Bay View
Strachur by Loch Fyne
Argyll
PA27 8DE
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This charming former fisherman’s cottage offers cosy self catering accommodation and views over Loch Fyne in the pretty village of Strachur.
Off the beaten track this is a a beautiful area to unwind and relax. Bay View Cottage can accommodate 4 persons. There are 2 bedrooms (a double & a twin).The log burning stove creates a cosy atmosphere. There is a rear garden and parking available to the front. There is a shop/diner across the road and The Creggins Inn is a short walk from the cottage.
Other things to note – The stairway to the bedrooms is narrow and the bedroom ceilings are low for anyone over 6ft 3
The Cottage is within walking distance of a village shop, café and petrol station and also within easy reach (20 mile radius) Botanical Gardens, Forest and Lochside trails, Castles, Boat Trips, Golf Courses, Island Hopping and the main town of Dunoon its high street Shops Restaurants and traditional Inn’s – with a fairly regularly bus service from the village.
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- Two Storey Former Fisherman’s Cottage
- Bay / Lochside location 100 yards to Shore
- Living room and Kitchen diner with Log Burning Stove
- 1 Double Bedrooms & 1 Twin Bedroom
- Bathroom with Shower over, W.C and Washbasin
- Full Kitted Kitchen including Oven / Hob, Fridge / Freezer, Microwave and Washing Machine
- Lounge with Sofas TV / DVD
- Electric Storage Central Heating
- Free Car Parking
- Bedding and Towels Supplied
- Free WiFi
- Pets Welcome with enclosed Back Yard
- Inn village shop Restaurant 0.5 mile
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Cosy Lochside Fisherman’s Cottage Accommodation
The Bay Cottage is accessed from the village of Strachur by single track road off the main A815 Dunoon road. This charming former fisherman’s cottage offers cosy self catering accommodation and views over Loch Fyne in the pretty village of Strachur.
The Bay Cottage can accommodate 4 persons. There are 2 bedrooms (a double & a twin).The log burning stove creates a cosy atmosphere. There is a rear garden and parking available to the front. There is a shop/diner across the road and The Creggins Inn is a short walk from the cottage.
Other things to note – The stairway to the bedrooms is narrow and the bedroom ceilings are low for anyone over 6ft 3
Regret for safety reasons and Scottish law no smoking inside the cottage please.
Why visit Argyll, Cowal and Bute?
Why not head North to Oban and Fort William? 90% of Scotland’s most appreciated tourist do just that…year after year. Yet Argyll, Cowal and Bute offer you the most populated area of lochs and walkways, spectacular scenery, botanic gardens, castles and wildlife in Scotland and because it is off the beaten tourist track, a very peaceful and relaxing place in which to stay. The very best of Scotland in miniature and packed into an area of only 35 x 25 miles and all within 60 minutes Drive of Beach Cottage, Strachur.
“If you want to see all the best highlights and delights of Scotland, stay in Cowal for a week or two”
The Cowal peninsula offers you “Scotland in Miniature” the most populated area of Lochs, Forest Trails, Walkways, Spectacular Scenery, Gardens, Castles and Wildlife in the whole of Scotland, all crammed into a area of just 35 x 25 miles! Making touring the attractions simple and economical, so treat yourselves to a great value holiday of Relaxation, Walking, Fishing, Golfing and Bird watching.
The Benmore botanic Gardens and it’s Giant Redwoods (a short drive away)
Discover the true beauty and history of Scotland
The Cowal peninsula and Argyll Forest Park, some 54,000 acres, offer you a wide range of sporting activities including golf, fishing, various pleasure cruises, mountain-biking, cycling, organised horse riding and of course sailing and other water-based sports. For the walker choose from Seaside / Loch side trails to Woodland forest trails through what is accepted as the most beautiful scenic area of Scotland, notably Pucks Glen, Glenbranter and the magnificent world renowned “Benmore Botanic Gardens”.
Loch Eck and Argyll
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Magnificent Loch Eck just over 6 miles long and 67 feet above sea level, scythes through the centre of the Cowal Peninsula, surrounded by high, forested hills. The loch epitomizes Cowal – rugged and spectacular but at the same time peaceful, where you can while away the hours walking, taking in the scenery and fishing in Loch Eck for Salmon trout, the Gwyniad or fresh-water Herring and a remarkably translucent fish 4 or 5 inches long called the Goldie. Captivating Bute, once the island retreat of Scottish kings, lies at the heart of the Firth of Clyde, and is the favorite destination of the famous ‘Waverley’, the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world. The area abounds in wildlife. Seagulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Eider Ducks and Swans and Seals are frequent passers-by.
