Dunoon is on the West Coast of Scotland, and while it is attached to the mainland, it sits out on a peninsula of land, so it is much quicker to catch the ferry over from Gourock (20 mins vs. 2hrs). A group of us decided to head to a log cabin for the long weekend over Easter; and we struck the weather jackpot – record high temperatures and sunburn in April in Scotland! Here’s our experience of spending a weekend in a log cabin in Dunoon.
Dunoon is somewhat protected from the wilder outlying west coast, as it faces the mainland. And if you travel further inland up towards Loch Eck, you find a quiet protected valley that is lovely for a holiday.
Where to stay in Dunoon
There are lots of accommodation options in or around Dunoon. If you’d prefer a central town option you could try the Argyll Hotel.
We stayed in one of the Puck’s Glen Log Cabins, just off the A815 road outside of Dunoon. These log cabins are deceptively large – our one had 3 bedrooms (2 king, 1 twin), a large lounge, and a kitchen/diner + a small covered deck. We were also allowed to bring our dog, which is always a plus.
The great thing about self-catering log cabin stay, is that it saves a lot of money on food. With 4 adults and 1 child, eating out for every meal would’ve been expensive. These cabins come fully equipped with all the cooking utensils you might need for such endeavours.
A long weekend in Dunoon
There is plenty to explore in the area, especially outside. Enjoy the scenery, explore the various walks and beaches, and visit the many beer-gardens.
Holy Loch
Holy Loch in Dunoon used to be a US Naval base. My husband used to play gigs at the Officer’s Club there in the late 70s and said it was a riot. Who knew that a nuclear submarine base could be so fun? In 1992, it was deemed unnecessary and was decommissioned. There are husks of military ships left abandoned in the harbour, and empty lots where service buildings used to be – it’s quite sad. It also, no doubt, had a huge impact on the local economy, having all those people leave the area all at once.
Loch Eck
North of Dunoon is home to some beautiful scenery around Loch Eck. The Coylet Inn has a top view over the loch and outdoor seating and an array of lovely cider! It would be a great place for boating and kayaking.
Dunoon Town & Beach
Dunoon has a quaint promenade and a pebbly beach. With steep stairs down from the promenade, it has a very British Seaside feel about it. Along the prom you can buy a 99p flake soft-serve ice-cream, and enjoy the view back towards the mainland.
Dunoon itself is a little sad looking, I expect it is still struggling since the departure of the Naval base, but it is cute and has all the amenities needed for tourists; alongside some newer boutique hotels and B&Bs, so things are looking up.
Explore the peninsula
Head south west to discover Loch Tarsan (no, not Tarzan, and there were no monkeys), and Loch Striven (which flows out to sea). Picturesque and remote, this area of the peninsula hugs the shape of the Isle of Bute – separate, but oh so close. This protected part of the west coast is a beautiful destination if you like hiking and stunning vistas.
Renting a log cabin in Dunoon was such a great experience. It was especially good to save money via the self-catering option.
Combine a trip to Dunoon with a road trip to Oban and Easdale Island!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!).
