Visit Ardentinny, Loch Long

Visit Ardentinny

Our guide to the village of Ardentinny on the shores of Loch Long, on the Cowal Peninsula in the Argyll Forest region of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. 

 

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Welcome to Ardentinny

The information board, with a free map/guide dispenser, welcomes visitors to the community. It is opposite the car park, which also has public toilets. Read more about Ardentinny Heritage at the group's website. 

Ardentinny Beach

A visit starts with a trip to the beach and the Forestry Land Scotland car park, which is popular for overnight camping, campervans and motorhomes. The route into the village is via the 5-mile single-track road, from the main road to Dunoon that runs alongside Loch Eck.

There is a good number of parking spaces, all with views of the beach and loch. The beach also has toilets for day visitors and overnight campers. 

Ardentinny Beach Toilets

Ardentinny Walking Trails

At the far end of the beach, you can take the walking trail to Carrick Castle. There are several other trails in the village, all detailed on the map board and leaflet. 

The beach was a training base for Royal Navy Commandos during the Second World War. There is a plaque and memorial to commemorate this in Ardentinny Church. Villagers who lost their lives in the Second World War are honoured by a monument close to the beach. 

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Glenfinnart Walled Garden

The community purchased the Walled Garden, which was initially part of Glenfinnart Estate. A few years ago, we visited and wrote this guide. It wasn't open when we last visited, but we look forward to seeing the restoration of the Victorian garden on our next trip to Ardentinny. 

Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre

Follow the shore path to the main village car park, nearby is Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre. Pre-pandemic many P6 primary school children from across Scotland would come and spend a week enjoying outdoor experiences. Hopefully, these can resume again soon. 

Ardentinny Nature Trail

As well as revisiting Glenfinart Walled Garden on a future visit I also want to follow the nature trail and see the bird hide. According to the leaflet, you can see Buzzards, Grey Herons, Harbour Porpoise, Common Seal, Oyster Catcher and much more in the village and on the loch. 

View across Loch Long

The photograph above, taken in Ardentinny is a contender for our feature on benches with great views in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs!

Cowal Highlights

Ardentinny was one of my first stops on a Cowal Highlights trip. I nearly didn't leave, the early spring sunshine was glorious, and the beaches were gorgeous. Those who had stayed overnight were enjoying cooking their breakfast and planning their day. 

Shore Road leads onto Blairmore, and then Strone Point, where Loch Long ends and Holy Loch starts. There is a bus that runs along this road from Ardentinny, all the way to Toward Point beyond Dunoon.

Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

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