Walk: Taking a lichen to Castle Dounie

📌 Crinan, Argyll & Bute
★★★

Acres of dark forest cloak the hills above Crinan. South of the village the landscape seems empty of human activity apart from forestry operations; the lichen covering every bough with a rich tapestry of fur is a sign of exceptionally clean air. This region hasn’t always been uninhabited though: go back a few thousand years though and the north top of Creag Mhòr was the site of an iron-age hill fort, now called Castle Dounie. Views from the rocky remains are fantastic, taking in Islay, Jura, Scarba and large swathes of coastal Argyll. Our visit, on a still winter’s day, was accompanied by the distant but ominous rumble of the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, seven miles away in the strait between Jura and Scarba.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Crinan Harbour

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 784942

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.088798,-5.563995

🚌 Infrequent bus to Crinan Harbour

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 260 m | ⌛ 2.5 hr

Features: 🏠 Crinan ★★★; 🏰 Castle Dounie; △ Creag Mhòr north top (175 m)

⬤ Moderate | Clear paths and tracks; a bit muddy lower down with some steep sections. The section nearest Crinan may (just) be submerged at high tide.

➡️ Clockwise lollipop circuit with extension to Castle Dounie: start & Crinan Harbour – coast path to 🧭 NR 779942 – track junction at 🧭 NR 775939 – Castle Dounie by direct route – return to track junction by northern loop – start by outward route. Route mostly waymarked in green and on map 🔗 here (Crinan Trail)

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Several grey herons; small birds and ducks.

Weather: Sun coming out after a cloudy start; light winds, about 5°C but ground partly frozen.

January 2018