Activities on your doorstep or less than 1 hours travel
There are numerous scenic forest walks and loch side trails with signposted footpaths, in particular to Carrick Castle on the shores of Loch Goil and through the sprawling Argyll Forest Park area. There are 3 local golf courses within easy reach of you accommodation Innellan and Blairmore (both competitive 9 hole course) and the Cowal golf course, Dunoon (18 holes). Fishing and sea angling is available on your doorstep either from the banks of the Clyde below the front garden or the old pier. Numerous nearby rivers offer Brown Trout, Salmon and Sea Salmon. For those wishing to cruise on Loch Eck, motor or rowing boats are available to hire.
Toward Castle is now a residential training centre operated by Actual Reality Scotland and offers fantastic days out for bored restless children, Castle Towards outdoor education activities include catwalks and a high jump, as well as gorge walks and hill walks. The castles long history has led to a number of ghost stories. As well as outdoor education, the house is used for residential courses for young people in music and art. The Glasgow Schools’ Symphony Orchestra and West of Scotland Schools’ Symphony Orchestra visit regularly. The children’s BBC TV series Raven also use Castle Toward as a film location. You can contact Actual Reality Scotland Tel 01369 870249.
In Dunoon there is an excellent new indoor swimming pool. Around the area lie quaint lochside villages. Further north is Strone, Ardentinny and Strachur…further north still is Inveraray, Lochgoilhead and Oban all with extensive facilities. The Arrochar Alps… gloriously rugged peaks for the more serious hill walker, stand high above Loch Long, looking onto the ‘Rest and be Thankful’, a fine viewpoint where cattle drovers once enjoyed a well deserved break after a tough climb. To the East, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs – Scotland’s first National park.
The Benmore Botanical Gardens
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The Benmore Gardens is a specialist garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is a magnificent woodland garden set amidst the mountains of the Cowal Peninsula. Its 140 acres are renowned for the wide collection of trees and shrubs, which includes over 250 species of rhododendrons. One of the most spectacular views is the avenue of Giant Redwood trees (pictured below) which greets every visitor on entering the garden.
Throughout there are waymarked walks, which lead to a beautiful pond and formal garden which display a wide variety of Himalayan and Oriental plants. Continue up the richly planted hill slopes, which rise to 450 feet to a dramatic viewpoint overlooking the Eachaig valley and the Holy Loch. Refreshments are available. The Botanics Shop sells a range of books, gifts and plants some of which can be found in the garden. Facilities are also provided for those less able, including wheelchairs.
The Pucks Glen Forest and Waterfall Walks
Within an easy 15 minute drive, you can also access lot’s of waterfalls at Pucks Glen and a choice of 3 mouth watering woodland trails Pet Friendly, sign posted and marked out offering a sometimes tropical rainforest feel with magnificent views from the summits. The waterfalls walk (below) features a meandering tour up the valley involving a series bridges crossing streams, cascading waterfalls and pools, particularly delightful after a strong downpour of rain!
The Pucks Glen Waterfalls Walks (less than 15 minutes away)
The Glen Massan trail
In the same area as Pucks Glen and the Benmore gardens, you will also find at the end of a delightful single track trail that Glen Massan a great place to visit, particularly for fishing, leisure walkers, pet owners and those just seeking the peace and quiet. Here you can walk for miles along the easy the going river trail, there are also more challenging forest trails for the serious walkers and plenty of good places for a picnics.
The lovely Glen Massan where you can walk, picnic and fish
The bridge over the Atlantic (left) leads to Seil, Luing (centre) and Easdale (right)
The endangered Red Squirrel
Around the Cowal peninsula, you will see many of the endangered Red squirrels they have a typical head to body length of 19 to 23 a tail length of 15 to 20 cm and a mass of 250 to 340. The red squirrel is slightly smaller than the common eastern grey squirrel, unfortunately the grey squirrel is the main reason for the red squirrels decline and you will see particularly in this area of Cowal, the many measures taken to try to preserve this endangered species such as their own rope bridges and tunnels across the busier roads !
