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The Kilchrenan Inn at dusk, a long white building with its lamps lit, picnic benches out front and pine trees behind.
Argyll and Bute

Kilchrenan Inn

A food-led village inn with rooms at Kilchrenan, a few minutes from Loch Awe, cooking seasonal Argyll produce from scratch.

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Welcome

A few minutes from the shores of Loch Awe, the Kilchrenan Inn is the kind of country pub you hope to find at the end of a day in the hills.

The building began as a thatched cottage, photographed around 1870, and later spent years as the Kilchrenan Trading Post, a village shop with a small pub at one end. Today it's a food-led inn that cooks everything from scratch with what local farmers, fishermen and foragers bring in, so the menu changes often, with dishes such as Isle of Mull scallops, Highland venison and a house burger cooked over a wood flame. The bar keeps Scottish beers and whiskies from small independent makers, and there's a fire to settle by when the weather turns. Dogs are welcome in the bar and the restaurant, and there are tables outside on a fine day. It's open Wednesday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with rooms upstairs if you'd rather stay the night.

Not farOld Castle LachlanThe ivy-hung ruin of the Maclachlans' 15th-century castle on Loch Fyne, bombarded by a government warship in 1746.17 milesSee itOld Castle Lachlan
Before you go

Open Wednesday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Booking is recommended.

Where
Kilchrenan, by Taynuilt, PA35 1HD, a few minutes from Loch Awe.
Open
The bar Wednesday to Saturday 12pm to 11pm, Sunday 12pm to 10pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Food
Wednesday to Saturday 12pm to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 8.30pm, Sunday 12pm to 7.30pm, and breakfast.
Booking
Recommended, through its own site.
Dogs
Welcome in the bar, the restaurant, at breakfast and in every room.
Children
A children's menu.
Access
Not fully wheelchair accessible; ground-floor rooms for those who would rather avoid stairs.
Parking
Free on site, with more at the Old Kilchrenan School a short walk up the hill.
Phone
01866 833000

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
noon–11pm
Thursday
noon–11pm
Friday
noon–11pm
Saturday
noon–11pm
Sunday
noon–10pm

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Where it is

In the village of Kilchrenan, on the B845 a few minutes from the shore of Loch Awe, PA35 1HD.

Close byLoch Awe and Glen Nant.
  1. Wooded hills of Glen Nant under low cloud.Glen Nant National ForestA secluded ancient rainforest of oak, birch and hazel south of Taynuilt, once coppiced to fire the Bonawe furnace.3 miles as the crow flies
  2. The Pass of Brander from above: the road, the railway and the River Awe between steep green hills.Pass of BranderThe gorge below Ben Cruachan where the River Awe runs to Loch Etive, and where Bruce broke the MacDougalls in 1308.3 miles as the crow flies
  3. Cruachan Visitor CentreCruachan Visitor CentreThe visitor centre for the power station inside Ben Cruachan, on the shore of Loch Awe, with a free exhibition, a gift shop and the Hollow Mountain Cafe.4 miles as the crow flies
  4. Kilchurn Castle on its point at the head of Loch Awe, from above.Loch AweThe longest freshwater loch in Scotland, 23 miles through the hills of Argyll, with crannogs, island chapels and Campbell castles.5 miles as the crow flies
  5. St Conan’s KirkSt Conan’s KirkOne man's dream of a church on the shore of Loch Awe, begun in 1881, with a chapel holding a bone of Robert the Bruce.5 miles as the crow flies
  6. Kilchurn CastleKilchurn CastleThe Campbells of Glenorchy's castle at the head of Loch Awe, with the oldest surviving barracks on the British mainland.7 miles as the crow flies
  7. The castle island mirrored in Loch Awe in autumn.Innis Chonnell CastleOne of the first strongholds of Clan Campbell, a ruined castle of the 13th century on an island in Loch Awe.8 miles as the crow flies
Directions
The shore at Airds Bay with Loch Etive and the hills beyond.AttractionsAirds Bay6.4 miles
The granite monument with its round, pillared top.AttractionsDuncan Ban MacIntyre Monument6.8 miles
Loch Etive winding between steep mountains, a river delta in the foreground, from above.AttractionsLoch Etive7.3 miles
Fairy lights drape a stone fireplace beneath the Wild Rowan Cafe signRestaurantsDalavich Shop and Wild Rowan Cafe7.6 miles
Timber cabin with copper roof beside a loch, shaded by oak treesObanUisge BothySleeps 2 · 8.1 miles
Black timber-clad cabin with corrugated roof and stove flue, set among trees and long grassObanBeathaSleeps 2 · 8.1 miles
The castle among woods beyond the River Aray and its bridge, from above.AttractionsInveraray Castle9.1 miles
The white houses of Inveraray on their point in Loch Fyne, from above.AttractionsInveraray9.5 miles
Shelves of pink and orange bottles beside a wooden coffee shop counterCafeCampbell Coffee9.6 miles

Recommend to a friend

The Daily for 23 October, from Scotland with love. Aerial view of a concrete road bridge with angled supports spanning a sea loch, twin cloud-wrapped mountain peaks rising behind autumn-coloured hills.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the inn, and when each is next free.

Timber cabin with copper roof beside a loch, shaded by oak treesUisge Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Oban
  • 8 miles from the Kilchrenan Inn
Check datesBlack timber-clad cabin with corrugated roof and stove flue, set among trees and long grassBeatha
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Oban
  • 8 miles from the Kilchrenan Inn
Check datesGlencruitten House, Argyll and ButeGlencruitten House
  • To stay
  • In Oban
  • 11 miles from the Kilchrenan Inn
Check datesA dark timber cabin with a pitched metal roof stands among ferns and birch trees.Kabn
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Cairndow
  • 11 miles from the Kilchrenan Inn
Free 30 Oct – 1 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in Argyll and ButeAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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