This magnificent stretch of rugged hill country was established in 1935, as the first Forest Park for public use in Britain. Many visitors who have come to know the Argyll Forest Park, its mountains, glens, lochs and woodlands, claim that it is also the ‘finest of them all’.

Dunoon is the nearest town or village. There are two equally appealing approaches to the Forest Park from Glasgow.

Follow the M8 to Gourock or Greenock and take the ferry (see ferry links in the right hand column), or take the A82 along the western shore of Loch Lomond through Tarbet, entering the Park at Arrochar.

A walk across the Cowal peninsula in the west of Scotland from Loch Fyne to Loch Long, through little known and remote countryside within reach of Glasgow. Features grassy hills and heather moorland, forest plantations, prehistoric heritage and superbly rich wildlife.

Divided into six one day sections, with an additional seven circular walks linked to the main route. Note that some sections are remote and strenuous, and signing can be sparse so some experience and map reading skills are required for the whole route.

The trail was conceived by Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Council and opened in 2003.

Portavadie can be reached by bus from Dunoon, which is connected by ferry (Caledonian MacBrayne, www.calmac.co.uk) to Gourock for regular rail services to Glasgow. There is also a ferry from Portavadie itself to Tarbert on the neighbouring Kintyre peninsula. A number of other key points on the route also have bus services: Tighnabruaich, Clachan of Glendaruel, Glendaruel, Glenbranter and Lochgoilhead have links
to Dunoon; and Lochgoilhead has links with Ardgatan, Arrochar and Helensburgh (though some services may be infrequent or operate only on certain days of the week). From Ardgatan there is a bus or 6km walk
to Arrochar which has four trains daily on the West Highland Line to Glasgow, Dunbarton Central, Crianlarich, Oban, For William and Mallaig. Contact local Tourist Information Centres for further information.
For enquiry lines, see Public Transport for Walkers.