Inveraray

Overview

A classic example of an eighteenth-century planned town, Inveraray has a truly memorable setting overlooking the still waters of Loch Fyne.

Established in 1745 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll, head of the powerful Clan Campbell, the town is an absolute set piece of Scottish Georgian architecture. Key buiildings that are worth visiting include the Neoclassical church, and Inveraray Jail and courthouse, now an award-winning museum that graphically recounts prison conditions from medieval times up until the 19th century.

A shortwalk north of the New Town, the neo-Gothic Inveraray Castle remains the family home of the Dukes of Argyll. Built in 1745, it was restyled in the 19th century with the addition of dormer windows and conical roofs. Inside, the most startling feature is the armoury hall, whose displays of weaponry rise through several storeys. The castle is set in extensive grounds which contain a number of marked walks, the most strenuous of which rises over 800 feet to the tower atop Dùn na Cuaiche from where there's a spectacular view over the castle, town and loch.