Intro to Loch Fyne
Known for amazing seafood, sailing regattas, outdoor recreation opportunities and rich history and culture, Loch Fyne is the longest of the Scottish sea lochs, extending 40 miles inland. The loch is situated within the Argyll and Bute district in the western part of Scotland. We visited off-season, but had such a memorable experience we knew we had to include it in our Don’t Skip series. Below are the highlights of our visit.
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Loch Fyne Oysters
Famous for its oysters, Loch Fyne is home to Loch Fyne Oysters. We had an amazing lunch at the original location, the Cairndow Oyster Bar and Farm Shop, including oysters, mussels and salmon. (Read our review on Yelp.) In addition to delicious oysters, the company has a simple mission: “to grow oysters in the clear, fertile waters of Loch Fyne.” They work closely with the Marine Conservation Society, and operate their own non-profit, the Loch Fyne Oyster Trust, dedicated to ‘relief of poverty, the advancement of education and the protection of the environment particularly within Scotland and the area around the head of Loch Fyne’. Loch Fyne is also the focal point of The Seafood Trail, enabling “seafoodies to sample, share and enjoy seafood and shellfish from a wide variety of waterfront establishments.”
Bridge near Fyne Ales
Fyne Ales Brewery
Fyne Ales. This brewery is a MUST STOP. It was established in 2001 using buildings that had been a milking parlour among the traditional farm buildings at Achadunan, Cairndow. The people are super friendly, and passionate about their award-winning brews. We were happy to accept the offered samples to narrow down our choices. All the varieties we tried were excellent, but we went with the dark, robust Vital Spark as well as a pale ale called Piper’s Gold.
Inverary Castle
Overlooking Loch Fyne’s northwest coast, Inverary is a quaint town with several major attractions for visitors. Inverary Castle is an impressive stone building with circular towers. It’s mostly mid-18th-century Palladian, barque and Gothic in design, and a number of rooms on several floors are open to the public. The gardens are lovely for a walk as well. An Inverary Castle has been the seat of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Campbell clan since the 1400s, and the current Duke and his family still live in the current one, the cornerstone for which was placed in 1746. Inverary Jail is a living museum and interactive experience including reenactments of actual court cases. After visiting the castle and jail, go straight to whiskey heaven at Loch Fyne Whiskies on Main Street.
Loch Lomond Region
The area is a great jumping-off point for visiting Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Encompassing lakes, forests, special conservation areas, and several ranges of hills, the National Park has amazing scenery, lots of wildlife, and seemingly endless opportunities for walks and hikes. Loch Lomond is perfect for canoeing, kayaking, boat excursions, fishing, etc. The national park is high on our list for a future visit, as we didn’t have time to explore last time we were there.
On a future visit, we’d love to tackle at least a portion of the Kintyre Way walk, which starts from the town of Tarbert, on the west shore of Loch Fyne. There are seven sections, covering 66 miles as you wander from village to village.
