Loch Awe is the longest freshwater area in Scotland, spanning a stunning 25 miles across the glorious Highland landscape. It is a sight to behold as you drive along the beach towards Oban by car or train. But if you take the time to stop here, you can experience much more. This amazing part of Scotland is still relatively unexplored but offers so much from the palace to unforgettable wildlife encounters. The mountains and Glens around Loch Awe offer epic walking and cycling. As you walk through this vast variety of landscapes you will find rivers, waterfalls, the motherland, and the forest. Loch Awe is world-famous for its fishing. Here are ten great things to do in and around Loch Awe.
1.St.Conan’s Kirk
The village of Locha is located on the northern edge of Loch Away. It is the home of St. Conan’s Kirk and is a wonderful place to visit. The original St. Conan’s Kirk was built by Walter Campbell from 1881 to 1886. In 1907 he began work on a more ambitious church. The New St. Conan’s Kirk was first used for worship in the 1930s. Campbell took ideas and designs from different places and times and produced something outstanding. An unconventional approach to architecture has created an attractive building. From Clijsters, you can cross an arch to the northern border of Kirk and from there to Ships and Chancellor. You can take a walk in the parks to see the amazing views of Loch Away. St. Conan’s Kirk is open year-round.
2.The Hallow Mountain
Cruachan Power Station is located in the heart of Ben Cruachan on Loch Awe Beach. It is a guided tour of ‘Hallow Mountain’ that takes you deeper into the mountain. Thanks to the warm, humid conditions of the mountains, the sub-tropical vegetation takes you on a visitor’s walkway and then to the visitors ’gallery. Once there, you can see the generating room, which houses the four generators used to generate electricity from hydropower. Here you will find amazing scales of an underground world.
3.Kilchurn Palace
Kilchurn Castle is a photographed castle in Scotland. You can see why there. Built-in the middle of the 15th century, this towering mansion sits behind it overlooking the top of Ben Cruachan. Kilchurn is one of the many palaces built by Glenorchy Campbell, who ruled most of western Scotland in the late Middle Ages. You can see Loch Awe, Klan Campbell’s original stronghold, standing on the battlefield of the Tower House. The fort is open to the public from April to September. When you cross the bridge over the Orchi River, it is a short walk that starts at a small parking lot. The Loch Awe Islands also have a number of ruined castles that can be visited by ships.
4.Fishing
Loch Awe is one of the most famous fishing destinations in the world. Fishermen can find the popular Ferrox Brown trout as well as pike and sea trout here. It passes through Lowe’s, crosses the Eve River, and flows into the Orchi River. The largest brown trout ever captured in Great Britain landed here in 2002. You can rent boats from Loch Awe and buy fishing licenses as well. Scotland Fishing Guide also offers guided fishing tours of the area. The vast area also allows for large fly fishing along the Avich, Orchi, and Awe rivers and many mountain locations.
5.Loch Awe boats
You do not have to be a fisherman to enjoy going out on Loch Away. Rows, motors, and boats, as well as kayaks and boats, can be rented from Loch Away during the summer months. A trip to Loch’s rugged coastline and fascinating islands, forts, cranes, and ancient cemeteries reveals the rich history of Argyle. Beware of wasps, eagles, divers, deer, otters, and other wildlife.
6.Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh
There are two Munroes in the rugged hills of Cruachan. They are Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh. It provides a large circuit around the Cruachan Reservoir, making for a spectacular walk along Stob Daimh. With sea level nearing the start, the 1,100-meter climb makes Ben Cruachan one of the top ten highest climbers to Munro. This is a demanding trek and should only be done by experienced mountaineers.
7.Kintail prey birds
Experience the experience of Scottish birds of prey and flying hawks ignoring Loch Awe here. The prey of the Kintail birds is located in the village of Engadine. Here you have to book your hawk session in advance. You can enjoy the ‘Mini Falconry Experience’ (1.5 hours) or the ‘Half Hour Falconry Experience’ for 3.5 hours. Free for kids and viewers to play with adults.
8.Glen Nant
The Glen Nant National Reserve is located off the coast of Loch Awe on the way to Tainoilt. A tranquil oak forest, this is an ideal place to find evidence of ancient settlements and industries, as well as a rich variety of flora and fauna, including colonies of attractive wood ants. A short reverse trail can be followed for a gentle walk through the fibrous light brown forest to a quiet excursion area along the Nant River.
9.Inverliever forest
Inverliever Forest is the oldest common forest in Scotland. Covering 12,000 hectares, it is a mile of forest roads, trails, square lanes, and highways that provide incredible cycling along the Loch Away coast. You can stop at Dalavich or Baneline to watch this. There are no marked roads here. So you need a map and GPS.
10. Dalmally Golf Club
Here you will have the opportunity to play a golf round at the beautiful Dalmally Golf Club, one of the golf treasures in Scotland. The ideas of Ben Cruachan and Ben Lui and this nine-hole golf course, bounded by the flowing waters of the Orchi River, are truly fun.
