Cowal

Routes

Gourock - Dunoon

Rhubodach - Colintraive

Worth a visit in its own right, our Gourock-Dunoon route is the best place to start if you’re exploring Argyll. From Benmore Gardens with its giant redwoods to the largest annual Highland gathering in the world, this is somewhere that does things on a different scale.

The Cowal Peninsula is the gateway to Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Troassachs National Park and our scenic Gourock-Dunoon crossing is the perfect starting point for a day trip exploring Argyll. Stop for lunch in the pretty seaside town of Dunoon or venture further and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you drive through lush, dense forests and past tranquil lochside villages en route to destinations such as Tighnabruaich, Inveraray, Kintyre and Oban.

A highlight of a trip through Cowal is the chance to visit one of Scotland ’s finest gardens, Younger Botanic Gardens at Benmore. The gardens boast a world famous collection of conifers, a formal garden and the impressive Avenue of the Giant Redwoods.

Argyll Forest Park also offers exceptional mountain biking and walking. Ardgarten Information Centre is the starting point for the new 47 mile Cowal Way as well as the base for several mountain biking trails for riders of all abilities.

However, our hottest tip for Cowal is the Cowal Highland Gathering, held on the last weekend in August each year. The biggest and most spectacular highland games in the world, the event attracts visitors and competitors from around the world to take part in or watch events such as piping, highland dancing, caber tossing and shinty. If you only ever make it to one highland games, this is the one to come to!

Our Gourock-Dunoon route (20 minute crossing) is approximately 45 minutes drive from Glasgow and crossings are hourly. Advance booking is not required on this route. To get the most out of a visit to this area, we recommend our Hopscotch® tickets (Hopscotches®1-4) which allow you to include Bute or Kintyre in your trip for similar prices to our 5 Day Return fares. During the summer season, SPT also offer a special value Benmore Gardens ‘Great Days Out’ ticket which includes ferry and train transport from any SPT station as well as admission to the gardens.