Ardkinglas – Giant Trees, the Gruffalo and Oysters for Lunch
A few hours.
The route
Ardkinglas Woodland Garden climbs the hillside at the head of Loch Fyne, its paths winding among champion trees, past an old mill and along a Gruffalo Trail for children.
Then lunch is oysters from the loch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Kabn in Cairndow, 3 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Fri 30 Oct to Sun 1 Nov.
Book lunch at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar
Book a table for lunch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar on its website, by email to oyster.bar@lochfyne.com or on 01499 600482: it strongly recommends booking.
The day
Ardkinglas
A morning among the giant trees of Ardkinglas, with a Gruffalo to find and fairies in the lower woods, then oysters for lunch.
About three and a half hours
Ardkinglas Woodland Garden
Ardkinglas Woodland Garden is on the hillside at Cairndow, at the head of Loch Fyne, with its car park just inside the estate's big black gates by Kilmorich Church. The Pinetum in the lower garden was started around 1875. Its champion trees include a grand fir that was Britain's tallest tree for some years and a silver fir nearly ten metres round, known since the 10th Duke of Argyll's day as the mightiest conifer in Europe. Paths wander on several levels among rhododendrons and azaleas and down to an old mill by the river. The Gruffalo Trail starts about 400 metres from the car park: a trail map is at the start, and boards along the way carry the story in Scots, up to a Gruffalo in galvanised steel. The Fairy Trail is in the lower woods, and there is a Snakey Slide. Allow about two hours.
About 5 min by car
Loch Fyne Oyster Bar
Lunch
The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Clachan is about five minutes' drive on, round the head of the loch: the pale blue timber building with a car park beside it. Loch Fyne Oysters began in 1978, selling from a shed on this same road. Lunch runs from noon to 4.30pm: oysters fresh, hot or crispy, Loch Fyne smoked salmon, mussels, langoustines, and haddock and chips, with a children's menu. It's closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Dogs are welcome in the garden outside with a takeaway.
If it rains
The garden is all outdoors, under the trees, so bring waterproofs on a wet day. Lunch is under a roof.
On the way
- Fyne Ales
Fyne Ales is a farm brewery a few minutes on up Glen Fyne from the Oyster Bar. Its shop sells its beers in bottles and cans to take home, every day from 10am to 6pm, and the Brewery Tap and its courtyard pour them for anyone not driving.
Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, a restaurant in Cairndow.
Make it a weekend
More days out in Argyll and Bute.
Photographs by Michael Thorn, D.A. and Master Anton via Google