Culzean House

Good walks

Christmas at Culzean

Christmas at Culzean

Culzean is perfect for Christmas with friends and family more>


We were hoping to satisfy a large group with ages ranging from 81 years down to 7 years, with a few stroppy teens in between. Turns out we had nothing to worry about - all were satisfied and all said they would return - which we will. Great value for money, thanks again.

Margaret Wharton

The village of Ardentinny sits in a south-facing bay and there are a fantastic selection of Forest Walks in this area with easy, moderate and strenuous ratings. The best walks in the Argyll Forest Park are right on Culzean's doorstep and most can be accessed from the splendid sandy beach at Ardentinny, facing south-east down Loch Long.

Lairds WalkSUNLIT AUTUMN LARCH

Car Park Facilities: ToiletsParkingEasy Access

Grade of trail: Sensible footwareEasy

Length of trail: 1.5 miles

The Lairds Walk is a circular route with gentle gradients and a firm surface comprising forest roads and paths. The fields opposite Finart Bay were once a Forestry Commission nursery supplying seedlings for new plantations throughout Scotland.

Along the shoreline there are picnic tables and benches situated in rest points and viewing areas. Leaving the shore, the path leads you through a stand of mixed conifers and onto the forest road, from here you head back towards Ardentinny picnic site passing the burial chamber of Archibald Douglas Esquire, the Laird of Ardentinny, who died in 1860.

 

Ardentinny to Carrick CastleArdentinny

Car Park Facilities: ToiletsParkingEasy Access

Grade of trail: Stout waterproof footwearModerate

Length of trail: 5 miles

The route to Carrick Castle from Ardentinny takes you along a forest road for approximately three miles - this includes one mile of 'right of way', and another mile of single-track road. Follow the waymarkers along the shores of Loch Long towards Knap, where you will find the remains of old buildings and dry stone walls, which are easily spotted from the roadside. Keep a look out for pine martens.

The road goes under electricity pylons carrying 132 thousand volts. Leave the forestry road at the large boulder/white posts. Join the track through the woods, descending to the shoreline at Tol Nam Muc - Bay of the Pig. Then on to Ardnahein Farm, along a single track road to Carrick Castle. This is a good spot for watching waders at low tide.

 

Clunie Oakwood / Green Discovery TrailPART OF BLACK GATES TRAIL

Car Park Facilities: ToiletsParkingEasy Access

Grade of trail: Sensible footwareEasy

Length of trail: 0.5 miles

The Clunie Oakwood loop walk has its own car park, which is adjacent to the start/finish of the trail. The track was designed to allow the less-able to enjoy a short easy walk through an oak wood in the process of restoration after years of rhododendron infestation.

This work was made possible by grants from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund under the Highlands and Islands Objective Partnership Programme

 

Puck's Glen Walk                                        CONIFERS ON PUCK'S GLEN TRAIL

Car Park Facilities: Parking

Grade of trail: Stout waterproof footwearModerate

Length of trail: 2 miles

Puck's Glen is one of the most famous walks on the Cowal Peninsula. It begins from the Forestry Commission car park at Puck's Glen. The area is reminiscent of an enchanted kingdom, and leaves walkers with the impression that they may just come across a wood-sprite or other magical creature from the ancient world of Faery.

A waymarked path, originally constructed by the Younger family to lead to a folly on the hill, (now constructed in the Benmore Botanic Gardens), continues uphill, through a mixed woodland planted by the Estate in 1870. The steep, narrow gorge is interwoven with waterfalls and shallow rock pools spanned by arched wooden bridges.

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