The Holy Loch is the little sea loch just to the north of Dunoon – but with a big history.

The Holy Loch was used during the Second World War as a Royal Navy submarine base. The Navy had a depot ship in the bay, HMS Forth, and used the loch as a submarine trial playground. They also used to hide ships in the loch, which is geographically not far from Glasgow, and yet out of sight and the normal course of navigation up the Clyde which the German bombers had become too familiar with, as they headed up to drop their bombs on Clydebank and the British shipping effort. An anti-submarine boom was also installed near the Holy Loch as a defence against German U-Boats.

Two submarines – HMS Vandal and HMS Untamed – sunk in accidents in or near to the Holy Loch.

The US Navy has also had its share of the fill in naval activity in the Holy Loch. The US Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Refit Site One was located at the Holy Loch between 1961 and 1992. Their Submarine Squadron in the US Atlantic Fleet was also based here.

The Holy Loch at sunset.

You will find on this page travel directions by car (from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness), coach and ferry to Dunoon. The most convenient railway station for Dunoon is at Gourock, followed by a ferry crossing. We have also included information on the closest airports to Dunoon.

BY CAR

From Glasgow (34 miles – including ferry crossing)

Your car journey from Glasgow to Dunoon should take around 1 hour 10 minutes in normal traffic conditions, plus time allowed for the ferry crossing to Dunoon.

Follow the M8 westbound past Glasgow Airport, and follow it past Junction 29, when the M8 becomes the A8. Follow signs for A8 Greenock, and then take the turnoff for the A770 signposted for Gourock. You then have two ferry crossing options – either Western Ferries from McInroy’s Point (Gourock) to Hunter’s Quay (Dunoon), or a passenger-only service now operated by Caledonian MacBrayne between Gourock and Dunoon.

From Edinburgh (80 miles)

A car journey with normal traffic conditions from Edinburgh to Dunoon should take just over 2 hours, with extra time factored in for the ferry crossing to Dunoon.

Follow the M8 westbound all the way past Livingston, Glasgow and Glasgow Airport, and follow it past Junction 29, when the M8 becomes the A8. Follow signs for A8 Greenock, and then take the turnoff for the A770 signposted for Gourock. You then have two ferry crossing options – either Western Ferries from McInroy’s Point (Gourock) to Hunter’s Quay (Dunoon), or a passenger-only service now operated by Caledonian MacBrayne between Gourock and Dunoon.

From Inverness (173 miles)

In light traffic, your car journey from Loch Ness to Dunoon should take just under 4 hours 30 minutes.

Take the A82 southbound past Loch Ness, through Fort William, and all the way south across the Moor of Rannoch, through Bridge of Orchy, Tyndrum and Crianlarich, until you arrive at Tarbet on the west side of Loch Lomond. Turn right at Tarbet onto the A83 following signs for Campbeltown. Follow the A83 through Arrochar, up past the Rest and Be Thankful, and then take a left turning onto the A815 signposted for Dunoon and the Isle of Bute Ferry. Continue to follow local signs for Dunoon – there is no need for a ferry crossing coming in this direction.

BY TRAIN

Probably the most convenient train station to use for Dunoon is the train service from Glasgow Central to Gourock, and then to take the ferry from Gourock across the Dunoon. Trains are operated by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT)

BY AIR

Glasgow Airport is 27 miles from Dunoon, including a ferry crossing. The airport has connections through the UK, Europe and has some flights to Asia and the United States.

Prestwick Airport (also known as Glasgow Prestwick Airport, though it is not really in Glasgow) is 45 miles from Dunoon, including a ferry crossing, with mostly low cost flights operating from UK and European destinations.

Edinburgh Airport is 73 miles from Dunoon, including a ferry crossing. Flights operate primarily to UK and European destinations, with limited flights to the United States.

Just as generations of Clydesiders have headed “Doon the Watter” the Rothesay, so have they come to Dunoon, sailing across from Gourock and Greenock for their summer holiday on the banks of the Firth of Clyde.

