A walk through Puck's Glen, Benmore, Argyll

Puzzle for young sleuths: Where, on reflection, can you spot the words 'Rest and Be Thankful' as you step round this walk?

'Is it wet enough to go out yet?'

Puck's Glen has a narrow, twisting path that climbs the Eas Mor burn. In spate conditions or after rainfall, the Glen provides a spectacular setting as the burn courses downhill, roars over waterfalls, boils in worn rocky pots, sending up spray and noise. It rivals the best Alpine gorges amid conditions that resemble a tropical rain forest (minus the heat and monkeys!).

Allow about two hours for the round trip from the Car Park. In wet conditions take full waterproof clothing and Wellington boots (see [4] below).

[1] Starting point is the car park at NS 146839 . Watch out for the entrance, on the right, almost immediately after you see the Forest Enterprise sign. Giant Wellingtonia trees border the car park. You can choose to reverse the route by climbing the path through the trees then descend Puck's Glen but it is more common to ascend the Glen, against the waterflow of the burn.

[2] Set off North along the metalled road. This is the old A815 single-track road between Strachur and Dunoon

[3] The entrance to the Glen is about 800m along the road. Look out for the old milestone 'Dunoon Pier 5 miles'. Walk through the gate. The stonework on the road bridge is fascinating. The path was created for the owners of Benmore Estate - the Younger family, Edinburgh brewers - in the Victorian era and reopened in May 1986

[4] At this point you will be glad that you brought full waterproofs because you can walk under the spout that gushes from the left-hand wall of the Glen shortly after the gate. The path crosses and recrosses the burn on a wooden bridge.

[5] In one or two places, the Glen walls are so steep that the path has been cut directly through rock. The damp and low-light conditions are ideal for the growth of ferns and mosses, particularly around the water spouts that pour into the Glen from its side walls.

[6] The path rises steadily along a series of waterfalls

[7] The force of the water brings down tree trunks from time to time and lodges them across the burn.

[8] You can choose whether to continue the climb through the upper Glen or to follow a path to the right that circles back to the Car Park. The upper Glen levels out and more light filters through the tree canopy.

[9] The path will intersect with a forestry road. Turn left and folllow the signs for the 'Black Gates' entrance to Benmore. In about 1 km you leave the forest road and a direction sign will lead you back to the old A815. Take this road South to return to the Car Park.

You can include a stopover at the James Duncan Tearoom at Benmore Gardens (its by the 'Black Gates' entrance to the Gardens) on the return leg of the walk or drive up to the Tearoom once you have returned to the Car Park.

last modified7-mar-02