Coastal Habitat

This bench was repaired by local creatives during COP27 (October 2022). The bench and surrounding work (prints and gutter repair) aims to provide a space for people to meet, chat, sit, and think about the positive actions they could take to protect biodiversity and improve the health and wellbeing of the local community here in Dunoon.

Otters have been spotted feeding in the rocky shallows at East Bay in Dunoon. Members of Cowal Wildlife Group have also recorded photos of waterbirds such as curlews, goldeneye and oystercatchers, and fish including butterfish in the rockpool habitats. 

The Holy Loch Nature Reserve at Sandbank stretches across the head of the loch. There are 24 acres of ungrazed saltmarsh, wildflower meadows and woodland, with reedbed and bog, which are intersected by several burns.

Around 12 miles north of Dunoon, Ardentinny beach is on the shores of Loch Long. It has the longest sandy beach in Cowal and lies in part of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. Buzzards, oystercatchers, grey herons, common seal and porpoise, there's plenty of wildlife to see from the beach and in the nearby woodland.