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| Jasper and Tommy and the amazing view of Loch Fyne from the Strachur masts (click/tap to enlarge) |
Next in our series of Cowal Peninsula walks is this route up through the Strachur estate to the spectacular viewpoint at the Strachur TV and phone masts. It's a there and back route of 1.76 miles each way (3.52 miles total). There were sheep in the farmland portion of the walk, so the boys needed to be on the lead through there but once we reached the woods, it was fine for them to be off. There is also a warning sign on the hill about deer stalking shooting taking place at times, so do be aware of that.
The path itself is pretty easy, though a little muddy in places. As you would expect it's something of an incline along the path to the viewpoint but it's not that far and the rewards hugely outweigh the effort!
Link to the start location on Google Maps, maps of the route and GPS navigational file can all be found at the end of the article. All images can be clicked/tapped to enlarge. Information is current as of our last visit in September 2022.
Our route starts at the Strachur Estate, just off the A815 into Strachur from Loch Fyne. It's a left hand turn into a driveway and it's quite discrete with no signage.
Turn immediately right before the farm buildings and park on the right hand side. Don't drive down to Strachur House itself as it's a private dwelling.
The estate covers four hundred acres and walkers are welcome, though routes aren't waymarked. We originally had no particular route in mind and had planned to just explore the estate. We were going to walk up to the masts separately from Strachur village. After parking up though, we spoke to a very friendly and helpful lady who worked on the estate. She recommended a route up to the masts through the estate via the woods along Eas Dubh burn and so we opted to do that.
Walk back down from the parking area and turn right along the farm buildings.
At the edge of the farm buildings you'll reach a bridge. Our route turns right here along the back of the farm buildings but if you want to take a look at the exterior of the impressive 18th century Strachur House, take a quick detour over the bridge.
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| Strachur House |
Returning to our route, follow the track straight on beyond the farm buildings.
The track continues through a gate. Watch out for sheep in the fields beyond the gate.
The track meets another at a T junction where we turn left.
The track continues over a bridge and we reach a gate on the right hand side just beyond. Looking at the hill ahead you can see the masts that mark the end of our route.
Go through the gate and into the woods.
It's a pleasant stroll through the woods here, with Eas Dubh burn on the right offering the chance for the boys to have a splash about.
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| Jasper retains his composure amidst the excitement of exploring somewhere new... |
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| ...Tommy meanwhile can't contain himself and is looking maniacal! |
Follow the path through the woods, along the burn. Avoid any left hand branches off the path. Keep to the right, beyond the stone wall.
The path comes out at an electric generator building.
Continue past the building and take the narrow path to the right of the gate to bypass it.
Follow the track beyond the gate a short way until it reaches a T junction with another track. Turn left here.
The track passes some attractive holiday cottages and continues uphill.
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| Inverglen Farmhouse Cottages |
The track continues through a gate.
When the track branches, take the left fork.
The track continues beyond a gate and into Inverglen Woodland.
We soon reach another fork where we turn left on to another track.
The track continues uphill to the phone masts, with the views opening up over Loch Fyne.
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| Loch Fyne |
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| Tommy on the track to the phone masts, surrounded by beautiful scenery |
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| Looking back down the track towards Strachur |
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| Loch Fyne |
The end of the route at the masts has a well situated bench overlooking the loch. On a clear day you can see beyond the Kintyre Hills and out to the Papps of Jura.
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| Jasper checking we're still following him as we head back down the hill |
Follow the track all the way back down the hill and past the holiday cottages. Take the right hand fork before the bridge.
At the gate, take the narrow left hand path to bypass the gate.
Head back down the track past the generator building and through the woods. Follow the path back through the woods sticking to the left following the burn.
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| Jasper obligingly sitting for another photo! |
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| Tommy's still looking sprightly despite the hill climb! |
At the end of the woods go back through the gate and turn left over the bridge. Continue along the track until you reach the high wall on the left with the cottage beyond. Turn right on the track here.
Continue through the gate.
Follow the track back past the holiday cottages and back to the farm courtyard where we started. Follow the path around the farm buildings to the left and back to the parking area.
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| Route overview with surrounding area (click/tap to enlarge) |
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| Route detail - part 1 of 2 |
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| Route detail - part 2 of 2 |
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