Things to do in the Area

Local Events When you are here, one of the best places to find out what is on in the area is the Co-op noticeboard in Lochgilphead. Forestry Commission Scotland runs events such as bat watching and fungi forays. Taynish National Nature Reserve is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage and has guided walks through the summer.

Walking and Cycling The network of forest roads in the area provides miles of cycling and walking routes directly from Seafield. Bike Hire is available from Crinan Cycles in Lochgilphead or you can borrow two of our bikes. The Firetower Trail is proving popular with mountain bikers.

Wildlife Watching Argyll has a richly varied wildlife habitat with plenty of opportunity for watching wild birds and animals. In and around Seafield there are otters, badgers, fox, deer, red squirrels and pine martens. Osprey are regularly seen feeding over Loch Sween and the River Add. In 2008 a young Sea Eagle was spotted at Seafield and on Loch Sween. Buzzards and heron are common sights and Hen Harriers can be seen hunting across the Moine Mhor. The loch has a resident population of seals. Everyone wants to see otters, and there are plenty of them in the area but they are shy creatures who avoid contact with humans. Early risers are most likely to have sightings. As well as wildlife, there is an astonishing range of wildflowers, mosses and lichens.

Beavers were introduced to Knapdale in Spring 2009. They can be seen on lochs within 3 miles of Seafield Farm. Further information is available at www.swt.org.uk or www.scottishbeaver.blogspot.com

Beaches There are two lovely sandy beaches at Kilmory Knap and Stronefield at the end of the peninsula. Crinan Ferry is another favourite beach for families.

Boat Trips There are a variety of boat trips from Achnamara, Crinan and Ardfern for fishing, watching wildlife, visiting Jura and travelling through the famous Gulf of Corrievreckan with it's whirlpools and standing waves. Many of our visitors have enjoyed these trips and have reported sightings of Golden and Sea Eagles, dolphins, porpoises and whales.

Churches Services rotate between Inverlussa, near Achnamara, Bellanoch and Tayvallich. The congregation welcomes visitors to its services. www.argyllcommunities.org/nknapdalecofs/

Pony Trekking Daltote Farm, 3 miles from Seafield offers pony trekking and riding lessons for all ages and experience. Travelling up into the hills on horseback gives an astonishing view of the surrounding hills and lochs.

History and Archaeology We are close to Kilmartin Glen which has a wealth of ancient archaeological sites with burial cairns and standing stones. The ancient kings of Scotland were crowned on Dunadd Hill, which gives too magnificent views and is a site of great historical importance. The award winning Kilmartin House Museum has displays, a bookshop and cafe. Ancient chapels at Keills and Kilmory Knap house ancient carved stones. The MacMillan Cross at Kilmory attracts MacMillans from all over the world. Castle Sween, further down the peninsula from Achnamara is one of the oldest castles in Scotland. Auchindrain Museum near Inveraray brings a historic farm community back to life.

Touring The roads are very quiet and the views stunning which makes touring in the area a pleasure. Inveraray Castle has its own Highland Games in the summer and Inveraray Jail is another popular visitor attraction. Oban and Campbeltown both have distilleries which are open to visitors.

Islands You can visit many of the islands of the Inner Hebrides from mainland Argyll. Ferries run from Oban to Mull and Iona and from Tarbert and Tayinloan to Islay and Gigha. There is a passenger ferry from Tayvallich to Jura which makes a great day out. www.jurapassengerferry.com

Eating Out There are a number of restaurants, bars and cafes in the area. Tayvallich has a Coffee Shop providing snacks and light meals and an Inn which has a restaurant and provides bar meals. The Cairnbaan Inn overlooking the Crinan Canal has a bar and restaurant. The Crinan Hotel has a coffee shop, bar and restaurant. Kilmartin House Museum has a cafe and restaurant in an oakwood conservatory overlooking Kilmartin Valley. At Ardfern you can visit The Galley of Lorne Inn and The Crafty Kitchen which serves food and also has a craft shop and exhibitions by local artists. You can sample excellent seafood by visiting the restaurants on The Seafood Trail

Fishing Permits for fly fishing on local hill lochs for brown trout are available from Loch Fyne Tackle shop in Lochgilphead. Permits and Boat Hire for fly fishing on Lochs Linnhe, Coillebharr and Barnluasgan are available from Seafield. In the summer months you can fish for mackerel on Loch Sween and Loch Fyne.

Basketmaking and Home Produce Jane makes and sells willow baskets and runs courses. She also makes a range of home baked scones, cakes, jam and bread. Eggs are usually available from our hens and in good summers, there may be surplus produce from the garden. See the blackboard for details. Baking and jams are sometimes available, see the blackboard for details.

Fungi Forays James can advise on good places to find edible fungi and will be able to identify what you collect before you cook it.

Golf Lochgilphead, Tarbert and Inveraray all have nine hole golf courses.

Gardens Crarae and Arduaine Gardens both have excellent plant and tree collections. The rhododendrons and azaleas are spectacular in the spring and early summer.

Green Tourism We were ‘green’ before it was fashionable and this has helped us to keep costs down and continue to improve the facilities for our visitors. Measures in place at Seafield include encouraging our visitors to separate their waste for recycling and composting, using low energy lights and appliances where possible, encouraging nonwasteful use of energy and water and using environmentally friendly and recycled products
where appropriate. The log boiler and woodburner provide heat from locally sourced logs. We hope visitors will use local shops and producers as much as possible. None of the measures in place will compromise your comfort in any way. You can borrow bikes or hire kayaks to explore the area.

Lochgilphead Nine miles from Seafield, 15 minutes by car, Lochgilphead has Banks, a Coop Supermarket, Tesco Express, Filling Stations, Hotels and Cafes and many small shops supplying a wide range of goods, foods and crafts, many of them locally produced. There are regular farmers markets where you can buy the best of local produce. Lochgilphead has an indoor swimming pool heated by log chip boiler. A full range of medical services is available in Lochgiphead.

Disabled Access Byre and Stable Cottage entrances are level and the main door is wider than normal. Interior doors are standard width. For visitors with limited mobility, the bathroom is on the ground floor and the living room has a bed settee. Kirkland is all on one level but there is a step up to each entrance. Space is limited in Kirkland so is not suitable for people with severely restricted mobility.

Arts & Crafts Artmap Argyll is a group of artists and crafters working in the area. There is an open studio event 13-16 August when you will have the opportunity to visit artists studios and see their work. Studios and workshops may also be open at other times by arrangement.