| Loch Fyne at Inverary (picture by Josh Campbell) |  |
Loch Fyne at Inverary
Photographer Description of Loch Fyne at Inverary
Inverary Bay on a calm morning.Loch Fyne at Inverary - Further Information
Picturesque Inverary town taken from the tranquil waters of Loch Fyne and Loch Shira in Argyll. The picture postcard view of the distinctive grand white buildings and imposing Duke's Tower make Inverary an instantly recognisable Scottish village.The Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell, have their seat at Inverary Castle. Renowned throughout history as a compassionate landlord and highly respected even through to modern day, this landlord family rebuilt Inverary village entirely in the 17th century while rebuilding their own castle nearby. As such, their villagers found themselves living in what is still one of the most attractive villages in Scotland.
Inverary Castle itself is distinctive and magnificent, housing fine arts, antiquities and decor in a very beautiful setting. Set back amongst the trees to the right of the village in this panorama, it enjoys 2 acres of sculpted gardens and 14 acres of parkland within its grounds and is surely one of the most interesting and unforgettable places to visit in this area.
Inverary Jail is the very large, brown-stone, square-looking building to the far left of the village right on the sea front. Known as a living 19th century prison, its official use continued until the late 20th century when it fell into disrepair. Extensive renovations were funded by private investment and the prison reopened to the public, but this time as a visitor attraction with re-enactments of trials in the courthouse and interactive exhibitions where you can go behind bars to sample the harsh lifestyle, chains, and mock punishments of the wretched inmates.
The harbour area and Front Street are the main areas of the village and are easy to walk around. The Maritime Museum at the harbour hosts the Arctic Penguin ship, a triple-masted Schooner, and the infamous "The Vital Spark", the Steamer ship which was subject of the comedy television series and still fondly remembered by Scots.
The village itself is small but caters well for visitors with bed and breakfast accommodations, hotels and several fine dining restaurants. Set amongst the lochs and hills of Argyll, it's a great base to explore the great outdoors and well loved as a romantic getaway.
Travel Directions and Getting There:
From Glasgow, by road: A82 North to Tarbert, then A83 to Inveraray. Approx 1.5 hours. From Edinburgh: M8 motorway to Glasgow, cross the Erskine Bridge join the A82 (as above). Nearest airports are Glasgow and Edinburgh International Airports.