Local area and evenings out
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A short 5 minute walk from The Bay Cottage brings you to the Famous Creggans Inn Hotel, Strachur www.creggans-inn.co.uk providing Free WIFI quality fine wines, whiskies and excellent cuisine and views across the Loch to Inveraray on Loch Fyne. This Argyll Hotel offers Award-winning food, an enthusiast’s wine list and stylishly refurbished rooms. Also with in a 10 minute car drive The ‘TV famous’ Whistlefield Inn www.whistlefieldinn.co.uk, a 14th Century inn with an open fire and inviting atmosphere. a fantastic selection of Malt Whisky and beers and a restaurant with great food and panoramic views over Loch Eck. The Inn is full of intrigue and history and you may well hear of ancient tales of smugglers, tunnels, ghosts and even an ancient massacre during your visit to the Inn. The Inn gained its well-deserved recognition on the TV series ‘The House detectives’.
The Village of Strachur also has it’s own village Store, Post Office and Café, Filling Station, Village Hall, Church and 2 Pub’s, the Clachan in the village square and the Lochside Creaggans Hotel.
The 14th century Whistlefield Inn (Left) and the Oyster Catcher” Inn / Restaurant (Right)
The Red Squirell – Eagles – Buzzards and Red Deer / Stag are also local residents
Cowal Peninsula Scotland’s best kept Secret
The Spectacular Kyles of Bute
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The spectacular Kyles of Bute as seen on television, can be easily reached in less than 1 hour away and well worth the journey as you pass through some delightful little villages, Lochs, forest and Glens on the way there.
The Spectacular Kyles of Bute (less than 1 hours drive away)
The magical Isle of Bute
Combine these most spectacular views, with a trip to the captivating Isle of Bute a beautiful little island about 15 miles long and nearly 5 miles wide and within a hours drive, always a favorite day trip with much to offer with hills in the North and plenty of sandy beaches, ruined chapels and castles, yachting, fishing, golf, etc. Bute’s many gardens benefit from the Gulf Stream which gives the island a mild climate enabling palm trees and other exotic plants to grow here. One of the main visitor attractions is the spectacular Mount Stuart house and gardens. Canada hill offers the best views from this island.
Bute Castle (left) and “Mount Stuart” and it’s gardens (centre) and the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute (right)
Mountain bikes and Walking Holidays
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Along with numerous local walks, more serious walkers can sample a part / all of the Cowal way. The Cowal Way is a long distance footpath split into 6 sections, running the length of the Cowal Peninsula. It starts at Portavadie, beside Loch Fyne, and finishes in at Ardgartan, by Loch Long. It is 47 miles (75 km) long, climbing 5050 ft (1540 m) on the way. The route follows existing rights of way and public roads, most of which are extremely quiet, or cross Forestry Commission land, which includes a good deal of open hill. Access is not an issue. For the mountain bikers there is also the more local to where you are staying Glen Kin way an easy 6 mile / 10 Km circuit of a small glen in Cowal, Argyll that suits beginners and provides more experienced riders with optional challenges
For the mountain bikers there is also the more local to where you are staying Glen Kin way an easy 6 mile / 10 Km circuit of a small glen in Cowal, Argyll that suits beginners and provides more experienced riders with optional challenges. For more information on guided walks, please contact Nikki Dayton Tel 01369 860324. You can also hire bikes daily / Weekly from either Quadmania Ltd 01369 810246 Or ProAdventure Scotland 01369 707456.
The highly acclaimed Loch Fyne Oster Restaurant and it’s fantastic seafood shop
Toward point and lighthouse (top ) and the array of wildlife living around this point 10 miles south of Dunoon (below)
Bus services to Dunoon, Inveraray and Toward from Strachur
If you are coming on holiday to actually take a break from driving, there is a fairly regular bus service run by West Coast Motors www.westcoastmotors.co.uk who run the 476 and 486 services between Toward, Innellan, Dunoon, Kilmun, Pucks Glen / Benmore Gardens, Whistlefield, Strachur, Loch Fyne Oysters and Inverary. There are 5 return trips in each direction Mondays to Saturdays and 3 return trips on Sundays from Easter to the end of October. They also operate services from Dunoon to the Isle of Bute plus a number of other destinations in Cowal.
Dunoon and the Cowalfest
The highly popular October walking festival know as the Cowalfest is now firmly established as a highlight of the year in the Cowal calendar, with all the walks graded and numbered. There are also cultural and social events to accompany this event, which usually last about 10 days around the middle of the month – A ‘must’ for walkers! and based around the popular capital town Dunoon, which offers all services, including 2 x supermarkets, high street shops include giftware, electrical, grocery, health. One local hospital (Dunoon general), doctor, vet. Numerous leisure facilities include crown green bowling, tennis courts, swimming baths, quad biking, golf and crazy golf. There are 2 ferry regular ferry crossings to Gourock and the Waverley Puffer calls in the summer.
