Easter 2025 – Cowan Peninsular & Loch Ruel

This year our accommodation is in the South West Highlands in an area which may be little known to the Easter group. Whilst it  may be a little further from the large hills than last year, it offers an opportunity to visit a lot of interesting places ... and the Munros, Corbetts and lesser hills around the Rest and Be Thankful pass are only 30 minutes away by car.

We have booked Ormidale House + 2 other houses on the estate all within easy walking distance (100yds) of the main house.  Together these provide at least 38 bed places.  

This is the normal Easter week which includes Easter Sunday EXCEPT THE BOOKING IS FROM GOOD FRIDAY FOR 7 DAYS.

Our accommodation is now booked, starting on Friday (pm) April 18th to Friday (am) April 25th 2025. 

The Dining Hall + Breakfast room at Ormidale house will together seat 40 so we will all be able eat there..

The range of costs at the end are based on largely filling the available places (with the higher end assuming a few are not).

So PLEASE confirm with a deposit of £280  as soon as you can.

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Mountains and other Walks

Mountains 

Ben Vane - Munro Picture by portengaround Seen here from Ben Vorlich to the east.  At 3002ft Ben Ime is one of the lowest Munros.  It can be easily be combined with Ben Ime and /or its subsidiary Ben Corranach if climbed from Glen Kinglass as the A83 turns sharlpley south to skirt the Arrochar alps,	Beinn Ime - Munro Picture by Grinner Seen here from Glen Kinglass At 3317ft Ben Ime is highest of the Arrochar Alps  Often combined with the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain by ascending to their shared Bealach a' Mhaim. on paths from near Succoth. The higher route from the road to the west,  following a river can be very boggy.	Beinn Narnain Picture by Cunikm  Beinn Narnain 3038ft seen here from the SE on Beinn Ime, looking across Bealach a' Mhaim.
Ben Arthur (The Cobbler) - Corbett Picture by Michal Klajban Seen from the south on the path from Succoth The middle and highest summit is The Cobbler, to the right is his last and to the left his wife (can be diificult)	Ben Vorlich - Munro Picture by Alan White Seen from the south with Glen Inverglas running across the photo The easiest ascent is from the dam visitor centre on the A82. More interesting is from Ardlui taking in "Little Hills" (to the right) Beware! The trigpoint is 2-300 yds south of the summit.	Beinn Bhuidhe - Munro Picture by Patrick Mackie seen from the slopes of Sron Reithe above Inveraray. Approach up Glen Fyne (handy brewery en-route!). A remote less visited munro - a 13 mile round trip. Much can be cycled.

Beinn Bheula - Corbett Picture by Leslie Barrie Seen from the west from Cruach nam Misaig. Often climbed from Loch Goil on the west but also possible from the A815 near Strachur

Cruach nan Caorach - Maralyn 458m Seen from near the entrance to Ormidale House. For "those" interested there's a trig point on top and I'm told good views. Normally climbed from the high point (319m) on the exciting road to Otter Ferry (no ferry!)

Beinn Mhor (and Beag) Seen across Loch Eck Highest point of the Cowal peninsular Most frequently and easily ascended from the south, via the end of the public road into Glen Massan. Excellent views.  Could start at  Glen Branter to walk the whole (long) ridge including Beinn Beag

