Taynuilt lies at the foot of 1,197 m-high Ben Cruachan; the West Highland Line runs through the village. Golf, pebble shores, traces of church history and nature trails each offer a different focus. If you are looking for accommodation, it helps to first decide which interest you want to shape your days on the trip.

Golf at Ben Cruachan

Taynuilt Golf Club is located near the foot of Ben Cruachan. Mountains surround the club, and from there the views stretch over Loch Etive. The course is a challenging nine-hole course in undulating parkland.

The 9th hole is 337 yards long and laid out as a par-4 dogleg. A dogleg is a hole that bends; this detail makes one particular hole concrete, alongside the number of holes and the character of the course. The length of 337 yards is about 308 metres, making the scale of the individual hole tangible in metric units as well.

Pebble beach and pebble bay

There is a pebble beach at Kelly’s Pier where a small watercraft can be launched. Airds Bay is a pebble bay.

Muckairn: church and graveyard

The monument comprises the remains of the old parish church of Muckairn, also known as Kilespickeral, and its graveyard. Muckairn and Kilespickeral refer to the same church. Parts of the north and south walls and a substantial part of the east gable wall survive; overall, the church is fragmentary. The graveyard contains two heavily weathered West Highland grave slabs dating from around 1500 to 1560.

Glen Nant: protected area and trails

Nearby, the Glen Nant Site of Special Scientific Interest extends south of Taynuilt along the River Nant to its source in Loch Nant. The area is also part of the Loch Etive Woods Special Area of Conservation. The two protected-area designations add to the geographical context of Glen Nant.

The Glen Nant car park is west of the B845 between Taynuilt and Kilchrenan, about 3 miles south of Taynuilt. This location provides a specific reference point for the surrounding area.

The Riverbank Trail runs through hazel woods to a quiet picnic spot by the River Nant and is 0.4 km long. This makes it a short trail with a clear destination. The Coalers Trail has a different focus: information boards cover trees, plants, insects, charcoal and iron smelting; viewpoints offer views of Ben Cruachan. When choosing between the trails, you can weigh the short route with its picnic destination against the board topics and viewpoints.

This makes it clear from the outset which interests you want to shape your time in Taynuilt most.

Discover more destinations: Kingarth, Lochgilphead, Carradale, Helensburgh, Isle Of Colonsay, Campbeltown, Bridge Of Orchy, Tayinloan

For the overview of the wider region: Argyll And Bute.