CowalFest
18th - 22nd September 2025Explore the spectacular scenery, rich history and stunning wildlife of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll with one of Scotland's biggest walking festivals.
You'll find details about the programme of walks and the chance to reserve your spot on one of several guided or special interest walks here.
For more details and the latest updates, please follow the event on Facebook (Cowal Fest 2025), Instagram (@Cowalfest) and X/Twitter (@cowal_fest) or contact info@cowalfest.com.
An Creachan
Start time & location: Uig Hall Car Park at 1030AM
Duration: 4hrs Grade: 4
Distance: 6m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £10
A climb up the rough and steep path, through the fir trees, Am Binnban to attain the main route to the summit. This undulating climb over an open hillside leads to the sprawling summit, from where the view is very rewarding. The descent from the summit ridge is down a rough and fairly steep hillside and then along a well-defined river path to Corarsik, then retracing the route to Uig Hall.
An Creachan Extension
Start time & location: 1030AM / Uig Hall Car Park
Duration: 5-6hrs Grade: 5
Distance: 10m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £12
Having reached the trig at An Creachan, there is the opportunity to continue to the SgorahMor (volcanic plug) to make it a longer and more challenging walk, which requires a high level of hillwalking fitness. After descending a steepish west face, the walk continues across rough and wild ground at the head of the glen before a steady climb to SgorahMor (The Plug). To begin the descent, there’s a stiff climb to Creag a'Chnuille and a fine, broad ridge walk.
Clans, Victorians, Massacres & Regeneration
Start time & location: Meet at 9.30AM by Dunoon pier for 9.45AM bus to Toward
Duration: 2.5hr Grade: 3
Distance: 4m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £10
Learn the history of ancient Clan rivalry and a massacre, starting with a short walk to the ruins of Toward Castle, and then a reasonably steep woodland walk unveils a Victorian keep, and then ornamental Chinese Lakes, where we will stop to enjoy a short break. The final stage involves amazing flora, fauna and some incredible views out over the Firth of Clyde, Bute and Arran.
Highland Boundary Fault Geology Walk
Start time & location: 10AM / Innellan Village Hall Car Park
Duration: 2-3hrs Grade: 1 Distance: 2.5m Dogs: Yes (on lead)
Cost: £10
Join geologist Dr Keith Torrance on a fascinating walk across 300 million years of geological history along the foreshore of Innellan. Highlights include a sliver of the ancient Iapetus Ocean, which separated Scotland from England.
Benmore to Bheinn Mhor
Start time & location: 9.30AM at Benmore Garden Car Park for the bus to Glen Massan
Duration: 6hrs Grade: 5 Distance: 8m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £12
The walk begins with a flat hike along Glen Massan, which leads to a steep climb on a rough track to the Beinn Mhor trig point to enjoy excellent, panoramic views. The walk continues across open moorland, which can be boggy in places, before ascending Creachan Beag and A’Chruach. The descent back to is via a steep narrow path.
Ardentinny to Carrick Castle
Start time & location: Dunoon Ferry Port for 10.15AM bus to Ardentinny
Duration: 4-5 hrs Grade: 3
Distance: 6.5m Dogs: No Cost: £15
This route starts on the sandy shores of Loch Long and offers a combination of coastal and woodland paths. The initial 4.5-mile walk
along the western shore of Loch Long is followed by a rewarding ascent to a vantage point above Loch Goil. The final stretch is
downhill to Carrick Castle, a 14th-century tower house which is both a scheduled monument and a category A listed building. We will catch the 1624 bus (484) back to Dunoon.
Historic Innellan Walk & Talk
Start time & location: 1.15PM at Sandy Beach Car Park in Innellan
Duration: 3hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 1.2m Dogs: No Cost: £10
This walk, led by local historian and author Margaret Hubbard, will follow the line of the houses from Sandy Beach to the Village Hall: who lived where and when, and also look at where they played and where they prayed.
Euan Macdonald will give a talk in the Village Hall starting at the Bronze Age, using a screen presentation and old maps. Refreshments will be provided with a car share back to Sandy Beach or the 489 bus back to Dunoon.
