A local Benderloch website: http://www.benderloch.com/
Tralee Beach: 10 minute walk from the house, pebble near end, sandy far end. There is a small play park above the sandy beach with a few swings and a zip wire for kids.
Cycle Track: There is a cycle track just across the road which goes to Fort William (with a few breaks and you have to cross the road to continue the track on the other side in a few places)
Places within a short distance of Benderloch:
Beinn Lora Walk: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/argyll/beinn-lora.shtml
Sutherland's Grove - a 10 minute drive, just past Barcaldine. A walk through woodlands with waterfalls. There is an impressive grove of huge douglas firs planted in the 1870s.
https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/sutherlands-grove
Fishing: self drive boats available if you would like to fish, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery, loch Etive https://www.tfcboats.com/
Dunstaffnage Castle - a 15 minute drive on the way to Oban
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/oban/dunstaffnage/
Port Appin - a 30 minute drive from Benderloch, past Castle Stalker (see link below) Port Appin is a lovely small village, with a small lighthouse, a good cafe/restaurant and a great path around the rocky shore. You can also take a short ferry ride from Port Appin over to Lismore - bicycles are available for hire.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/appin/portappin
http://www.port-appin-cottage.co.uk/activities/22-cycling
http://www.castlestalker.com/wp/
My favourite place: Easdale Island
Easdale, a small slate island, is about a 50 minute drive from Benderloch. You take a 3 minute 'ferry' over the water from Seil Island. The drive there is stunning and the views from the top of the small hill on Easdale are fabulous. On the way there you drive over 'the only bridge over the Atlantic'
http://Visit Easdale Island – A car free Scottish island. Population: 59
There is a great wee pub/restaurant, very reasonable prices, with a fabulous view from the back patio, if you have time you should pop in!
http://oysterbareasdale.com/index.html
While on Easdale you could also take an exciting sea safari. Check the calendar on their website to see if they are sailing and have places available. If no sailing is scheduled, they will sail for minumum 6 passengers (depending on weather).Quite pricey (£45 per adult) but children/family rates available. Call to enquire.
http://www.seafari.co.uk/oban/
There is also a sea wildlife boat which leaves from Seil Island and you can go sea kayaking:
http://www.seakayakscotland.com/
http://www.sealife-adventures.com/
A close second favourite of mine place is the Glencoe Lochan. A very peaceful easy walk round a man made lake, so easy to take great photos (see photo gallery)
http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/glencoe-lochan-p402081
Exciting stuff to do in Oban:
Oban is known as "the gateway to the islands". There are ferries to Mull, Colonsay, Barra and lots more:
Sea kayaking:
Island of Kerrera: if you like walking, take the short ferry trip (no cars) from just past Oban ferry terminal, and visit Gylen Castle on this lovely small inner-Hebredian island.There is a nice teahouse open March- September
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kerrera/kerrera/index.html
Boat/Wildlife tours:
There are several different companies which organise boat tours and wildlife tours. Several of my guests have used Staffa Tours and thoroughly enjoyed their day out. Note these tours are extremely popular in the summer so it is advisable to book in advance.
http://www.westcoasttours.co.uk
Seal colony visits: To find out if boat is running during other days of the winter period (will depend on the weather) call 01631 565 059
Visit Oban Distillery: NB there is an hourly bus from Benderloch to Oban if you want to leave the car and have a few drams :-)
http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/oban-distillery-visitors-centre-p418591
Visit Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds:
Golf : Glencruitten golf club near Oban http://www.obangolf.com
Fitness centre/softplay: https://www.atlantisleisure.co.uk/
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There are so many places to visit in the area that it's impossible to list everything - examples are Fort William, Ben Nevis, Glenfinnan and Glencoe to the north, or Kilmartin Glen and Inverary to the south.
If the weather is kind to you, and you are interested in walking, you could try the Glenfinnan Viaduct circuit (of Harry Potter bridge fame). Just past Fort William, see the directions part of the site for directions from Benderloch. This website also allows you to choose walks in a specific area of the highlands, such as Glencoe:
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/glenfinnan.shtml
http://Walkhighlands: Scotland walks and accommodation
For some other interesting places see the following links
http://www.inverawe-fisheries.co.uk/ - about a 30 minute drive from Benderloch, a rather bumpy drive down a wooded road. If you like smoked salmon and trout, there is a nice smell when you arrive at the smokery, and some nice walks nearby.
Fort William : http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk
Calendonian Canal: you can walk along part of this canal, entrance just past Fort William - another of my favourite walks (no hills!)
https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/canals/caledonian-canal/
Glencoe: http://www.glencoemountain.com
https://www.woodlands.scot/activities-experiences/
Kilmartin: http://www.kilmartin.org
Inverary: https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/inveraray-p235311
Inverary Jail: http://www.inverarayjail.co.uk/
Inverary Castle: http://www.inveraray-castle.com/
Cruachan, the Hollow Mountain: http://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/ Mon-Fri 09:15-16:45. Guided tours available on request