Low Level Walks & Cycles

Hill House from his experimental use of concrete render which , in time, let in and trapped rain water under the render threatening the house and contents. The National Trust, Scotland are now the owners and have covered it in a chain mail "tent".. This allows you to explore the outside from above and protects the Mackintoshs’  ‘Glasgow style’ interiors. Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, G84 9AJ	Inveraray Castle Open Thursday - Monday 10:00 - 17:00 In addition to the castle, the Georgian Inveraray Jail museum. Other attractions include the Argyll Folk Museum at Auchindrain.The Bell Tower dominates the town, and contains the second-heaviest ring of ten bells in the world.[12] The bell tower is open to the public, and the bells are rung regularly.	Benmore Botanic Garden   Open Daily 10:00 - 17:00 Renowned for its fine collections of rhododendrons and conifers grown to immense stature. A must-see fernery Look for it on the road south from Strachur.
Loch Fyne Cruise A locally based family run business that have been sailing these waters for over 20 years. 1½ cruise from the jetty at Strachur goes down Loch Fyne  to explore the bays and Islands through the Minard Narrows. We could charter the boat for a full day  / morning / afternnon to go further if 12 folk want to do this. LET ME KNOW IF INTERESTED	Strachur House Garden Janet & I satyed here in July (in the far right gable end) - the house is private. At the back of the house (to the right) is a large (slightly untidy) garden which is open the visitors "for a donation". The gardener (Cherry) is welcoming. From Ormidale, turn right at the main road at Strachur & almost immediately left into a gateway. Follow the drive round right to reach the back,	Maid of the Loch Since paddle steamer Waverley doesn't begin her summer sailings until May, I thought you might to visit Maid of the Loch. A fascinating tour but not a cruise! Hard hats must be worn! She is layed-up and being slowly restored at the south tip of Loch Lomond.    Turn onto A811 at the end of the Loch  and first left off it to Balloch Pier.
Mount Stuart House & Garden Picture by Colin 4 miles south of Rothesay on the A844 Mount Stuart, Britain’s most spectacular Victorian Gothic house, offers a memorable day out. Walks on the beach, discoveries in the gardens, dazzling interiors,and  unique architectural details. Rebuilt after a fire in 1877 by the 3rd Marquess of Bute. The main part of the house is a striking example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture, 300 acres of gardens boast arboricultural and horticultural collections of global significance..Re-opens "in the spring" https://www.mountstuart.com/gardens	Kilmartin - Archaeology Picture by Kenny Davidson Kilmartin can be reached by a long scenic drive down the north side of Loch Fyne to Loch Gilphead and then a few miles north on the A816.. It has a fantastic, newly built museum of very ancient archaeology and the surrounding glen has a multitude of cairns, standing stones, carved rock, stone circles, forts and castles. Kilmartin Glen is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland. https://www.kilmartin.org	Culross - an NTS Village On the NW end of the Firth of Forth, so a bit of a drive but worth it!  Culross is Scotland’s most complete example of a burgh of the 17th and 18th centuries. White-harled houses with red-tiled roofs line the steep cobbled streets which run from the market cross to the hilltop abbey. In the centre is the ochre-coloured palace with its beautifully reconstructed period garden, complete with herbs, fruit and vegetables. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/culross
	....and now for something different! ...... and more costly!    Loch Lomond Sea Planes   https://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com 30-45 minute flights or day return to Jura.  You may need to book immediately if you decide to give it a go!

ACCOMMODATION

ORMIDALE HOUSE  

  

Ormidale House was built as a seat of Clan Campbell in 1696, with the most recent extensions by Robert Lorimer in 1910. Working with Lorimer was the renowned Victorian landscaper, Sir Thomas Mawson – his work can still be seen on the estate today.

The House sleeps up to 24 adults in 13 bedrooms with 8 bathrooms. Downstairs, the reception rooms are large, and include a huge dining room, a breakast room, billiard room and drawing room. The house also has its own sauna and hot tub.

Less dramatic than the next door Mill House, the Old Barn beautifully combines the traditional and the contemporary. There are separate dining, sitting and TV rooms, and the kitchen is in its own space.

Old exposed stone walls meet clean white plaster and travertine tiles. Upstairs, five of the bedrooms have their own wash-hand basins, and two can be set as twin or king-size. Most have built in storage and lovely woodland views.

    
   
   
 

Rooms
The kitchen / breakfast room features an original exposed stone wall, and is light thanks to the large glass archway and door out to the private cobbled courtyard terrace. The kitchen cabinets are oak, and there's a  granite work surface, stone Belfast sink and travertine marble floor. There is an American-style fridge freezer, single oven, double oven, microwave, halogen hob, large toaster and coffee machine. There is seating for up to eight around the expandable island unit in French polished oak.

The dining room has a French-oak dining room table (the rather poor quality picture using a "fish-eye lens  makes this looked curved), It is now surrounded by bench seating on three sides (new since the photograph)  It can comfortably accommodated 12 to 14 diners .

Facilities / included
          Electricity included
          Quality goose-down and feather duvets, bed-linen
              Summer weight synthetic alternatives for the allergic.
          Fluffy white towels 
          Wifi

Dogs
Welcome   

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GARDEN COTTAGE

This whole cottage is on the ground floor, wheel chair compatible layout and wetroom/shower,  It is a cottage that is ideal for two people. Though it has arrangements which could make it possible to cram in many more - mainly using fold down beds built into cupboards, this is not something we will be doing! It is often used as bridal or honeymoon suite. Facing the cottage, ten metres across the court yard is the entrance to "The Old Barn"

   

 

 

Rooms
Living room plus Kitchen & diner for two
Double bedroom with sink
Bathroom and toilet travertine tiled in a wet-room style

Bed linen and towels
Dogs welcome  

In addition to this there is the cost of transport i.e.:

         Hire cars and their fuel
         Fuel for private cars
         Flights /trains etc to Scotland