Panoramas of Dunoon, the high street and square
Inveraray it’s castle, the old Jail, the Puffer and museum
Well worth a visit during your stay and less than 60 minutes drive is the lovely town of Inveraray (Inbhir Aora in Gaelic) a former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, located on the western shore of Loch Fyne near its head. One time traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll, who founded the town in 1745, alongside his new home, Inveraray Castle. Its distinctive white buildings on the loch shore make it very photogenic and it is a very popular tourist destination, with a number of attractions in addition to the castle. The Georgian Inveraray Jail in the burgh is now a museum. Other attractions include the Argyll Folk Museum at Auchindrain. The Celtic Inveraray Cross can also been seen in the town. The Arctic Penguin ship Maritime Museum is moored at the pier, along with the Clyde puffer VIC 72, renamed Eilean Eisdeal.
Panorama of Inverary (left) the high street, the harbour, the castle and estate (right)
Oban “The Gateway to the Isles”
Just over 60 minutes drive away lies the busy fishing town of Oban “The Gateway to the Isles” with supermarkets, high street stores, Shops, restaurants and Pubs. Oban is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and occupies a beautiful setting in the Firth of Lorn. Oban Bay is a near perfect horseshoe bay, protected by the island of Kerrera, and beyond Kerrera is Mull. To the north is the long low island of Lismore, and the mountains of Morvern and Ardgour. Oban has a large Gaelic speaking population. All road and street signs are translated into the Scottish language. Attractions in Oban include the Waterfront Centre, the Cathedral of St Columba, the Oban Distillery, Dunollie Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle and McCaig’s Tower, which dominates the town’s skyline. From here you can easily extend your day trip by taking the Calmac ferry to visit the Isle of Mull, Tobermory (The fictional Balamory) and the sacred Isle of Iona.
Tobermory “the fictional Balamory”
Seil, Luing and Easdale Island
Approx 90 minutes drive away lies the delightful inner hebridean chain of 3 small Islands. Accessed via the unique and only bridge over the “Atlantic” Seil Island leads to the historic Easdale slating Island via foot ferry to the West from Ellanbeich. To the south lies the delightful island of Luing accessed via car ferry. Easdale made famous by it’s many picture postcard appearances has a population of around 150 people and the centre of population including a village shop and Pub is based around the beautiful harbour inlet. Luings major areas of population lie around Tobernochry and Cullipool and is accessed by a short car ferry crossing from the south of Seil Island.
Boat hire on Loch Fyne and fishing permits
Loch Fyne is renowned – for it’s exellent sea fishing and you can catch cod, pollack, coalfish, conger, plaice, turbot, mackerel and ling, Permits are not needed and Boats can be hired through the Inverary Tourist board.
Fishing permits for Freshwater Loch Eck can be obtained along with equipment, fishing advice from the tackle shop in Dunoon. I.C. Purdie 112 Argyll Street, Dunoon. Tel. 01369 703232.
Boat hire on Loch Eck and fishing permits
Motor boats are available from (£12 per hour / £40 per day / £25 half day) Rowing boats are available at the Coylet Inn by Loch Eck from £5 per hour / £15 per day / £10 half day Tel 01369 840576 or 01369 840426. Salmon Fishing permits are available for the river Eachaig from May and Loch Long from early February at £5 per day / £20 per 7 days. The Brown Trout Season is from the 15th of March until the 6th of October, Coarse fishing, Sea fishing and Rainbow Trout fishing are permitted all year round and no national rod licence is required in Scotland. Fishing permits of all kinds are available from the Coylet Inn Tel 01369 840426
Fishing Tackle hire in Dunoon
For the novice and if you are not bringing your own fishing tackle you can visit or call the tackle shop in Dunoon. I.C. Purdie 112 Argyll Street, Dunoon. Tel. 01369 703232 for fishing advice and permits for all the local Lochs and Rivers.
General Enquiries
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The Bay Cottage, Strachur, Argyll
The Hire charges include all Heating, Electricity, Towels and Bedding
Pet Friendly – Yes but by prior arrangement only up to 2 well-behaved pets are welcome a supplement of £10 per pet per booking applies. Pets must be kept under strict control at all times around the gardens and must not be allowed in the bedrooms, or on any furniture.
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