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Knockdow House is a beautiful Georgian mansion house situated in the town of Dunoon, which is in the Cowal peninsula at the heart of Argyll, a historic county of western Scotland. During the 1920s, the property belonged to the Laird of Knockdow, Sir Norman Lamont, who made a number of alterations and extensions to it.

Introducing Historic Argyll

Argyll is a place that is steeped in history and once you’re ready to step foot out of Knockdow House and beyond Dunoon, there is plenty to explore in the region.

Despite Argyll’s geographic location, the area enjoys a Gulf Stream climate, which means that temperatures are relatively mild. Even during the winter season, there are rare bouts of snow or frost, meaning visitors are free to explore at any time of year. This has resulted in rather unexpected plants and trees, including a number of specialist trees throughout the grounds of Knockdow House, such as eucalyptus, bamboo and palm.

Autumn is a particularly enjoyable time of year to visit Argyll. For those wishing to enjoy some off-the-beaten-track travel, Argyll is the perfect destination with its quiet roads and limited traffic.

Popular Places to Visit in Argyll

If peace and tranquillity is what you’re after then Craobh Haven is ideal. This small, purpose-built village and sailing port are on the west coast of Argyll, and offer many stunning views – especially over the marina.

Another popular tourist destination is the Kintyre Peninsula, a truly off-the-beaten-track, quiet location that is more island than mainland. It has a little village called Kilmartin, where you can visit carved stones in a historical graveyard. There are also five tall standing stones which were erected around 3,200 years ago in alignment with the sun.

The landscape of this region is truly breath-taking with magnificent views as far as the eye can see. There is also plenty of wildlife to be spotted including deer, sheep and cattle.

For those seeking something a little more adventurous, there is the whiskey distillery in Campbelltown, Tarbert Castle, or a day trip to the Isle of Gigha.

Further north is the little village of Ardbrecknish, on the eastern shore of Loch Awe. It is home to one of Scotland’s most beautiful lakes, where you can rent a boat and row to Kilchurn Castle, which is an outstanding ruined structure nestled amongst endless rolling hills.

If you feel like you still haven’t had your fill of nature then head towards Inveraray for a visit to the historic Ardkinglas Woodland Garden. This is a magical place brimming with an abundance of glorious trees, plants and flowers, including the tallest tree in Britain, a fir tree measuring over 64 metres!

While Knockdow House in itself is simply stunning both in and around the property, the region of Argyll boasts endless things to do. For nature lovers and adventurous alike, this is the ultimate location.