Holy Loch Nature Reserve
Start time & location: 2PM at Broxwood Car Park in Sandbank
Duration: 2hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 1.5m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £10
Guided walk with the ranger across the loch floor to the mouth of the Eachaig River and then back via the newly-declared nature conservation area and the Holy Loch Nature Reserve. The walk includes one large step and a scramble up a short slope.
Glenan Wood Walk
Start time & location: 12PM at Dunoon Ferry
Duration: 2.5hrs Grade: 2/3
Distance: 4m Dogs: Yes (on leads) Cost: £15
Glenan Wood is a temperate rainforest with many ancient trees, fauna, lichen and a wide range of wildlife. The Glenan Forest Ranger will guide participants through this magical environment to the abandoned Old Glenan village, discussing the past, current and future of the woods, including the rewilding project.
Glenan Wood Bioflourescence Walk
Start time & location: 6PM at Dunoon Ferry
Duration: 1.5hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 2m Dogs: Yes (on leads) Cost: £15
Glenan Wood is a temperate rainforest with many ancient trees and landscapes that come alive as darkness falls with glowing organisms in a breathtaking display of bioflourescence. This walk will give participants the opportunity to see this hidden beauty, see the different colours and enjoy the environment as the day ends, accompanied by the Glenan Forest Ranger.
Beinn Narnain, Arrochar
Start time & location: 10AM at the Three Villages Hall car park in Arrochar
Duration: 5-6hrs Grade: 5
Distance: 6m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £10
The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) is one of the most iconic peaks in the Southern Highlands with a distinctive rocky outline. The Cobbler hill path is more than a pleasant walk to Narnain boulders. Walking uphill to a col, Bealach a Mhaim, you have a great view of the Arrochar Alps. From here turn east up a broad grassy ridge, then a short boulder slope to the summit.
The Coffin Route
Start time & location: 9.45AM for transport from Dunoon ferry terminal and back from Inverchaolin Church (2.30PM)
Duration: 4-5hrs Grade: 3/4
Distance: 6m Dogs: No Cost: £15
This famous walk will take us right across the Cowal peninsula from a good forestry road in Glen Kin to where it starts to turn back. Leave the road and climb steadily over rough and often boggy ground to reach a gate through a deer fence on Bealach na Sreine. Carry straight on down the rugged hillside via a faint path through young trees and beside a burn to reach a small path which leads up to a good road for the downhill walk out to Inverchaolain, enjoying fine views over Loch Striven and Bute.
Foraging Walk with Wander & Wonder
Start time & location: 10AM at the Bishops Glen Car Park by reservoir
Duration: 2hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 1.5m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £20
A gentle wander in nature where we will explore a range of wild foods hidden within our landscape. We will learn about their edible and medicinal uses while also understanding their toxic counterparts.
History Walk & Talk with Castle House Museum
Start time & location: 1PM at the Dunoon Pier entrance
Duration: 2.5hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 1m Dogs: No Cost: £10
The Castle Gardens will be the focal point of this historic walk and talk, led by local historian Margaret Hubbard, with visits to the Castle Gardens, High Kirk graveyard, the War Memorial and the Lamont Memorial. A 45-minute guided tour of the museum and its exhibits will follow, expanding and complementing the story of early Dunoon from the walk narration.
Cowalfest Ceilidh
Start time & location: 7PM at Innellan Village Hall
Duration: 3-4hrs Cost: £12 pp
Join us for the Cowalfest celebration ceilidh with music provided by
Canned Haggis. It promises to be a fantastic evening with traditional
dancing and classic Scottish songs as well as more contemporary tunes.
There will also be a raffle with many great prizes provided by generous local businesses, so remember to bring cash! BYOB and nibbles!
Strone Hill
Start time & location: 10AM at Dunoon Ferry Terminal for bus to Kilmun
Duration: 5-6hrs Grade: 4
Distance: 7m Dogs: No Cost: £12
This walk follows a number of paths upwards that get progressively steeper. The route is along a mixture of paths, forestry tracks and open hillside, which can be boggy and muddy at times, especially near the top. The views are spectacular (after emerging from the trees) and on a clear day it’s possible to see over to Arran, the Arrochar Alps and down the Clyde to Glasgow.
