Dunoon

Dunoon is a town of about 13,000 souls situated on the firth of Clyde, on the Cowal peninsula, opposite the port of Gourock. 

Attractions include, the local museum, Castle House Museum and Benmore Botanic Gardens. Every year, on the last weekend in August, Dunoon hosts the world famous Cowal Gathering Highland Games.

Travel facts

Dunoon can be reached by ferry from Gourock.

Western ferries run a car ferry from McIlroy’s Point, about 2 miles from Gourock station, to Hunter’s Quay about 2 miles from Dunoon pier – three per hour. The easiest way to use this service, without a car, is McGill’s bus from Glasgow to Dunoon. Although this requires most planning as there is a limited number of buses that do this run. However, there are local buses to McIlroy’s Point and then crossing as a foot passenger.

While, Argyll Ferries run a passenger ferry from Gourock pier to Dunoon pier; two an hour. As Gourock has a regular train service to Glasgow this may be the easier option.

The road trip avoiding ferries, from Glasgow is 80 miles whereas using a ferry reduces this to 40 miles.

The pub trail of Dunoon depends on which ferries are used. Therefore, here is a circular route which starts at the Marine for a Western Ferry arrival or The Brewery for an Argyll Ferry arrival at Dunoon pier. Either route plans for a departure on Argyll Ferries from Dunoon pier. Since The Royal Marine is half an hour out of town, 20 minutes from nearest other bar, then a trip landing via Argyll Ferries may well mean that the scenic and sobering walk, to The Royal Marine is missed off of the trail. This is a shame as it is worth a visit.

Arriving by train and getting a local McGill’s bus from outside Gourock train station allows a foot passenger to use the distant Western Ferries and to arrive, across the water, at The Royal Marine Hotel at the ferry landing. Leave here and walk in towards Dunoon looking for Queens Rd turning up to the right after the taxi rank (about 20 minutes). Up Queens Rd on the left is The Puffer. Continue up the road to the main road (Argyll St) at the Cooperative supermarket. Turn left down this to, on the right hand side, The Lorne. Further down at the crossroads is The Commercial Bar.

Continue along to turn left at Moir St to visit The Clansman Bar then back up to Argyll St and Sinbads just across the road. Walk on down Argyll St and turn right up Ferry Brae. MacClures is at the start of this and Ingram’s Bar on the next corner. Going further up the hill and turning left will take you to The Victoria Bar which is unfortunately only open at the weekend. Going back down Ferry Brae turn right along Argyll St to The Brewery and across the street from it The Argyll Hotel. The ferry terminal is straight on from here

The Royal Marine Hotel has two bars, one in the main portion of the hotel and the other, Ghillies Cafe Bar which has upstairs and downstairs drinking/eating areas, through a door at the far right of building. The hotel bar is through to the left from the entrance. It is a large room with a bar counter on the left of the back wall. The room has seven square dining tables well spaced out, a large real fire opposite the bar counter and a sofa in the window alcove. Further through from this room is another similar sized room with a dance floor rather than a bar. The large windows over look the grass area outside and the river beyond.

Have a pint here

Heavy: Caledonia Best

Lager: Heverlee; Tennent’s; Craig’s Light Lager (Stag Hotel)

Cider: Magners Guinness

The Puffer is now The Burgh Bar which has two entrance doors which take you to two sides of the same room. A three sided bar comes out from the middle of the room. The left hand side has a pool table and flooring (the bar side) while the right hand side has darts and dining style table and chair seating on carpet (the lounge side). There are stools around the wooden bar and a central gantry. Dark wood, low ceiling and lighting gives an intimate feel. There are stairs at far left wall going down to a small room with another pool table and some seats. This leads out to a large beer garden, half of which is under cover.

Have a pint here

Heavy: Caledonia Best;

Lager: Fosters; Tennent’s; Innes & Gunn Lager, Coors; Carling

Cider: Strongbow ; Magners Guinness

The Lorne has two entrances and has closed and re-opened. Previously the left-hand door took you to a small bar. This is a thin room with the counter on the right. There is a lino floor with some seating on the side wall opposite the bar counter. Darts and the only TV are in the bar. A door connects to the lounge.

The lounge is entered by the right-hand door. This opens to a wooden bar counter in the small left-hand room and a larger sitting room to the right. The lounge has padded seating around the side and tables and chairs in the middle. The carpet and furnishing fabrics are all red and the wall colour is light. There is a couple of large mirrors on the far wall. A bit one coloured. Food offered.

NOW both doors take you to an opened out room. the left door brings you a servery in a little and against the left wall. There is a table beneath the window and seven backed stools along the two sides of the marble top counter. A door way immediately to the right leads into the large room. This is also entered by the right hand door. There are three banquette seating booths up the right wall, while the window to the left has a couple of dining style tables. there are more dining style tables in the middle of the room. The kitchen has a serving area in the middle of the back wall while a corridor to the right of it takes you to the toilets and out to the tented patio with plenty of seating for outside dining.

The new pub is a complete transformation and, while it is always a shame to lose a good stand up bar, this is an outstanding change.

Have a pint here.

Heavy: Belhaven Best; Seven Peaks

Lager: Fosters; Birra Moretti; Heineken; Tennent’s

Cider: Strongbow; Strongbow Dark Fruits Guinness

The Clansman Bar entrance takes you to two distinct areas. On the right a small bar counter, curving into the far corner, with stools around it. While to the left is a larger room stretching up to the right. This has a lounge area, with padded seating around the walls and small tables, and a fire in the middle of the wall. There are lots of interesting pictures decorating the whole room and on a cold day it was warm and inviting.

Have a pint here

Heavy: Caledonia Best; Gladeye

Lager: Fosters; Tennent’s; 1664

Cider: Strongbow ; Strongbow Dark Fruits Guinness

Mac Clure’s is a long thin bar with the long counter taking up the middle of the left-hand wall. The room opens after the counter ends to hold a pool table. There is an attractive modern gantry. The counter has a brass rail around it and water dispensers sit on the bar counter. There is padded seating along the right-hand wall, with small tables. The floor is black tiles and at the back lead to an outside drinking/smoking area. Darts are at the left of the bar counter and Sky sports is available. The high ceilings have plaster work design picked out. Lots of customers on a cold day.

Have a pint here

Heavy: McEwan’s IPA; McEwan’s Export; John Smith ; Tartan; Belhaven Best

Lager: Coors; Tennent’s; Fosters

Cider: Strongbow dark Fruits Guinness