Tighnabruaich Cowal Guide
Contents |
Tighnabruaich
Argyll Guide | Argyll Travel | Helensburgh | Cowal Peninsula | Dunoon | Tighnabruaich Cowal | Isle Of Bute | Inveraray | Loch Awe And Loch Etive | Taynuilt | Oban | Mid Argyll | Kintyre | Isle Of Arran | Things To Do Argyll
Introduction
One of the most beautiful parts of Argyll is the southwest of Cowal, particularly the route down to the little village of Tighnabruaich. The A8003 runs down the west side of Loch Riddon and there are few lovelier sights than the view from this road across the Kyles of Bute, the narrow straits that separate Cowal from the island of Bute.
Tighnabruaich gets busy in the summer with visitors who come here to enjoy some of the best sailing on the west coast. Much of the accommodation is booked up by those enrolled at the Tighnabruaich Sailing School, Tel. 811717, which offers dinghy sailing and windsurfing courses at all levels. There is a bank in the village and buses leave from here to Portavadie (1-3 times daily; 25 minutes), Colintraive (see below) and Rothesay (1-2 times daily Monday-Thursday; one hour).
Phone code: +44 (0) 1700
Sleeping
The SYHA youth hostel, Tel. 811622, open Apr-Sep, sits high above the village with great views across the Kyles and is often full. There's also The Royal Hotel, Tel. 811239, Fax. 811300, on the waterfront, with a multi-gym and sauna, and excellent restaurant serving cheap lunches and mid-range-expensive dinners.
There are a couple of cheap B&Bs in the village, including Ferguslie, Tel. 811414, open Apr-Sep. In neighbouring Kames, there's the Kames Hotel , Tel. 811489, Fax. 811283, , with great views, and live music in the bar.
At Colintraive there's a charming little hotel - the Colintraive Hotel ; recommended. Late Rooms Availability for Colintraive Hotel in Colintraive
Transport
It's also possible to reach Bute from southwest Cowal. The A8003 turns off the main A883, which runs right down the west of the peninsula and the east side of Loch Riddon to Colintraive, at the narrowest point in the Kyles, only a few hundred yards wide. A small car and passenger CalMac ferry crosses to Rhubodach on Bute. There are buses from Colintraive to Tighnabruaich (1-2 times daily Mon-Thu; 35 mins), and to Dunoon.
South of Tighnabruaich
A few miles southwest of Kames, is Portavadie, on the west coast of Cowal. A CalMac car and passenger ferry sails from here to Tarbert, on the Kintyre Peninsula, saving a lot of time if you're heading for the islands of Islay, Jura or Colonsay. The ferry to Tarbert makes the 25-minute crossing every hour daily from 0800 till 1915. The one way trip costs £3.15 per passenger and £13.35 per car.
About 10 miles further up the deserted west coast of Cowal is Otter ferry. There used to be a ferry link from here to Lochgilphead, but not for the small, amphibious mammals. It gets its name from the gravel bank that juts out into Loch Fyne (An Oitir means gravel bank in Gaelic). It's still worth stopping here, if only for the excellent oyster bar and pub, The Oystercatcher, Tel. 01700-821229, which overlooks the lovely sandy beach.