The town has indeed resurged as a tourist destination. Visitors will typically come by ferry from Gourock and Greenock, by car from the north (Arrochar / Inveraray / Oban direction), or landing at the Dunoon Pier in style on the famous Paddle Steamer Waverley. Dunoon itself lies on the Cowal Peninsula, just to the south of the Holy Loch.

As well as the usual Scottish seaside activities of shopping, eating ice cream, strolling along the promenade and playing putting and crazy golf, Dunoon is a pretty town architecturally. The Castle House Museum is an attractive building housing the museum of the same name, with both temporary and permanent exhibitions relating to Dunoon, the local area and its history, including family history research and genealogical information. Other attractive buildings include the Burgh Buildings and the period frontpiece of the Argyll Hotel.

The Queen’s Hall at the pier is a late 1950s building which has hosted a number of famous musical acts, including Pink Floyd, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and Blur. It still operates today as a thriving music venue.

Castle Toward

Castle Toward lies seven miles out of Dunoon. It is the traditional seat of the Clan Lamont, dating back to the 15th century but whose present buildings themselves date from the 19th century. The country house itself is still impressive, and once upon a time you could get inside, but nowadays Castle Toward is home to an outdoor recreation centre – so for tourists, that is that. It was proposed that the site be sold, but this met with heavy local opposition.

Benmore Botanic Garden

The beautiful Benmore Botanic Garden, also about seven miles from Dunoon, is a world class attraction and definitely one of the jewels in the crown of the Cowal area.

The gardens are large in size and benefit from high rainfall and mild winters. Species include a very impressive diversity of plant and tree life including the magnificent Giant Sequoias (some more than 148 ft high!), Douglas firs, magnolias, rhododendrons and nothofagus, and include species from as far afield as Bhutan.

The botanic gardens themselves contain walled gardens, a fernery, waterfall, streams and pools, hillside walks (with views over the Holy Loch) and plenty of fresh Scottish air. The gardens also have a gift shop, and make for an excellent day out in Argyll and Bute, just a stone’s throw from Dunoon.

The Paddle Steamer Waverley is the last ocean-going paddle steamer in the world.

Launched on 2nd October 1946, and making its maiden voyage on 16th June 1947, the PS Waverley is named after the first novel of Sir Walter Scott. The ship replaced its predecessor of the same name, which was sunk in 1940 whilst evacuating soldiers from Dunkirk during the Second World War. The ship was actually built for the London and North Eastern Railway, sailing on the Firth of Clyde route from Craigendoran Pier in Helensburgh to Arrochar, at the head of Loch Long.

Nowadays the Waverley is a familiar and trusty face on the Clyde, taking passengers from Glasgow, down the River Clyde, to favourite holiday destinations such as Gourock, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Rothesay, Largs, Millport, Arran and Tighnabruaich. For decades she has provided great days out to families seeking leisure holidays on the Clyde, Argyll and Bute coasts, and she still sails today on these classic routes, which you can join on short or extended outings.

At the time of writing, day trips are available on board PS Waverley from Glasgow to Oban, the Mull of Kintyre, Tobermory, the Isle of Rum, the Isle of Iona, Armadale, Inverie, the Isle of Coll, the Isle of Staffa (for Fingal’s Cave), Kilcreggan, Dunoon, Rothesay (Isle of Bute), Helensburgh, Greenock, Tighnabruaich, Largs, Millport (Isle of Cumbrae), Campbeltown, Redbay, the Antrim Coast (Northern Ireland), Ayr, Ailsa Craig, Pladda, Blairmore, Carrick Castle, Tarbert (Loch Fyne), Brodick (Isle of Arran), Lochranza (Isle of Arran) and the Holy Isle. Check http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk for the latest information.

Not only is a trip on the PS Waverley a really great day out, the ship itself is beautiful and an attraction in itself. The woodwork and brasswork are maintained to a very high standard, and you can go inside the engine room and take a look at the very belly of the beast itself! The funnels of the ship are its iconic black, white and red colours, which represented the colours of the original London and North Eastern Railway company. What better an opportunity for a fun day out, on a magnificent ship, to some of the West of Scotland’s best towns and villages?

The Waverley calls at Dunoon!