Located on the beautiful Cowal Peninsula, Dunoon is an underrated lovely seaside town in Scotland. The area offers a couple miles of shoreline, a lovely promenade, local shops, and even a castle. It makes for a perfect day trip from Glasgow! Here’s what to do in Dunoon, Scotland.
As this in my nana’s hometown, I’ve gotten to know this underrated place to visit in Scotland very, very well. So enjoy my perspective on exploring this gem of the west coast.
How to get to Dunoon, Scotland
If you are doing a Glasgow to Dunoon day trip, the best way to get there is by taking the train from Glasgow Central Station. You will board one of the Gourock trains; there are usually 2 trains an hour. Get your ticket at the station or by using the Scotrail app. The journey is 40-50 minutes.
From there, you will get off at Gourock and just follow the signs for the ferry terminal to Dunoon. Depending on what train you booked, you’ll either need to wait about 20 minutes or be able to board quite quickly after you arrive in Gourock. The Gourock to Dunoon ferry takes about 25 minutes.
See the Calmac ferry timetable here. Sometimes if the weather is really windy, there will be a replacement bus shuttle, but you can get that from the ferry as well.
You can also drive from Glasgow to Dunoon by riding the car ferry by Western Ferries Gourock. You will arrive at Hunter’s Quay, which is just a couple minutes’ drive from Dunoon. See the timetable here.
Best things to do in Dunoon, UK – Is Dunoon worth visiting?
Follow this guide on what to do in Dunoon, and discover one of Scotland’s lesser-known small town gems.
Visit Dunoon’s Castle House Museum.
You’ll see it right when you get off the ferry from Gourock. It’s a small castle on a hill surrounded by a lovely garden area, which has walking paths and a hilltop view with a Highland Mary statue and a viewpoint
If I’m honest, the interior of the castle is nothing to write home about but tickets are only £3 for adults, so it’s a nice way to help support the town.
My favorite part of the Castle House Museum is the view it offers. It boasts a nice view of the Firth of Clyde and the town itself, so it’s absolutely worth checking out on a day trip to Dunoon.
Take a walk through Bishop’s Glen.
At the top of Nelson Street, you’ll find a path that leads you to Bishop’s Glen where you’ll find locals getting their daily exercise and walking their dogs.
Explore the reservoir of Bishop’s Glen as you make your way through a beautiful Scottish forest. It’s an easy trek with multiple paths and routes, making it a lovely way to explore the countryside at a relaxed pace.
Details on the walk can be found here.
Have lunch at the Argyll Hotel.
As a great place for Scottish cuisine in Dunoon, enjoy lunch at Argyll Hotel’s cosy restaurant. Find a table near the window to enjoy the views of the Clyde or if you’re lucky with the weather, there’s also a lovely balcony.
Prices are fair, the staff is friendly, and the views are nice. The Argyll Hotel is a great place to have lunch in Dunoon.
Check out the local boutique shops.
There’s basically two main shopping streets in Dunoon: Hillfoot Street and Argyll Street.
Hillfoot Street is lined with flags and offers a great healthy and eco-friendly shop, an art gallery, and several boutique clothing stores.
On the more bustling street, Argyll Street, you’ll find charity shops, tea rooms and restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. It’s not a long street, so wander along and see if anything catches your eye.
Visit Bookpoint Dunoon.
Dunoon has a charming bookshop with new releases, classics, and Scottish-related books and authors. It’s nestled beautifully on Argyll Street and it’s one of my favorite places to stop by when spending the day in Dunoon.
They also have a couple of tables inside and coffee available, so it’s a lovely way to unwind with a good book in hand.
Have coffee at The Boat House.
Located right along the water, The Boat House is one of the best coffee shops/cafes in Dunoon. It has a familiar and friendly atmopshere, free WiFi, plenty of cakes and sandwiches, and great views of the water—as much of Dunoon boasts.
I love to come here to read, write, or do work on my laptop. They have really generous hours, so it’s a perfect spot to spend some down time.
Overall, it’s a lovely spot also along the water, close by to the Dunoon ferry terminal.
Walk along Dunoon’s coast.
If you head south (left if you’re exiting the ferry terminal), you can walk along the pebbled bank of the Firth of Clyde. However, if you head north (right if you’re exiting the ferry terminal), you can follow along a promenade that will lead to nearby towns Kirn, Hunter’s Quay, and Sandbank.
It makes for an excellent peaceful walk and an even better cycle if you have a bike.
Speaking of bikes, another wonderful lesser-known destination of the west coast of Scotland, explore the Isle of Gigha (which can be reached in 2.5 hours by car from Dunoon) with its beautiful bike paths, gardens, and sandy beaches.
Visit Benmore Botanic Gardens.
One of the best things to do on a trip to Dunoon is visit the Benmore Botanic Gardens. It’s a 120-acre collection of plants from all around the world. With over 300 species of rhododendron, an avenue of Giant Redwoods, and a chance to see wildlife as well as plants from Asia to South America, you must head over to Benmore Botanic Gardens when visiting Dunoon, Scotland.
Tickets are fair at £7 (£6 concession) and children under 15 can visit for free. You can easily access the garden by taking the 486 bus towards Cairndow.
Take a walk through the mystical Puck’s Glen.
Enchanting and mystical are two ways to describe Puck’s Glen. Often met with a beautiful twinkle and moody atmosphere from the day’s drizzle, Puck’s Glen is a masterpiece of a walk. Make your way through this gorgeous glen as you traverse along streams, waterfalls, mossy walls, and wooden bridges.
It’s easily one of the most underrated hikes in Scotland, so enjoy the experience that not many will have.
This is easily one of my favorite things do in Scotland, Scotland.
Like reading about what to do in Dunoon? Check out another wonderful town in Argyll & Bute, Inveraray, which is famous for its castle (which you might recognize from Downton Abbey).
