Ardentinny

Cowal's longest sandy beach

Picnic beside Cowal's longest sandy beach and explore Ardentinny's varied network of woodland trails.

The beach is washed by the waters of Loch Long, familiar to Viking fleets and Gaelic raiders. During the second world war, Royal Navy beach commandos even trained for the Normandy landings here.

Walking trails

Ardentinny route card (PDF)

Walking

Riverside Trail

Enjoy a gentle stroll along Glenfinart Burn to the Arched Bridge beneath exotic monkey puzzles, cypresses and firs.

Firm tarmac and gravel surface throughout, with some loose stones. Generally flat with one short fairly steep ramp or adjacent steps. Look out for vehicles along the access road.

¾ miles / 1.3 km

Allow
½ hour

More information

Along the way you'll pass the old walled garden of Glenfinart House and in springtime a gorgeous range of snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells.

Walking

Laird's Trail

A varied route around the attractive shoreline at Finart Bay. Climb through the larch forest to the Laird’s Grave for great views across Loch Long.

Wide, firm tarmac and gravel surface, with some loose stones and a slightly uneven section. Some fairly steep slopes. Includes two openings 0.9m wide and a section along the road.

2 miles / 3.3 km

Allow
1 hour

More information

The Laird's Grave dates from 1860 and is that of Archibald Douglas, Laird of Ardentinny. In the sunny fields below, a Forestry Commission nursery raised thousands of seedlings for forests throughout Scotland.

Walking

Birchwood Trail

A short walk that climbs through native birch and oak woodland above the crags of Lover’s Leap, before returning down Grotto Burn.

Firm but uneven surface, with grassy and rocky sections that are narrow and potentially muddy in places. Long steep slopes for 400m and some steps.

1 miles / 1.6 km

Allow
¾ hour

Facilities and access

Walking

Toilets

Parking

Cycling

Picnic area

There are public toilets at the picnic site open fall year round. Toilets are also available in Ardentinny village.

Stay the night

Our Stay the Night trial has now closed for the season. All participating car parks have now reverted to no overnight parking permitted, in line with all our car parks.

Getting here

Head north from Ardentinny village. The car park is on the right after 1 mile, just beyond the entrance to Glenfinart Caravan Park.

Using SatNav?

PA23 8TS is the nearest postcode.

Public transport

Local buses run from Dunoon to Ardentinny village. You can access the beach from the north end of the village. Plan your journey at Traveline Scotland.

Get directions