Things To Do And See In Dunoon, Scotland

Dunoon sits on the Firth of Clyde in the Cowallseries Raven.
Peninsula and bordered to the north by the villages ofIf you are interested in botany or enjoy strolling
Kirn, Hunter's Quay and Sandbank, and by the Holythrough parks and gardens then Dunoon and Cowal
Loch. The town has a connecting ferry with Gourrochhost some of the best flora and fauna in the West
that for a hundred years has been transportingof Scotland. Situated seven miles north of Dunoon is
tourists to the picturesque town, today tourists canthe Benmore Botanic Gardens, 150 acres of garden
still get aboard the last seagoing paddle steamer infeaturing some of the tallest trees in Britain including
the world, The Waverley, which still calls in regularlya great avenue of Giant Redwoods. If you enjoy the
at Dunoon through the summer months.Botanic Gardens then there is also Morag's Fairy Glen
Interestingly the Holy Loch during the Second Worldbeside Innellan a woodland walk area that has a wide
War was used as a submarine base, and it playedrange of trees specimen including beech, birch, oak
host to an American Naval Base during the Cold War.and ash lining the paths that run alongside the Berry
It has now been transformed into a sophisticateBurn which follows into waterfalls and picturesque
marina, with facilities for boat and yachts that ispools. Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens, at the North of
enjoyed by sailing enthusiasts from across Scotland.Loch Fyne holds one of the finest collections of
One of the main tourist attractions in Dunoon is therhododendrons and conifers within the British Isles; a
Cowal Highland Gathering, the largest Highland gamesvisit during summer is highly recommended to take
in the world held on the last Friday and Saturday ofadvantage of the beautiful blooms.
August. The tournament includes the World HighlandThere is an abundance of hotels, many of which
Dancing Championships, piping and shintyoverlook the Firth of Clyde providing breathtaking
competitions; attracting participants and spectatorsviews of the sea and surrounding scenery, visit one
from around the world. Also of interest is Castleof the many restaurants which are all famed for their
Toward originally dating back to the 15th century buthospitality and excellent use of the local produce. The
since renovated several times in different decades.Loch Fyne Oyster Restaurant in Clachan is one of
Ownership of the castle passed to the council in thethe finest restaurants in the area serving mussels and
1990's and it has since turned into an outward boundoysters reared and smoked using the restaurants
activity centre, and recently the grounds of thetraditional methods and smoke house.
castle have been used in the BBC's children's TV