Beaches

Being situated on a peninsula, means we’re only a couple of miles walk or cycle from an amazing coastline- ‘Argyll’s Secret Coast’. Whether rock-pooling, building sandcastles, snorkeling or watching, otters, waders and divers; you can find your very own stretch of beach.

Catch the Tarbert-Portavadie Ferry (2.7 miles from us) and cycle 13 miles to Skipness estate. Find a quaint Scottish village, village shop, seafood cabin, smokehouse and shop, 13th century castle and chapel, organic tannery and beautiful, rugged beach, ahh…

The Kintyre peninsular is famed for its wild windswept beaches, miles of sand, surfing and sheer natural beauty. Catch the Portavadie ferry and allow your jaw to drop!

Culture & Wildlife

• Picturesque Tarbert Fishing Village
• Wonderful Knapdale Beavers
• All aboard the Waverly at Tighnabruaich, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world
• Giants of Benmore Botanical Gardens
• Puck’s Glen, waterfalls & gorge
• Eye-catching Inverary and Castle
• Rothesay, Bute
• Walk to Millhouse & stock up on presents from Crossroads Pet & Garden shop

The lovely fishing village of Tarbert lies a short ferry ride away from us. Cafes, restaurants, fresh veg, bookshop, galleries, Co-op supermarket, castle and beaches await you.

It is very exciting to be close to the Knapdale beavers! These charismatic giant rodents make their home in the beautiful woods and waterways. Gnawed trees and disorderly piles of branches damming streams are all signs that they are close. Dawn and dusk are the best times for seeing them, you can also head out on a guided walk from the Argyll Beaver Centre.

Eating & Drinking

Although Auchgoyle farm may feel wild and remote, an array of unique independent culinary experiences await you nearby!

Here are a few of the options in order of distance from the farm gate!:

• Botanica at the Barn cafe, bakery, take away & home catering
• Kilbride Farm ice cream & cafe
• Kames Hotel
• Royal An Lochan Hotel
• Portavadie Marina Restaurant & Pub
• 5 West Café
• Tide & Tyme Bistro Restaurant
• Hayshed Café, at Carry Farm
• Kilfinan Hotel Bar & Restaurant
• Shellfield Farm takeaways & home catering
• Oystercatcher Pub and Restaurant
• Colintraive Hotel
• Inver Restaurant Michelin Green Star
• Tarbert- fresh shellfish every day

Stroll down the farm track to Botanica at the Barn cafe. Sit back and sip the deep aromas of Eve’s Argyll Coffee (roasted just over the fields) or feast on Michal’s renowned freshly baked bread.

Walk through the fields to the Cowal Way, dip your feet in Asgog loch and pass the remains of Asgog Castle on your way to Portavdie Marina & Spa for dinner, swim and sauna!

The lovely Oystercatcher pub and restaurant overlooks Loch Fyne, with plenty of outside space for eating and shells and pebbles to collect on the beach. You can meander through Kilfinan for 10 miles to reach it. It’s also on a fab 26 mile cycling loop that takes in incredible views over the Kyles of Bute and a decent hill climb up from Ormidale.

Receive a warm welcome at the Colintraive Hotel. Sit back and enjoy delicious home-made food and ales, while overlooking the Isle of Bute.

Follow the beautiful coastal road north along Loch Fyne and arrive at the culinary masterpiece that is Inver. Delight in taster menus, A la carte and fine wines. With a Green Michelen Star, Inver has taken the meaning of local, fresh & sustainable to dizzying heights.

Catch the car/passenger ferry from Portavadie to Tarbert fishing village for freshly caught shellfish.

Adventure

Run along rugged coastline & through Tolkienesque forests, walk the Loch Lomond & Cowal Way, bomb down world class mountain bike tracks in Dunoon or scale a Munroe in the Arrochar Alps.

• Book onto Auchgoyle farm wild & rugged running retreat (to come)!
• Known as ‘Scotland in 53 miles’ the Loch Lomond & Cowal Way passes the farm
• We’re on the Ardlamont 10 mile coastal cycling/running loop along peaceful country lanes. If you would like to hire bikes speak to Laura at Tams Tool Store
• Stroll across the fields to Kyles Golf Course overlooking the sea
• Walk to Glenan Woods
• Wander the Kilfinan Community Forest trails
• Carry Farm sailing school & beautiful beaches
• Sea kayak Loch Fyne or join a boat trip on Scotland’s longest loch in the company of grey seals & porpoises
• Head to Dunoon for some of the best mountain bike trails in Scotland
• Catch a ferry from Colintraive and walk/run 25 miles along Bute’s West Island Way
• Cycle or Paddle the Crinan Canal
• Scale a Munroe in the Arrochar Alps, the most spectacular mountain range in the southern Highlands, an hour’s drive north
• Walk/run the Kintyre Way, 100 miles of beaches, hidden coves, villages and forests.

The Ardlamont loop is a stunning 10 mile family cycle ride, which hugs the coastline, with views over Arran, Bute, Kintyre, the Ayrshire coastline and Ireland. Stop at Carry Farm for a dip, buy a sheepskin rug in the Hayshed Gallery, some moisturiser from Argyll Botany, and treat yourself to Leoma’s Wild Kitchen brownies or Northern Light’s cakes!

Glenan Woods is a relic of the temperate rainforest that once shrouded much of Scotland’s west coast with wizened oak trees, dripping in lichens and mosses. You can walk from the farm along the Cowal Way to this community woodland. Scramble over boulders to beaches, climb mighty oaks or head hill-wise for far reaching views over Loch Fyne.