the footpath here. The path then joins and follows the shore of Loch Long, with beautiful views.
Eventually the path passes an old boathouse and has views towards the new Ardgartan Hotel. There are good views across Loch Long here and a good stopping place at the small beach. Keep following the path around the loch until just after a bridge - turn left on the main path here, ignoring the fainter trod to the hotel. The path soon emerges on the hotel driveway - turn right. From this point you are following red marker posts.
Almost immediately keep left at a fork and then turn left onto a narrow footpath next to the river, heading downstream. The path eventually reaches an attractive wooden footbridge. Cross this and turn left to climb the bank on the other side.
At the top of the bank you reach the entrance drive to the Forest Holidays site at Ardgartan. Turn immediately left to follow a path upstream above the Croe Water. The clear path, marked with both red and blue marker posts, keeps left at a junction and follows the river closely. When the path merges with a bigger path turn left and then bear right at the next junction keeping on this side of the river. Keep left to follow the path into the grassy picnic area at the Visitor Centre at the start of the walk.
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