Argyll and Bute

Following the Quiet Road Around Loch Awe

A day by car, from Kilchurn Castle to Duncan Ban MacIntyre Monument.

Written by Graeme Johncock

For most people travelling to Oban, Loch Awe will be a familiar sight. There are some popular stops to experience on its banks, but the main road only reveals a tiny portion. This is Scotland’s longest freshwater loch and when I turned onto the road less travelled, I discovered a quiet place with less obvious attractions, but a lot more serenity.

How: A day by car
Distance: About 40 miles
Starts: Kilchurn Castle
Ends: Duncan Ban MacIntyre Monument
Good for: Food and drink, Castles, History

The day

Kilchurn Castle
An attraction
There’s no more iconic view on Loch Awe than the incredible Kilchurn Castle. Built in the 1400s, this was once home to the Campbells of Glenorchy. As their power grew, their territory spread and before long, they had more luxurious castles to call home in Scotland. Kilchurn was abandoned and eventually fell into the dramatic ruin that we see today. Unfortunately, there’s no access inside the castle at the moment due to conservation works, so the best way to visit it is to stop on the A819 road and take a walk across the boggy field to the loch’s edge!
More about Kilchurn Castle
The rest of this day is for members.
6 more stops, what to do at each, and the drive between them. Members read every one of our days, and the magazine.
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St Conans Kirk
An attraction
Pass of Brander
An attraction
Glen Nant National Forest
An attraction
Dalavich Shop and Wild Rowan Cafe
Food and drink
Innis Chonnell Castle
An attraction
Duncan Ban MacIntyre Monument
An attraction