Log No 139. Tue 24th Sep 2013 - Dunoon to Lochgoilhead, 22 miles (2157 miles walked)

There was no change in the weather, drab and drizzly as I set off along the road at 08.20.

Going round the head of Holy Loch I passed through Kilmun, at Strone the road turned north along the shore of Loch Long.

With all the different lochs I've been going through over the last few days I am often confused as to what I am looking at across the water, my strip maps generally don't show the other side.

I stayed on the road as far as Ardentinny, the road itself cuts back inland to Loch Eck and the A815, I took the track round Finart Bay to Stronvochlan.

There is a large picnic area here and short trails to follow.

The weather had dried up but there was no sign of the sun coming out.

There was a very large tree carving here of an eagle, it must be all of 7' tall.

I don't know if this was made in situ on the original tree or just placed here.

From Stronvochlan it was 4 miles of track and footpath to Carrick Castle.

There was a nice big signpost showing me where to go and a short footpath took me up through the trees to the track.

Like most forest tracks this was more like a rough minor road and was easy walking.

There were quite a few openings in the trees to give me views up Loch Long.

Just before I got to the mouth of Loch Goil the track passed under the pylon line coming across Loch Long and zig-zagged up the hill.

Another good signpost marked the start of the footpath down to the shore of Loch Goil.

I never met anyone else walking but there were plenty of boot prints on the footpath and the path was well maintained.

Down at the shore the path connects with the end of the minor road at the property Ardnahein.

There is a semi sunk boat just off the shore here, I don't know when it happened but there is still a notice on the gate at the bottom of the path stopping access while salvage operations are ongoing.

The name Carrick Castle applies to the old castle and the village by it. Most of the houses are new.

Just after Carrick Castle I saw a red squirrel, a dead one in the middle of the road. I wasn't sure what it was to start with as there wasn't a lot left of it, the only recognisable bits being the 2 back legs and a bushy tail.


Coming up to the head of Loch Goil there is a large holiday village, there must be more statics on this site than all the properties around the loch.

I was able to cut off the last bit of the road by the golfers footbridge over the River Goil and a path to the Shore House Inn then on the shore itself in front of the Goil Inn.

The tide was in and there was just room not to get wet feet.

I was back at the camper at 15.40, 22 easy miles.