There are many interesting walks in Connel and the surrounding area. It is easy to join the Oban to Fort William walking/cycle track directly from the Cottage. To help you to become quickly familiar with walks you can access from the cottage we have created a couple of maps for you. The Black Lochs walk takes you through the Kilvaree crofting township with the land adjacent to the lochs designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in recognition of the botanical diversity found. This in turn creates ideal habitat for a wide variety of rare butterflies and other insects. Some of the other walks give you wonderful views of Connel Bridge and the surrounding coastline, including the famous Falls of Lora. Feel free to take the plans provided with you on your walks.
CYCLING/WALKING
DIVING
FISHING
WALKING
FLYING/GLIDING
DISTILLERY TOURS
GOLF
PHOTOGRAPHY
HORSE RIDING
ROCK & ICE CLIMBING
SKIING
SWIMMING
QUADBIKING
BICYCLE & BOAT HIRE
BOAT TRIPS
Ardmucknish Bay, Ledaig
Lies below Ledaig caravan park and can be accessed via walk over Connel Bridge and along the shoreline past Oban Airport where you often spot many seabirds. There is usually constant noisy activity from Oystercatchers, Curlew, Turnstones, Gulls all vying for the next tasty bite! On one of our walks I was lucky enough to catch a shot of a baby Oystercatcher (looks like the Roadrunner!) on one of our many walks along the bay. Your local walks map shows the first 3.50km under Falls of Lora Walk and it is another 2.80km to reach the beach.
Tralee, Benderloch
If you enjoy a longer walk you can reach this beach on foot or bicycle by carrying on beyond Ardmucknish bay, through the village of Benderloch as shown on your map or if you prefer it is a 15-minute drive. The walk/cycle follows part of the Route 78 Caledonian Way walking/cycling path to Benderloch. You can pick up refreshments at the Benderloch shop or stop in the Ben Lora Café for breakfast/lunch on the way.
Ganavan Sands, Oban
A twenty five minute walk from Oban town centre or a short car or bus journey takes you to a lovely little beach with wonderful views over the sea to the island of Lismore and the Morvern peninsula beyond. There is great light for photography on the way and you pass Dunollie Castle to reach it.
Oban Phoenix Cinema - one of the very few independent community owned cinemas in the world, up and running since August 2012, after previously closing in 2010. Here you can often buy some delicious Highland Fold ice-cream made using Highland cow milk, produced locally. When available it is perfect to enjoy while watching a good film.
Connel has two hotels, both with great character and only a five minute walk from the cottage, at the bottom of Deirdre Road, turn left to reach The Oyster Inn & GluePot Bar where you can enjoy the warmth of a wee dram beside a log fire in the winter or sit outside, enjoy the scenery and watch the sun go down in the summer months while enjoying some of their fresh seafood dishes. If you turn right at the bottom of the road you are five minutes to the The Falls of Lora Hotel with its own unique décor, bistro and wonderful warm real fire throughout the winter months.
Connel also has a little local run café across the road from the cottage and there is also a well-stocked local shop that serves up delicious homemade soup, sandwiches, pies and cakes made fresh daily.
If you wish to venture into Oban to eat instead some of the ones we regularly visit are:
But there are many other lovely restaurants to choose from in Oban and the surrounding area.
There are lots of lovely little cafés to discover in the area but some of our favourites to visit are as follows:
Argyll is famous for its gardens, in particular for the stunning displays of Azaleas and Rhododendrons that illuminate much of the countryside in spring/early summer as well as many other beautiful plants.
View Gardens in Argyll »