The Great Outdoors
Experience the great outdoors on the doorstep of Loch Melfort Hotel.
Our unique situation by the coast and in beautiful Argyll means nature, fresh air and outdoor pursuits are yours for the taking.
Walks
There are plenty of nearby walks around the local hills and the coastline for those looking for a gentle wander. For walks slightly further afield, Argyll is quite literally covered in trails, through forests, down lochs and up a few Bens, if you fancy “bagging a Munro”. Take your pick from easy walks of under an hour to more arduous day-long treks on the Walk Highlands website with helpful downloadable maps and route notes. And come and have a lovely afternoon tea back at Loch Melfort Hotel afterwards to reward yourself for all the effort!
Pony-trekking
One lovely way to take in the scenery from a different viewpoint is to go on a pony trek. Local stables such as Lunga Riding Stables offer trail rides for both experienced riders and beginners. You can chose to ride by the shore, through forestry tracks or up local hills. If you are not an experienced rider and are wondering whether to try horse riding in winter, you might be pleased to hear that horses are warm animals who pass on their heat to you, keeping nice and toasty on the way. It exercises your leg muscles too. A great added bonus for what is a fantastic and natural way to visit the area.
Mountain-biking
If you want to bring your mountain bike along, we are not short on bike trails in the area. The Scottish Forestry Service provides excellent signposts and maps to a range of lovely forestry bike trails through Argyll Forestry Park, taking in some varying landscapes and sights. This is the perfect excuse to enjoy the scrumptious food at Loch Melfort which you can then burn off whilst getting to know our beautiful region.
Fishing near Loch Melfort Hotel
Anglers can have the chance to catch wild brownies in over 20 moorland lochs. Some are off the beaten track, but most are easily accessible. There is fresh water fishing in nearby Loch Awe with rainbow trout, wild brown trout and ferox trout, salmon, sea trout, arctic char, pike and perch.
Be sure to pick up a copy of the Oban & Lorn Angling Club’s “Guide to the Lochs” before you set out. Weekly/day tickets and hill loch permits are are available at Oban fishing tackle shops. Permits can also be obtained from Kilmelford Village Shop for fishing on Loch Oude (10 mins drive away) or from Scammadale Farm for fishing on Loch Scammadale (20 mins drive away). Weekly ticket holders can hire boats on some lochs.
If you would like to secure the help of a fishing guide, Duncan Pepper from Fishinguide Scotland is based in Inveraray but is able to travel to Loch Melfort Hotel to pick you and take you wherever you wish to go. With over 30 years’ fishing experience and having worked both in tackle sales, casting instruction and as a guide, he has a comprehensive knowledge of how best to catch the freshwater and saltwater fish of Scotland.
For more inspiration on what to do and where to go in Argyll, visit www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk, the guide to Scotland’s Adventure Coast.
