📌 Toward, Argyll & Bute
★
Toward Castle lies on a small hill overlooking the Firth of Clyde, near the southernmost tip of the Cowal peninsula. Dating from the 15th century and once a Clan Lamont stronghold, it was abandoned after a 1646 attack by Clan Campbell. The ruin still comprises the main tower, courtyard and several outbuildings, as well as the arched entrance gate. The castle’s much grander replacement, the private Castle Toward (see what they did there?) is several hundred metres to the northwest.
🌍 Location
📌 Access from Glenstriven Road, 1 mi west of Toward
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 119679
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.867032,-5.008252
🚌 Bus stops at Castle Toward turnoff (0.5 mi)
🚗 Layby at 🧭 NS 122676 / 🛰️ 55.864987,-5.002293 – don’t block gate opposite
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the layby, walk follow the road (or the adjacent shoreline) west (with the sea on the left) 200m. Just before a sharp right bend, turn right through a gap in the stone wall, signed to Toward Castle. Follow the rough path through the trees, emerging on a track. Continue past the castle (visible uphill to the right), then turn right at a junction. This track bends right to the castle.
