Dog walks 

As with all walks, please take a charged phone and water and appropriate clothing and footwear. Check the weather and make sure you know what time it goes dark. The weather can change very quickly.  Please keep control of your dog around livestock.  Some dogs who are not used to them might chase sheep and cattle.

FROM THE LODGES

1.    The River Add – length 45 minutes to 1 hour

Go out of the lodges and turn right onto the glen road and then almost immediately left up the track. Keep your dog on a lead past the first house on left which has rare chickens and ducks which might be in the road. After about a kilometre, you will see a red rusty barn on the right.  Another 50m on from this you will see a birch tree on the right, just after this there is a path to the right off the road.  This path leads down to the river which we own. There is space to walk along the bank and for your dog to paddle in the water.

You can walk up the river to the left and you will see a meadow-like area on your left and can rejoin the road from here although it can get overgrown with bracken.  If so, you can walk by the river as far as you can each way then follow the path back up and home.

2.    Burenich Hill – length 1.5 to 2 hours.

This hill is visible from the lodges.  Head out of the lodges and turn left.  Walk up the road and after around a mile, you will see a black post box for Fearnoch Old Farm house on the right.  Go up the track here.  After another third of a mile, you will see a footpath which leads off to the left in a fork.  DON’T TAKE THIS PATH – but just before it, look for a small opening in the trees to your left. Go up here – a bit of a scramble – and you will see a clear walked path then go past a ruined village. This path takes you right to the top.  Then at the top, after taking in the view, you can follow the path back down the way you came.  

About 5 miles and strenuous but lovely views at the top of the hill.

3.    Up to the phone mast –1 to 1.5 hours

This is a simple walk up a track to the phone mast, and you can keep going up to the top of the hill which has lovely views.  Beyond leads to Kirnan Estate which is private. Go out of the lodges and turn left. Go up this road for about one mile, and soon after the black post box in Walk 2, you will see a large forestry road on your left with a metal gate. You can walk up here as far as the phone mast or carry on to the top of the hill.

SHORT CAR DISTANCE  

Onto the glen road and turn left. Up the glen road and past the wooden chalet houses. See the forestry track on your right before the loch and you can park in the entrance, but do not block it. Into Succouth woods – you can either go left or walk up the hill, it is the same loop. If up the hill continue for about a mile, with two undulating dips, then see a grassy track to your left. Down here, and at the bottom look for a small entrance into the trees on left before the big puddle. When you turn you will see the path and you know it’s right as you almost immediately go through a small stream. Continue on until you reach the original path. About 4 miles. Easy.

Rhudle track. Left up the glen road. Past the houses, Succouth woods and Loch Leathan. After the loch look for a forestry track with a gate on left. Past this, then see a layby with a brown gate – you can park here. Through the gate, up a narrow steep path which joins the forestry track. You go through several gates, up and up until you are on the top with fabulous views down to Crinan. You can walk as far as you like – eventually the track goes on to Rhudle and you will come to a padlocked gate. Up and back walk. Strenuous.

LONGER CAR DRIVE BUT WORTH IT!

Taynish Nature Reserve  Drive past the pub and café in Tayvallich, take the left fork marked Taynish and park at the mill. There is a board with the walks – several options. Either a loop walk down the track in front of you, then through the field in front of Taynish House and back through lovely oak woods to the mill. Or back up the track you have driven down, look for the sign into the woods on left and up steep steps to the top. Fabulous views. Down the steps and onto the track to the mill car park – either turn left for shorter walk or right to do the longer loop walk. Or before the gate in front of Taynish House you can follow the wave signs and walk down to the sea – either The Shore ( shorter) or go straight on past the Piggeries to the Narrows which are utterly beautiful and there is a hide to watch otters and sea birds.

Lochs Coillhe Bharr and Barnluasgan. Drive towards Tayvallich – for Barnluasgan take the left fork in front of the memorial and car park on left. A shorter walk around this loch ( loop) or you can branch off half way round up the hill to make it longer. For Coillhe Bharr take right fork and go on half a mile until you see the Knapdale car park. You can either do a loop walk around the loch ( you’ll need a lead as part is on the road) or follow the signs to the Faerie Isles and you can walk right to the end – a long walk but lovely views of Loch Sween and there is a picnic table at the end.