Inveraray Bell Tower

📌 Inveraray, Argyll & Bute
★★

Inveraray Bell Tower overlooks The Avenue, a street set slightly back from Inveraray centre and with most of the town’s parking spaces. For a short period each summer, the tower’s 176 spiral stairs open to the public, giving access to one of the best viewpoints over town, loch and surrounding countryside. Doorways at various floors on the way up reveal a small exhibition area, the ringing room and of course the ten bells themselves. The peal is said to be the second heaviest in the world: so heavy that, during transportation to Inveraray in 1921, one bell had to be abandoned on the way up the Rest and Be Thankful road pass to allow the lorry to make it to the top. The website shows dates when the bells are rung, though it looks like they rarely coincide with open days. Back at ground level, also take a look inside All Saints Episcopal Church next door – the tower was originally supposed to link to the church but this evidently never happened.