COWAL FEST DRAWS TO AN END WITH LEISURELY WALKS VIEWING THE WOODLANDS, RUINS AND A BIKE RIDE WITH A TWISTER
Written by Archie Fergusson on 12/10/2014
This the last and final day of Cowal Fest 2014 with five leisurely walks and still one Bike Ride
Ruins at Colintraive An easy walk around the Coilintraive area with a knowledgeable guide who will point out the history and also tell you about the areas bird life. An opportunity to visit the ruins of an old Chapel………….
Kilmun Arboretum The Forestry Commission’s, Kilmun Arboretum was first established in the 1930’s as research plots to monitor the success or otherwise of exotic trees from around the world. 162 species have been planted in substantial plots. Walk past and sometimes through groves of majestic Wellingtonia & Coastal Redwoods, towering Western & Eastern Hemlock, awe inspiring Japanese Cryptomeria, the list goes on & on. Your guide has seen & studied many of the species in the wild and hopes to bring a light hearted distraction to this wonderful walk…………..
Benmore Gardens Guided Tour Explore this fascinating woodland garden with an experienced garden guide. This is a regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh containing collections from Bhutan, Chile, Japan, Tasmania and many other temperate regions of the world……….
Woodland walk – Glenbranter Once part of Harry Lauder’s estate, Glenbranter remains a stunning gorge. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the Forestry Commission planted extensively in the 1920s in the glen. The plants were basically abandoned when the interests of the RBGE moved south to the now Benmore Botanic Garden. 34 species of rhododendron still survive and there are now plans to plant areas within the glen with threatened and rare rhododendron species which are of known wild origin. This is a stunning glen.
Meet at the car park at the Forestry Commission office………
Glenkin to Bishops Glen Starting at one glen and finishing in another. A pleasant walk on forestry track with casual gradients. At an approximate height of 240 m there are rewarding panoramic views over the River Clyde and the town of Dunoon. Minibus from Hanover Street car park at 10am to Rumbling Bridge for start of walk…
Glenbranter Twister Bike Ride –Sadly no uplift this time but a lap of the very enjoyable singletrack. A long forest road climb followed by 4 sections of tight, twisty singletrack. Great fun. Maybe a second lap if you can face that climb again!