Five places to walk your dog on Argyll's Secret Coast
If you want to bring your dog on holiday, Argyll’s Secret Coast is for you. There are lots of dog-friendly places to stay, including B&Bs, hotels and self-catering accommodation. Your dog will be welcome in many of the area’s hotels and cafés too. What’s more, there are great places to walk your dog, from short coastal strolls to longer rambles. Here are five places to walk your dog on Argyll’s Secret Coast.
Carry Point
For a short stroll, try the circular walk around Carry Point. It will take about 30 minutes, and is great for kids too, with some wonderful shoreline to explore and two donkeys, Barney and Louis, to meet. There’s also a small play park. Start your walk at Carry Farm (you can’t miss Carry’s distinctive red roof!) and head south along the road for around 500 metres past the lodges in the fields to your right. You’ll see a gate on your left in the second layby that leads into the field. It has a small sign on it saying ‘Carry Farm Shore Walk’. You will need to keep your dog on a lead as there is a flock of resident Hebridean sheep, but you can always let them off for a run on the shore.
Glenan Wood
Dogs will love Glenan Wood! It’s of the finest remaining Atlantic oak woods in the country, and a great place to exercise your pooch. The circular walk takes you along the shore path to Glenan Bay and you can return via a high path. An additional path leads to Glenan Deserted Village. There’s a car parking area and grassy picnic area next to the woodland. It can be very boggy underfoot, so stout boots (and a towel for your muddy dog!) are recommended.
Kilfinan Community Forest
Kilfinan Community Forest has a network of paths that offer everything from a quick, accessible stroll to a longer hill climb. The heritage loop, which takes you to the ‘Victorian Falls’, is perfect if you want a quick walk. You can also walk along the Kilfinan Way, taking a right to climb Barr Liath. If you carry on along the Kilfinan Way you’ll reach Tighnabruaich’s second reservoir, which was used right up the the 1970s. It’s a really beautiful spot and home to lots of birdlife.
Ostel Bay
If your dog loves nothing better than a run along a beach, then head to Ostel Bay. This crescent-shaped sweep of sand is stunning and there’s loads of space for your dog to run free. To get there, you walk down the track by Kilbride Farm. The track passes through farm land and woodland. When you reach the gate, you’ll see a ‘to the beach’ sign. Turn right a follow the path which will take you across springy machair. There is livestock around, so keep your dog under control.
Kyles of Bute Golf Course
This hilly moorland golf course sits above Kames looking down to the Kyles of Bute, Arran and Loch Fyne. It’s a popular place for dog walking. You can carry on beyond the golf course along a forest track if you want a longer walk or continue down the ‘green lane’ to drop down onto the road at Kames. On the golf course, keep your dog on a lead and make sure you pick up your dog's poo!
