Walk: Chinese Ponds – Ardyne’s taste of Asia

📌 Cowal, Argyll & Bute
★★★

The Chinese Ponds form part of the old estate surrounding 19th century Castle Toward, built by merchant and Lord Provost of Glasgow, Kirkman Finlay. Largely abandoned, they’re now a miniature wildlife haven, hidden in forest. A waymarked Forestry and Land Scotland circuit gets you close, but the ponds themselves require an easily missed – but unmissable – minor diversion. The steep climb also opens up lovely views across the low-lying Isle of Bute with the mountains of Arran beyond.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish just north of Ardyne Farm, off Glenstriven Road 2 mi northwest of Toward

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 113691

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.877695,-5.018548

🚌 Infrequent bus to Castle Toward turnoff

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 110 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr

Features: 🐸 Chinese Ponds

⬤ Easy | Good paths, often steep.

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start – Chinese Ponds to east – join track at 130m contour – return via path to north. Route marked in yellow on map 🔗 here (Chinese Ponds Trail)

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Lizards, dragonflies, butterflies. Around the ponds: damselflies, many newts, lots of froglets (or toadlets?).

Weather: Mostly sunny, temperature in high teens.

July 2023