Beinn Cloined, Torr Dubh Mor and Kilbride Hill Loop

This roughly 11 km / 6.8 mile loop on the hills above Dunoon is a gentle-to-moderate outing by Highland standards, with around 200 m / 656 ft of ascent spread across forest tracks, open hillside, and broad ridgelines. Although the gradients are generally kind, the route still feels like a proper hill walk because it climbs out of town into the higher ground of Kilbride Hill, linking the rounded tops of Beinn Cloined and Torr Dubh Mor before circling back. Expect a mix of compact gravel paths, earthy woodland sections, occasional muddy patches after rain, and more exposed ground higher up where wind can be a bigger factor than the elevation suggests. The usual access point for this area is Corlarach Car Park on Kilbride Road, just south of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute. (forestryandland.gov.scot)

For an easy-rated walk, the main challenge is not steepness so much as underfoot variation and exposure. The lower forest paths can be damp and slick, while the upper hill sections may be rougher, with short boggy or stony stretches depending on the line taken around the loop. Good waterproof footwear is still worthwhile even in dry spells. Because this is a relatively modest hill circuit, it suits walkers looking for wide views without a long mountain day, but low cloud can flatten the landscape and make the tops feel more featureless, so carrying HiiKER for route guidance is sensible. Forestry and Land Scotland has also posted closures on the Kilbride Hill Trail at times due to fallen trees, so it is worth checking current access conditions before setting out. (forestryandland.gov.scot)

What the route feels like

From the Corlarach side, the walk begins by climbing through commercial forest on well-defined tracks. These lower slopes are part of Corlarach in Argyll Forest Park, where larch and spruce plantations were established from the late 1940s onward, creating the wooded belt that now covers much of the hillside above Dunoon. As height is gained, breaks in the trees begin to open views over the town, the Firth of Clyde, and across to the opposite shore. Even early in the walk, this is one of the route’s strengths: the sense of rising quickly from a seaside settlement into open country. (forestryandland.gov.scot)

Higher up, the route leaves the more enclosed forest feel and becomes broader and airier. Beinn Cloined and Torr Dubh Mor are not dramatic rocky summits, but rounded hilltops that give the walk a spacious, moorland character. On a clear day, the outlook is much bigger than the numbers suggest, with Cowal spreading inland behind you and the Clyde estuary drawing the eye outward toward the coast. The terrain here is usually easier to stride out on than on steeper Highland peaks, though wet ground can slow progress. Because the ascent is only around 200 m / 656 ft overall, most walkers will find there is plenty of time to pause for views rather than treating it as a fitness test. The wider Corlarach area rises to just over 420 m / 1,378 ft, which gives a good sense of the scale of the upland above Dunoon. (forestryandland.gov.scot)

The return leg typically curves back through the upper forest roads and descending trails, where the route can feel more sheltered again. If conditions have been wet or windy, this lower section can be the messiest part of the day, especially where gravel gives way to earth. The loop format keeps the scenery changing, though, and avoids the feel of simply retracing steps.

Landmarks, views, and wildlife

The standout landmark throughout is the Firth of Clyde itself. Much of the walk is effectively a balcony above Dunoon, with repeated views over the water and toward the opposite Inverclyde shore. Dunoon’s position as a ferry-linked coastal town becomes especially clear from above, and the contrast between sea, town, plantation forest, and open hill is one of the route’s defining features. Forestry and Land Scotland specifically highlights the panoramic views from Corlarach over Dunoon and the Clyde coast. (forestryandland.gov.scot)

Wildlife is one of the quieter pleasures here. Corlarach is noted as a place where walkers may spot red deer