Biodiversity map of the Dunoon area

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. 

Walk through the Scottish native woodland of oak, ash, birch, rowan and hazel at Ardnadam. Look out for the lichens and mosses that indicate that this woodland is part of Scotland's growing temperate rainforest. 

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.

Bishop’s Glen sits at the foot of the hill known as Bishop’s Seat and is a popular place locally for walking, running and fishing.

A community-owned and run site that includes spaces to sit and enjoy nature and the view. Blairmore Gardens also has facilities to allow people to enjoy and identify nature including some interpretation boards, bug hotels and an insect viewer. There are raised beds where people can bring food to grow and share. At the top of the field, there is a large, mature oak tree that is home to lots of wildlife and various types of gall such as oak apples, silky button galls and spangle galls.

Nestled behind the colourful Tigh na Cladach eco-house development on the outskirts of Dunoon, Bullwood nature trail is a wooded hillside that was once the extensive garden grounds of a mansion house called Alderwood. There are many mature trees and many woodland plants, including hawthorn, primroses, foxgloves, ferns, mosses and fungi. A wildlife pond is a habitat for frogs and more. The site it currently quite overgrown in places with some large patches of invasive plants including Himalayan balsam.

The grounds of the community hospital are mainly to the front, running along Argyll Street (A885). Mature trees are dotted around one section of the large lawn area. The lawn appears to be regularly mown, except for one thin strip by the pavement on Argyll Street. A couple of trimmed native hawthorn trees grow along the same edge, near to the bus stop on Argyll Street. The blossom attracts pollinators and the dense growth habit of hawthorn makes it a safe habitat for small birds. 

Mature trees and hedging, which line the Argyll Street edge of the station are alive with birdlife. The trees are planted on a regularly mown lawn. The trees give the main road, Argyll Street, a lush appearance. The Argyll Road side of the station has a large section of open lawn, which doesn't appear to be used for anything and is regularly mown. 

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. 

Built in the 1840s as a kitchen garden for the local estate, Glenfinart Walled Garden in Ardentinny is now community-led garden and in keeping with its kitchen garden roots. An orchard grows native fruit trees, and there are beds and a polytunnel for growing organic fruit and vegetables. Children can explore the bird hide, bug hide and sensory garden, created in partnership with BBC Beechgrove Garden.  A wildflower area is full of bee-friendly flowers as part of the Friends of the Earth's Bee cause campaign.

Overlooking the Holy Loch, Grahams Point Heritage Park is a green space with a children's play area, a monk's hut and a monument to James Duncan, the owner and improver of the Benmore estate. The small beach on the edge of the park is habitat for many different sea birds, including oystercatchers, eider ducks, mallards, herons, curlew, gulls, redshank and sandpipers. The diverse marine life in the loch includes fish such as cod, haddock, mackerel, saithe, salmon and sea trout. You may also see grey seals, harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and otters.

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.

 Kilmun Arboretum is at the western end of the village, close to Historic Kilmun church and graveyard. Tree lovers can enjoy a stroll through the small forest which is home to over 150 species of trees from around the world, including Japanese cedar, Oregon maple and West Himalayan spruce, as well as redwoods, sequoias and monkey puzzles. There are three walking routes to choose from and they’re open all year. Whilst walking you may be lucky and see red deer, red squirrels and the heronry.              

A small area at the bottom of the drive between the hospital and the stadium that contains well-established trees including beech, oak, hazel, rowan, as well as wildflowers and stream.

The river Eachaig flows from Lock Eck to the Holy Loch passing the Cot House, Kilmun. Built in 1885, the Eachaig bridge is a listed building. This wetland is a habitat for many sea birds. You may spot kingfishers, sand martins, dippers, waders, geese, wading birds and mallards along the sand banks. There have even been sightings of osprey, sea eagles and otters. Sea trout, salmon and grey mullet are among the fish species in the river. 

The one saving grace of this small and neglected public park is the stunning display of cherry blossom in April and May each year.  Despite its name, there are no roses here any longer. Close to both local supermarkets and doctors' surgeries, this site could offer much more as a space to rest and relax in the heart of the town. The long-closed public toilet block is a blight site.  

West Bay sits at the intersection between the built and natural environments. The wide promenade, built in the 1880s to replace a narrow rocky beach path, makes West Bay easily accessible to walkers, wheelchair users and cyclists.

If you look west from the A880 at Cot House you will see a lovely area of woodland on the banks of the Eachaig river. It often floods at very high tides, especially after lots of rain, which creates a different kind of habitat from other woodlands nearby. 

A sloping area in the grounds of some flats with wild flowers.

Waste ground in a residential area which isn't suitable for building on due to marshy and boggy ground. This area provides a vital habitat and refuge for local wildlife such as hedgehogs, frogs, insects and birds. The occasional deer have even been reportedly sighted here. Plant life grows here uninhibited.