20 Attractions to Explore Near Cowal

Benmore Botanic Garden boasts a world-famous collection of flowering trees and shrubs including over 300 species of rhododendron and over one third of the world’s hardy conifer species plus fine collections from North and South America, the Orient and the Himalaya. The garden is located within the Argyll Forest Park, which is itself within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Puck's Glen is a river-formed ravine on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, with a popular scenic walking trail beside the Eas Mòr stream. It comes under Forestry and Land Scotland which has highlighted it as a feature of the Argyll Forest Park, and described it as "One of the most magical forests in Scotland, with a delightful trail along a rocky gorge.

Loch Eck is a freshwater loch located on the Cowal peninsula, north of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is a great place for wildlife. Red squirrels forage its shores and deep under its surface swims Scotland's rarest freshwater fishes.

Castle House Museum is amajestic historic building set in gardens opposite Dunoon Pier. The Castle House itself was built by Lord Provost James Ewing of Glasgow in 1822. Exhibits, models and photographs tell the story of Dunoon from the Neolithic to the present day. Find out about the Clyde steamers, yacht building, Cowal during the war and more. It was now one of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

The Cloch is one of the three lighthouses built to protect the difficult waters at the head of the Firth of Clyde. The lighthouse was built by Kermack and Gall; it consists of a short, round tower with corbelled walkways, and it is now accompanied by two sets of keepers' houses. The earlier houses are used as stores and the later are easily identified by their crowstepped gables. Today, the light is fully automated and unmanned.

Lunderston Bay is the nearest sandy beach to Glasgow, and is popular with families, walkers and picnickers. There are picnic areas and a wheelchair accessible playground at the north end of the bay, where a Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park ranger station, toilets and a car park are also located. There are lifebuoy stations at the beach, but there are no lifeguards.

A very well laid out and maintained course renowned for its spectacular views over the River Clyde and the Argyll Hills beyond. Facilities also include a state of the art Indoor Golf studio with access to over 30 world famous courses. Professional shop with PGA coaching available.

A beautiful pool terrace with truly stunning vistas, and improved disabled access with street level parking, Gourock Pool offers a first class leisure experience. Enjoy open air swimming in their salt water pool, heated to 29 ºC and then get a feel for the summer on their terraced area or the traditional patio all with spectacular views of the Clyde Estuary.

Granny Kempock Stone stands on a cliff behind Kempock Street, the main shopping street in Gourock, Scotland. The stone, or menhir, is grey mica schist and of indeterminate origin, but it has been suggested that it is an old altar to the pagan god Baal, or a memorial to an ancient battle.

Ardgowan House is a Grade 1 listed Palladian Country Mansion wedding venue located in Inverkip near Glasgow on the coast. It has been held by the Stewart family since the early 15th century: towards the end of that century, their tower house Ardgowan Castle was built within the site of the previous Inverkip Castle fortress. The present house was erected in 1797 and completed in 1801 from designs by Cairncross.

A beautiful park which was suitable for all ages. Here young children can enjoy the pets corner and substantial play area, while mum and dad can enjoy the array of plants and shrubs in the walled garden. The upper park has a large area which contains two grass football parks, a cricket square, and pavilion with changing facilities.

Battery Park sits on the banks of the River Clyde and has a stunning view to the mountains of Argyll. It's become a very popular place with local joggers and dog walkers, plus it is also a favourite for mums and dads and grannies and granddads to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon with the smalls. There is also disabled access, ample car parking and a children's adventure play area housed on sand.

Ardgowan House is a late 18th-century mansion, set in a stunning 10,000 acre coastal Estate on the Firth of Clyde near Inverkip, Scotland. Ardgowan is located in Inverclyde, in the former county of Renfrewshire. The Ardgowan estate has been held by the Stewart family since the early 15th century: towards the end of that century, their tower house Ardgowan Castle was built within the site of the previous Inverkip Castle.

Lyle Hill at the West End of Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland, has scenic viewpoints accessible from Lyle Road which was constructed in 1879–1880 and named after Provost Abram Lyle, well known as a sugar refiner. The hill's highest point is Craigs Top at 426 feet above sea level, and before the road was constructed the hill was known as the Craigs, or as the Bingens .

A conspicuous white-painted monument on Lyle Hill in Greenock, the Free French Memorial was designed and built by the officers and men of the wartime French Naval Base at Greenock and takes the form of a Cross of Lorraine, the symbol of the Free French Forces. To commemorate their effort and loss of life, this memorial was unveiled in 1946. The memorial is in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine with an anchor at the bottom.

Wemyss Bay is a rock and shingle beach, looking south over the bay of the same name and across the upper Firth of Clyde to the wild countryside of the surrounding area. It is the port for ferries on the Sea Road to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Passengers from the island can connect to Glasgow by trains, which terminate in the village at the remarkable Wemyss Bay railway station, noted for its architectural qualities and regarded as one of Scotland's finest railway buildings.

Greenock cemetery is a large site situated close to the centre of the town, which lies on the River Clyde. It comprises 80 acre sloping, wooded site with a wide assortment of finely carved, primarily 19th and 20th century gravestones in mainly classical or Gothic styles and in a variety of types, including Celtic crosses and obelisks. It is one of the largest and oldest in the UK.

The McLean Museum and Art Gallery is one of the best municipal museums in Scotland. The museum features displays on the engineer James Watt, exhibits on local maritime and social history themes, ethnography, Egyptology and natural history. Fine art collection and temporary exhibition programme. The principal entrance to the museum is on Kelly Street, in the Greenock West area. The former Curator is Val Boa.

Greenock Cut Visitors Centre is a scheduled monument with fantastic views and trails. Part of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. The Countryside Rangers provide an environmental education programme and offer advice about local walking and cycling routes and wildlife. Mobility scooters are available for FREE hire. The visitor centre is surrounded by moorland, at the start of several walks including Dunrod Hill with panoramic views of the Clyde and the Isles.

Rothesay Castle on the Isle of Bute was situated at a friction point between the westward expansion of the Kingdom of Scotland and territory owned by the King of Norway. The castle comprises a huge curtain wall, strengthened by four round towers, together with a 16th-century forework, the whole surrounded by a broad moat. Built by the Stewart family to defend against invading Norwegian fleets, Rothesay’s immense circular curtain wall makes it unique in Scotland.