Inveraray Forest and Dun na Cuaiche Tower
Date: 19 February 2023
Leader: Trish
Grade: C+
Number on walk: 19
Length 15km. Ascent 438m.
Hills climbed: None.
Follow the estate road past Inveraray Castle and take the forest track up to Dun na Cuaiche Tower. Descend by the same route and then head north along the River Aray to Carloonan Bridge. Cross the A 819 and return along forest roads past the fish pond.
Click here for GPX track of the walk
Our first objective of the day – the Dun na Cuaiche tower
We passed the impressive Inverary Castle
This Gothic Revival style building was begun in 1746 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll and replaced an earlier 15th century castle. Originally it had a flat roof but a third floor and conical roofs to all four towers were added later. In the 1770s the original village of Inveraray was demolished and rebuilt on its present site to give the castle a more secluded setting!
Morning tea at Dun na Cuaiche tower
This is a folly commissioned by the 3rd Duke of Argyll and built in 1747-48. It is built on the site of a prehistoric fort.
Having descended from the tower we crossed the River Aray on a modern concrete bridge
A brief visit was made to the Carloonan Falls and Fishing Pavilion
The fishing pavilion was built for the 5th Duke of Argyll in 1802-3 and has a set of steps leading down to the pool at the foot of the falls
After lunch we continued along forest tracks to the west of the River Aray
The weather improved during the day and we had a view to Dun Corr-Bhile and Dun na Cruaiche Tower
Near the end of the walk we visited the fish pond which was gradually silting up