We decided to spend the first day of this trip taking a day out Dunoon-way as we needed provisions for the week. From the Glen, a drive over to Dunoon is along a 10 mile, single track road which most sensible folks manage without much stress - just be polite, anticipate and let others pass using the passing places. After raiding the local Morrisons for Scottish delicacies, like dark chocolate Tunnocks bars, we drove along Holy Loch and paid a visit to the Church at Kilmun. It is beautiful and has the Argyll Mausoleum (the burial place for the Dukes and Earls of Argyll: Chiefs of the Clan Campbell, from the 14th century until 1949). The tiny village would host huge wedding and funeral parades for the Clan along the beautiful loch side which were often reported in the newspapers of the time.
The church also has a fully restored water powered organ, one of only a handful in the country, and John was allowed a little play! See the video for his tinkling. He will be allowed back, but will need to take his own music because Church of Scotland hymns are different from Church of England due to them wanting to distance themselves from any connection - the first suggestion of animosity between the Scots and the Brits that we have come across.
Next to the church is Kilmun arboretum, which is open for free and a nice walk through a great variety of native and non native species. If you ever think about planting a Eucalyptus in your garden, have a look at how big they get at places like this and you'll think twice! There are three different trails across the hillside, which climbs up through the trees and was busy with friendly people out for a stomp.
From there we carried on up Loch Eck and took in Benmore Gardens which is over 100 acres of magnificent mountain gardens with an amazing fernery and giant redwoods. It's certainly a place we'll be going back to and see how the seasons make it a different visit every time, and we have joined up with an annual membership so we will be posting about Benmore more in the future.
From Benmore we drove up the length of Loch Eck to Strachur then back home. Loch Eck is over 6 miles long, pretty straight and only about 200m wide with steep rising forest covered hillsides on both sides. We didn't stop but it will be our first go to place for some kayaking, and photos we found online, when the water is calm and the sun is shining, make it look an amazing place for a picnic, wild swimming and just taking in the beauty of the place.
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