20 Attractions to Explore Near Loch Eck

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.

Cowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde. The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. It is not far from Glasgow and frequent ferry services by both CalMac and Western Ferries from Gourock serve Dunoon.

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.

Inveraray Jail is a living museum where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. The two-storied prison has three-foot-thick walls of rough hewn red stone and originally contained cells on both floors, eight in total. Step back in time and experience the true stories of what life was like for the men, women and children – some as young as seven – who were tried and locked up here all those years ago.

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.

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.

The majestic ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell, and the iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. The self-guided tour takes you through 13 rooms on 3 different levels so you get to see the luxurious rooms that would have been visited by guests of the Duke as well as the Kitchen and basement area where servants would have worked. It was one of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

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.

Beinn an Lochain is a mountain in the Arrochar Alps, southern Scotland. It remains a popular mountain, and is often quoted as an example of an interesting mountain below 3000 feet to show that there is more to mountaineering in Scotland than just Munro-bagging.

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.

This is one of Charles and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh's most famous works, probably second only to the Glasgow School of Art. The House has been encased in a protective steel chainmail ‘Box‘ to protect it from the elements. Visitors are now able to get a unique perspective of the House from the walkways of the Box, as well as being able to visit the interior of the House. In 1982 the house was donated to the National Trust for Scotland.

The Cobbler is a majestic 884 metres tall mountain located near the head of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is a Corbett, and is an important site for rock climbing in the Southern Highlands. The mountain is part of the Arrochar Alps. It is named for its large rocky summit features which are supposed to represent a cobbler bending over his last. A good trekking destination and also there are so many options for adventure too.

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.

The Three Lochs Way is described as the ‘walking gateway to Argyll & The Isles. This 34-miles route, one of Scotland’s Great Trails, is a stunning journey through southern Argyll linking Loch Lomond, Gare Loch and Loch Long in four stages. The gentle landscapes gradually give way to the scenic drama of mountain, crag and loch as the route crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and heads towards the Southern Highlands.

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.

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 beautiful botanical garden which covers 25 acres of hillside, amongst one of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes, around the head of Loch Fyne. There are exceptional collection of Rhododendrons, some of the largest conifers in Britain and many other interesting trees and shrubs.

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.