Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland: A Visitor's Guide

Inveraray can be reached by road from any of the UK's major population centres via a choice of two main routes. For example, if travelling from Glasgow, you may choose to follow the M8 to the Erskine Bridge, followed by the A82 along the banks of beautiful Loch Lomond and the A83 over the Rest and Be Thankful, straight in to Inveraray. If travelling from Edinburgh, your chosen route may take you up the M9 as far as Stirling, followed by the A85 in the direction of Callander and onwards via Tyndrum and Dalmally to Inveraray. The scenery along this latter route is especially awe inspiring, so all drivers: concentrate on keeping your eyes on the road, or stop in a convenient place to best admire it.

In order to find the best way to get to Inveraray from your location, click on the link below and let the AA help you out:

AA Route Planner

For those who can't - or prefer not to - drive, there is also a bus service operates from Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station to Campbeltown, via Inveraray, up to three times a day. Click on the link below for more details:

Scottish Citylink Timetables

Also, click here for a description of the scenic bus journey from Glasgow to Inveraray in greater detail.

Inveraray Castle is the present home of the XIII Duke of Argyle, Chief of the Clan Campbell, and his family. It is situated to the immediate north of the town and is open to the public from April to October each year. The castle grounds, however, are open all year round and offer a variety of mapped walks of various lengths.

Although planning and design of the castle began in 1720, due to a complex series of circumstances, its construction wasn't actually completed until 1789. It is an unusual blend of various architectural disciplines and features but the overall impression thus created is of a typically Scottish stately home.

If you want to know more about Inveraray Castle, its history, its occupants and its attractions, visit its dedicated website by clicking on the link below:

Inveraray Castle

The Argyll Hotel is the first hotel and one of the very first buildings you will come to as you enter Inveraray from the direction of Glasgow on the main A83 road. It is more than 250 years old, one of the oldest buildings in the town, and was originally a Coaching Inn following the redesign and rebuilding of Inveraray in the mid eighteenth century at the instigation of the 3rd Duke of Argyll.

The hotel affords magnificent views across both Loch Shira and Loch Fyne, boasts a plush and comfortable bar with a real, open fire, conservatories, dining areas and function rooms, as well as of course a selection of bedrooms, including many with stunning views of the lochs and surrounding mountains.

Why not visit the hotel's own website by clicking on the link below and find out a lot more about what it has to offer the discerning traveller:

The Argyll Hotel

Click here for the story behind this intriguing picture...

There are of course a huge number of souvenirs to buy in Scotland by which to remember your visit. But what if you can't carry all that you want to buy? What if you are unable to pay Scotland a visit but would still like to buy some associated product(s)?

There is another way. Click here to visit an online store where - among many other items - this fantastic sweatshirt can be purchased for a mere US$31.19 (about £16.00) plus postage and packing. There is therefore no reason to wait until your next trip - start collecting your souvenirs of Scotland today.

The George Hotel on the Main Street is the most centrally located hotel in Inveraray and the first one I actually ever visited. I remember a friend and I deciding one night some years ago following a day's fishing from the pier that it offered the absolute best pint of Tennents Special ale in the West of Scotland - and believe me, we were at the time more than qualified to pass such judgement!

The George was originally two separate houses following the rebuilding of Inveraray, and subsequently separate churches for the English and Gaelic speaking communities, before the two properties were combined in 1860 by a direct descendant of the present owner to form the basis of what the hotel has become today.

Why not visit The George's own website by clicking on the link below to find out more information and take some spectacular virtual tours of the bedrooms:

The George Hotel

Inveraray Jail is located in the centre of the town, next to The George Hotel, and backs on to the shore of Loch Fyne. It is now a museum, open to the public every day of the year except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Completed in 1820, the Old Jail was subject to severe over-crowding, with men, women and children from all over Argyll serving time here for a variety of offences. Given that one thirteen year old young hoodlum actually served thirty days here for the "capital" crime of stealing a turnip, one cannot help but wonder what devilish punishments the court of the day would have bestowed upon the juvenile delinquents of modern times!

I spent little more than an hour perusing this extremely educational museum but it was more than long enough to give me some insight as to what the conditions must have been like almost two centuries ago.

To find out much more about Inveraray Jail, click on the link below to visit its website, and have a look further down this page at some of the photos I took during my tour:

Inveraray Jail

The Loch Fyne hotel is located on the very outskirts of Inveraray, on the far side of the town from Glasgow. It is located right on the main road heading for Campbeltown and affords magnificent views across the loch.

The hotel boasts its very own Health Spa which includes a swimming pool, steamroom and sauna as well as both an internal and an external jacussi. The facilities are free to residents and available to non-residents for a very reasonable £4.00 per adult per day. There is also a spacious bar, restaurant and bistro.

To find out more about this hotel, simply click on the link below to visit its own website:

The Loch Fyne Hotel

The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Restaurant is located a few miles north of Inveraray on the main A83 road to or from Glasgow. It sits right at the head of Loch Fyne and in the space of twenty-five years has grown from the smallest of concerns to become a business now operating UK wide and beyond.

The Oyster Bar began life in the early 1980's by producing and selling that one product but now caters for all types of fresh seafood, local game and meats, as well as a whole host of other delicious delicacies. Dine in the restaurant, buy from the shop, or even order online to have your purchases delivered right to your door - the same high quality applies regardless of which option you may choose.

To find out more and to see for yourself some of the great food available, click on the link below to visit the Oyster Bar's home site:

The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Restaurant

Perhaps you have just purchased some fresh fish or seafood - either from The Loch Fyne Oyster Bar or your own local fishmonger - but are unsure as to how you should go about preparing it in the best way? Would you like some ideas and suggestions as to how you may go about doing so in a simple yet healthy fashion?

Simply click on the link below to get the recipe for the pan fried sardines shown above and lots more:

Healthy Fish and Seafood Recipes

Do you use e-Bay? Why not? The bargains which can be found on the site can on occasion almost defy belief and it is also possible to sell those items which you no longer require and are taking up valuable cupboard space in your home.

Creating an account could not be easier. Simply click on your country below and allow e-Bay to guide you through the simple process. You, too, could be picking up bargains today!

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Espana (Spain), France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Netherlands Singapore, United Kingdom, United States

Why not make Inveraray your base camp for exploring further the Argyll peninsula and its off-lying islands? One such place which you may find of particular interest is the beautiful Isle of Islay, widely believed to be the capital of fine malt whisky.

Islay is reached by ferry from the port of Kennacraig, about an hour's drive from Inveraray. Find out more about this magnificant destination and its incomparable principal product by clicking on the link below:

The Isle of Islay