Bullwood Nature Trail
Start time & location: 11AM at Glenmorag Car Park in Dunoon
Duration: 2hrs Grade: 1/2
Distance: 2m Dogs: Yes (on lead) Cost: £10
A family-friendly walk for anyone of normal fitness. Starts with a 10-minute walk along a flat pavement. Behind the Tigh na Cladach houses there is a short steep tarmac section. Part of the trail is natural woodland, which can be a little uneven. The walk leader will explain what the charity Bullwood Nature Trail has done in the past, our educational ethos, woodcraft training, and future plans for environmental diversity.
Kilmun Heritage Trail
Start time & location: 1230PM at Dunoon Ferry
Duration: 2.5Hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 2m Dogs: No Cost: £12
This walk starts with a visit and tour of the Historic Kilmun Heritage Centre on the banks of Holy Loch which dates back to the 7th century. Marvel at the stained glass windows, the Argyll Mausoleum (burial place of the Clan Campbell Chiefs for over 400 years) and the unique water-powered organ. A walk along the shore road will follow highlighting the historic landmarks of Kilmun village.
The Clarke Collection Walk and Talk
Start time & location: 1PM at the Dunoon Pier entrance
Duration: 2.5hrs Grade: 1
Distance: 1m Dogs: No Cost: £10
The Castle Gardens will be the focal point of this historic walk and talk, led by local historian Margaret Hubbard, with visits to the Castle Gardens, High Kirk graveyard, the War Memorial and the Lamont Memorial. A 45-minute guided tour of the museum and its exhibits will follow, expanding and complementing the story of early Dunoon from the walk narration.
Forestry Ranger Walk
Start time & location: 10AM at Kilmun Arboretum car park
Duration: 2hrs Grade: 3m
Distance: 2/3m Dogs: Cost: £10
Led by a Forestry & Land Scotland ranger, this walk will involve a gentle start using a combination of yellow and red trails before some steep climbs on the blue trails, depending on the ability of the group. The walk will cover the history of the arboretum and Argyll Forest and why it is so useful today.
Stob Na Boine Plane Crash Site
Start time & location: 9.45AM at Dunoon Ferry Terminal for bus to Succoth
Duration: 4hrs Grade: 4
Distance: 4m Dogs: No Cost: £15
The route starts with a muddy walk through Succothmore Farm, following the path for 1.5 miles, leading to the 1949 plane crash site with a plaque in remembrance of the 20 people who lost their lives. After this, there’s a steady climb across rough open terrain up to the
rocky summit of Stob Na Boine with spectacular views over Lochgoilhead. The walk concludes with a steep descent back
to the start point.
Stob Na Boine Plane Crash Site Extension
Start time & location: 9.45AM at Dunoon Ferry Terminal for bus to Succoth
Duration: 6hrs Grade: 5
Distance: 6m Dogs: No Cost: £15
Turn off the main A815 at Strachur onto a small side road signposted Succoth . Start on track through Succothmore Farm, often muddy. We will then walk directly to the plane crash site of the US Airforce B29
Bomber tragically lost in 1949. Then it is a steady walk and climb across the open hillside to the rocky summit of Stob Na Boine to
enjoy fine views, particularly of Lochgoilhead.
Exploring Benmore Botanic Garden
Start time & location: 11.00AM at the Benmore admissions gate
Duration: 1.5Hrs Grade: 2/3
Distance: 2m Dogs: No Cost: £15
Enjoy a seasonal guided walk around the spectacular Benmore Botanic Garden.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WALKING IN COWAL
Where to go walking on the Cowal Peninsula | Argyll & the Isles
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4 coastal dog-friendly walks in Cowal | Wild About Argyll
The Cowal Peninsula has a stunningly diverse coastline, with fantastic beaches and pockets of ancient forest. Here are five dog-friendly coastal walks in Cowal.
8 Wonderful Walks to Spot Wildlife in Cowal | Argyll & the Isles
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Intrepid Scottish TV adventurer Paul Murton encourages people across Argyll to explore the peninsula during this year’s Cowalfest walking festival.
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20 years since Russell & Dorothy Bruce came up with the idea of a walking festival in Cowal. 2 decades on and the event is scheduled to return in September 2024
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Organisers of Cowalfest have unveiled this year’s programme for their annual walking festival, scheduled for September 12th to 16th 2024.
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