If you’re looking for the perfect vacation destination in Argyll, Inveraray has everything you need. It is located near the head of Loch Fyne and is right on the A83 road, so you won’t have any difficulty driving there. This town owes its beginnings to the Duke of Argyll who established the town in 1745. It is a very popular tourist destination and with the breathtaking scenery combined with the distinctive white buildings, it is a true paradise for photographers. Inveraray Castle is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and is open for tours from April until October. The castle dates back to 1789 and incorporates Baroque, Palladian and Gothic architectural styles. In the state dining room, you can see the elaborate decorative work of the French painters Girard and Guinard and the furnishings of the castle are from the 18th and 19th centuries.
At the Inveraray Maritime Museum, you can step back through the pages of history with a visit to the Artic Penguin, a three-masted schooner that was built in 1911. Watch the archive film and see the past come to life before your eyes and watch in horror as you see the living conditions for those that travelled to America on board this ship. Inveraray Jail is another must on your itinerary. Here you will see guides dressed in period costume re-enacting trials from the early 20th century. This will give you fantastic insight into the early justice system and the types of punishments that were meted out to criminals. Hear and see the finest bells in Scotland when you visit the All Saints Episcopal Church. Climb the stairway to the tower where you will not only see these famous bells, but you will also get an astounding view of the town and Loch Fyne. Learn what life was like for the typical Highland family with a visit to the Open Air Museum, just five miles from Inveraray. The restored cottages and outbuildings will do more to help you learn about this period in Scottish history than any book can do for you.
Walk the tree trail of the Ardkinglas Woodland Garden in Cairndow Village, where there is one of the finest collections of conifers in the United Kingdom. It is also the home of the tallest tree in Britain – a Grand Fir that is over 200 feet tall and still growing. You can enjoy this garden in any season of the year, but it is during the spring that you will see the rhododendrons and azaleas in bloom. There are also beautiful gardens to enjoy in Inveraray, such as the Crarae Garden, which is also open all year long. Inveraray offers a wealth of activities for you to enjoy when you visit. Tee off at the beautiful, but challenging 9-hole course of the Inveraray Golf Club or enjoy a horseback ride through mountains, forests and glens. You can take scuba diving lessons or rent equipment to dive beneath the waters of Loch Fyne. Who knows what you may discover? Purchase some of the tweeds and knitwear for which the Argyll district is known for or even a kilt in the colours of your clan. Drop into the pub for an ale or a drink of fine Scotch whisky, where you are sure to be treated like a native son or daughter. Accommodations abound and when you taste the mouth-watering meals at the restaurants and eateries, you won’t want to go home.
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Some photographs © Para Handy Cottage in Inveraray
