Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

The Park was set up in 2000 to protect this area of great natural beauty. It encompasses many hills, Munros, lochs, glens and villages, and is home to a wealth of wildlife. For more information about the National Park, visit the offical website, or the Tourist Board site.

Loch Lomond Shores is the park's gateway and information centre at Balloch. For more information, visit the website.

Younger Botanical Garden, Benmore

The Younger Botanic Garden is a specialist garden and outstation of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. Its famous avenue of Giant Redwood trees were planted in 1863 and are now amongst highest trees in Britain exceeding 40 metres (131 feet) in height.

Its diverse collection of coniferous trees includes Douglas Firs, Pines, Silver Firs and Western Hemlock. The remarkable collection of around 350 species of rhododendron is the largest in the country.

For more information, visit the Garden's website.

Kilmun Church

The church mostly dates from the 19th Century, and stands on the site of a 7th Century Celtic monastery. The tower of the 15th Century collegiate church still survives, and the main building is still used as a parish church.

Cowal Bird Garden, Dunoon

A colourful collection of rare birds, such as parrots, macaws, ornamental pheasants, geese, ducks and rheas. There are other animals, too, including pot-bellied pigs, goats, donkeys, and a Sheltand pony.

Castle House Museum, Dunoon

Set up by volunteers from the local community, the museum is housed in the upper floors of the very first holiday home in the area; the hansome castle built by Lord Provost Ewing in 1824. As other wealthy businessmen followed, the area flourished. The museum charts the history of the region “from the Stone Age to the American nuclear submarines”.

The Castle House Museum website has more details.

Dunoon Pottery

A well known and popular producer of tableware and kitchenware, including distinctive mugs and custom-made products.

More details are available on their website.

Clyde Cruises from Dunoon

For more details about cruises on the famous Waverley paddlesteamer, please see the Waverley Excursions website.