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Cowal PeninsulaBetween Lochs Long and Fyne is the claw-shaped Cowal peninsula. This is said to be one of the most popular places in Argyll due to its proximity to Glasgow and accessibility by steamer. For this reason a lot of the area’s seaside resorts, like Dunoon, developed along the eastern coast during the 10th century. Travelling by ferry from Gourock, northwest of Glasgow, to Dunoon takes approximately twenty minutes. By road it is much longer – the A815 is the main road into Cowal, but to reach that you first need to make your way to the A85 that runs between the two lochs mentioned above. There is no rail link into Cowal. Once on the A815 the road heads southwest alongside Loch Fyne to Clachan Strachur where it turns roughly southeast, travelling along the eastern side of Loch Eck, to Ardbeg at the Holy Loch. From Ardbeg the A880 follows the northern side of the loch and continues round Strone Point and heads north briefly alongside Loch Long to Blairmore. Beyond this a narrow road continues northwest through Glen Finart to join the A815 beside Loch Eck. This road was originally developed to provide a direct route from Glasgow to Inveraray via Clachan Strachur. An alternative route via Lochgoilhead and St. Catherine’s by Loch Fyne, roughly following the B839. These roads were built by the Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges in the early 19th century. A further alternative and more direct route via Kilmun, by Holy Loch, and Clachan Strachur with the Aglaia, an iron-hulled streamer built in 1827 by David Napier who suggested the route, used to cross Loch Eck. Returning to Ardbeg, the A815 heads round to the southern side of Holy Loch where it, and the A885 that splits from the main road at Sandbank, continues to Dunoon. The former road approaches Dunoon from the north and the latter rejoins the main road to the south of the town. The A815 then continues south, alongside the Firth of Clyde, to Toward Point. The Argyll's Bowling Green is the name given to the Ardgoil mountains between Lochs Long and Goil. |
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