Holiday rentals in Lochgoilhead

The little village of Lochgoilhead is charmingly situated in a remote spot at the end of Loch Goil amid the staggeringly beautiful mountainscapes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, west of Glasgow. The small sea loch is an arm of Loch Long, which runs along the east coast of the Cowal Peninsula into the Firth of Clyde, next to Argyll Forest Park, with many Munros to the north.

Lochgoilhead covers the basics, with a shop, church, post office, and places to grab a toastie, pint, or dram of single malt. You could say it was sleepy if it wasn’t for all the frenetic outdoor activity going on. As tempting as it is to sit admiring the views, this isn’t a place to put your feet up. A jam-packed schedule of thrills and spills awaits: kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding on Loch Goil; sailing across sea lochs; whacking balls on local golf courses; and hiking into the forested hinterlands. These environs have limitless opportunities for adventure, plus fascinating villages, castles, and historic sights around their fringes.

Dunoon is a hotspot of local cultural activity. In August, it hosts the Cowal Highland Gathering, where you can watch traditional Scottish sports and heavy athletics such as tossing the caber, throwing the Scottish hammer. and shot-putting the 34-pound Cowal Stone. Highland dancing and bagpipe performances round out the event. On the Drimsynie Estate near Lochgoilhead, the Gig in the Goil Festival sends the sounds of traditional, alternative, and acoustic music into the hills in May, while the southwest of Cowal hosts a tiny but brilliant book festival, Write by the Sea, in March. Cowal is one of those areas that attracts and nurtures artists, dozens of whom open their doors to show and sell work at the Cowal Open Studios event in September. Grey seals and common seals can be seen at Loch Goil year-round, but it’s heart-melting to watch their pups — the greys in late autumn, the common in early summer.

Carrick Castle

The ruins of Carrick Castle are a few miles south of the village, an imposing 15th-century fortified tower house sitting resplendently on rocks on the banks of Loch Goil. It was used as a hunting lodge for the kings of Scotland, became an important outpost for the Campbell clan, and received a visit from Mary, Queen of Scots.

Argyll’s Secret Coast

The southwest of the Cowal Peninsula, dotted with pretty white sand beaches and ancient forest, has been dubbed “Argyll’s Secret Coast.” It hides a wealth of galleries, pubs, and amazing foodie establishments, where you can taste the finest fish hauled from the depths of the Firth, fabulous Loch Fyne seafood, or tender lamb reared in the Hebrides.

Benmore Botanic Garden

Exotic plants grow to impressive size and vivacity at the 120-acre Benmore Botanic Garden. A 150-year-old Redwood Avenue of skyscraper sequoias greets you, giving way to monkey puzzles, 300 species of rhododendrons, and a Victorian fernery, interspersed with Bhutanese and Chilean-style pavilions, and a wildlife hide where you might snap a photo of a golden eagle or red squirrel for your social media accounts.