Loch Awe Local Area

The area of the west highlands is known as the birthplace of the Scottish nation and is one of the most attractive parts of Scotland, it has the most beautiful, breathtaking natural scenery,  including ruins of ancient castles and other significant landmarks. There are a lot of attractions to see locally in the village of Lochawe and the surrounding area.

The next addition was an oddity, but remains one of the major attractions in the area to this day, St Conan's Kirk.  A certain Walter Campbell built a marvellous but eccentric blending of church styles from across the ages. The original St Conan's Kirk was built between 1881 and 1886, and comprised the nave and part of the choir of the later church that visitors see today. Walter Campbell had grander plans, however, and in 1907 he began work on a much more ambitious church. Walter worked on this until his death in 1914, and his sister Helen ran the project from 1918 until her death in 1927. It was completed by their trustees. All the stone used to build the church came from boulders on nearby hillsides that were rolled to the site before being worked.

There is the Cruachan power station the "Hollow Mountain" opened by the Queen on 15 October 1965. A power station buried one kilometre below the ground. At its centre lies a massive cavern, high enough to house the Tower of London. Hidden deep within the mountain of Ben Cruachan on the shores of  Lochawe is a five star visitor attraction, its visitor centre welcomes over sixty thousand visitors each year.

Only some 20 miles away from Lochawe is the home of the Duke and Duches of Argyll, Inverary Castle. The Duke of Argyll’s family, the senior branch of the Campbell Clan, moved from Loch Awe to Inverary in the first half of the 15th centuary.The present building, in the style of a Castle, was erected between 1745-85 to replace an earlier traditional fortified  keep and marks the start of more settled times in the country.By visiting it you will be able to see the famous Armoury Collection, French tapestries, fine examples of Scotish and Europien furniture, a wealth of other works of art together with genealogical display in the Clan Room.

In Inverary town you can visit the Inveraray Jail also dates to the 3rd Duke's redevelopment of the town. The Georgian courthouse and grim prison blocks closed for use in the 1930s but have been re-opened as an imaginative visitor centre and museum. The museum tells the story of prison conditions from medieval times up to the 1800s using interactive displays and live performances. Inveraray Jail is open daily throughout the year.

We have mentioned only a few of the places and attractions which you can visit in the area of Lochawe.There is of course much more to see. Why not come and stay “awhile” with us, and see for yourself, the beauty of the west highlands.