Pucks Glen Walk

Argyll and Bute’s Cowal Peninsula is a stunning natural area, carpeted in the dense Argyll Forest and host to a wide array of wildlife. The Pucks Glen Walk is the most popular nature trail on the peninsula and draws walkers of all abilities and ages due to its relatively short distance and minor elevation. Although the trail is suitable for children, buggies are not recommended, as the route does contain some sections featuring rocky steps and uneven ground.

Whether your day plans feature other adventures or you’re just limited on time, this 1.5-hour walk is the perfect way to get a quick dose of nature in an absolutely brilliant setting! A collection of cordial friends along the trail who call the Argyll Forest home, including red squirrels, beavers, and otters, make this walk great for spotting wildlife. The forest itself is also home to some of Europe’s most ancient oakwoods, and walking among them gives you the feeling of entering a magical world where time stands still.

From the Pucks Glen car park, begin the walk by heading towards the information board, which lays out various walking routes throughout the glen. You’ll follow the red route for this trail, which runs north up a road past a stretch of wooden chalets. Continue 0.3mi and join the path that heads up into the glen. Making your way up the right side of the rushing burn, you’ll navigate several footbridges, great vantage points to snap some photos of the waterfalls along the way. Keep children close as you make your way alongside the water, as the edge is often unprotected.

A series of stone steps pave the way for the next section, and you’ll find yourself flanked by the towering walls of the glen, clothed in thick green moss and swaying ferns. As the trail continues and the ascent becomes steeper, handrails will guide you upstream through the glen on a meandering path. A sign soon marks your completion of the Lower Glen section, and you’ll now continue to the Upper Glen.

In the Upper Glen, a short descent leads to more bridge crossings alongside more tumbling falls, making for a beautiful symphony of natural music to enjoy while walking this section. Continue the path that soon emerges out of the dense trees to an open track where you’ll find a four-way signpost. Turn right, following the track (signs for the Kilmiun Arboretum), looking for the waymarked return route, which veers to the right (the rightmost of the two paths that head right). Enjoy views of the strath to your left as the trail continues through a section of towering pines. Heading downhill, you’ll reach a junction where you’ll take a left to continue further downhill, crossing a wooden bridge and soon arriving back at the car park where the walk began.

Trail Highlights

Argyll Forest Park

Located on the Cowal Peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, Argyll Forest Park was established in 1935 and covers a sprawling area of over 124.3mi. The park is known for its ancient oakwoods and a wide array of diverse wildlife.