Kilchurn Castle is located 2 miles from St Conan’s Kirk and is one of Scotland’s most photographed castles.
Although the “classic view” of Kilchurn Castle is from the road to Inveraray, there is a distant view from St Conan’s Kirk along Loch Awe through the trees to the distant Kilchurn castle.

To reach Kilchurn Castle from St Conan’s Kirk, head east along the A85. Drive through the village of Lochawe, passing the Ben Cruachan Inn and the Loch Awe Hotel and out of the 30 mph speed limit. Follow the main road over the River Orchy and just over bridge on the right hand side you will see signs for the Castle car park.
When leaving the car park, please use caution, as the traffic on the A85 may be travelling around 60mph (100kmh).

Kilchurn castle is maintained by Historic Scotland and the castle door is only opened during the high season from 1st April . At other times you can only walk around the exterior.
The route from the car park to castle is off road on a wide path, however the approximate distance to the castle is 1 kilometre. You will pass under the railway bridge which is one of the most photographed railway bridges in Scotland. There is a gate just past the bridge to keep cattle and sheep in the field.

Originally the castle was built on an island, however the water level in the Loch is now lower, meaning that it is a peninsula, apart from times after severe heavy rain, when the loch level is very high. It is possible to walk all the way around the castle, although the grass can be slippery and there is uneven ground. from the castle you can just see St Conan’s Kirk on the north shore of Loch Awe.
The entrance to Kilchurn Castle passes through a dark room at the base of the early keep and you emerge into the courtyard. There are then load of things to explore; towers, barracks, halls, fireplaces, staircases and more. Some of the towers are closed off for repairs (as of 2020) but you can still access many areas. There are a number of information boards with the history of Kilchurn castle.
Viewing from the Water
If you have kayaks or canoes, it is possible to launch them at a point just under the railway bridge. You can then paddle up and around the peninsula, getting a unique view of the Castle from the water. If feeling particularly energetic, you could carry on down the Loch to also get a view of St Conan’s!
Depending on the water level, the area to to west of the Castle can be very shallow and you may bottom out.

Taking your Dog
Dogs must be kept on a lead as there are sheep and cows grazing and the sheep are often hidden in the deep grass.
Whilst it might seem fun to allow your dog to play in the water, especially on a warm day, we would strongly recommend that you keep them out of the Loch. As a fresh water loch, Loch Awe is prone to blooms of Blue/Green Algae. If ingested, this can prove fatal to dogs and is extremely fast acting. Sadly, there have been a number of reported fatal cases over the last few years.
Old Pictures of Kilchurn


