Inveraray
Inverarayis found at the head of Loch Fyne and has s stunning castle belonging to the Duke of Argyll.
The shores produce some wonderful seafood and the loch is famous for the Loch Fyne Herring which is turned into the even more famous Loch Fyne kippersl.
As for the sea food, there is a beautiful selection of salmon and shellfish at the Loch Fyne Oysters establishment just a short drive to the top of the loch. this is the retail outlet for the fish farm and oyster growers who bought over the shop side of things and ran it as a co-operative.
If you are the adventurous type and like fresh mussels why not pick your own. A good spot for these is heading back towards Glasgow from Inveraray. As you get to the lay-by on the right hand side, after crossing the hump backed bridge, stop and you will see a small bay. Climb down to the beach and you will find some beautiful mussels. Remember to purge them, i.e. let them clean themselves.... just put them in a bucket of fresh water for night, changing the water a couple of times. This gets the sandy particles out.
Inveraray is strategically placed being at the junction of the road to Campbeltown in the South and to Oban in the North.
There is an old jail in the town, Inveraray Jail, which has been totally restored and open to visitors. The sign is a bit of a joke as it says "Inveraray Jail - Open all year".... Got it?
The shops cater for all tastes and for those who like a "wee dram" there are a few very nice pubs and hotels. For those of you who fancy some fishing there is a fishery for trout at the castle or sea fishing in the loch from the shores.
If you go to the pier you will see an unusual sight. There in the quayside lies a ship called "The Artic Penguin" which you can go on board an view the engines and all things from her past. This is also known as the Inveraray Maritime Museum. There is even a shop on board where you can buy all sorts of nautical memorabilia.
The area is absolutely beautiful and the scenery offered is some of the prettiest in Scotland, with hills, rivers, sea lochs and some stunning drives all within a day in all directions. Use the town as stop or starting point for exploring Argyll.
