A walking festival in Argyll has enjoyed a successful comeback after four years of a hiatus.

The Cowalfest walking festival had five days of walks, talks and other events across the peninsula. Walkers from across Cowal and further afield took advantage of the range of scheduled hikes.

It is now being regarded as a ‘great success’ having had 10 months of planning to get it back after it had just spent four years not happening.

Included in the festival was a climb up An Creachan and a geology walk along the Innellan shoreline led by Dr Keith Torrance. That kicked off the festival on Thursday and there was also talking at Castle House Museum and the Forst School event.

Cowalfest chair Andy Armstrong was delighted with how the event went and praised everyone involved.

He said: “It’s been a great success and I’d like to place on record my thanks to everyone who took part as well as the knowledgeable walk guides, partners such as the Castle House Museum, Bothy Project, Forestry and Land Scotland, Historic Kilmun and Sunbeams Nursery in Innellan.

“A lot of work has gone into this year’s event over the past ten months with the committed volunteers on the Cowalfest committee as well as Tom Morton and Ciorsdan Fagan going above and beyond the call of duty.

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“Thanks also to the many generous local businesses who donated prizes for our ceilidh raffle. The ceilidh, held at Innellan Village Hall really did go with a swing with Canned Haggis guiding us through a range of traditional Scottish dances.

“The funding from Western Ferries, the National Lottery Community Fund, local donations and the kind people who refused to accept refunds for last year’s cancelled bookings have put us on a good footing for the future.

“It’s fair to say that Cowalfest is back on the map as one of Scotland’s biggest walking festivals and we’ll be looking to build on this year’s successes in 2025.

“We have tried to be as inclusive as possible with walks aimed at all abilities and I hope we’ve succeeded.

“There were a few logistical challenges that cropped up as you’d expect at an event over multiple days and locations but they were sorted out thanks, in part, to the understanding of walkers.

“It was also very encouraging to learn that many folks from beyond our spectacular corner of the world had booked accommodation specifically for the event.

“The challenge is to make next year’s Cowalfest even bigger and better. The work starts now.”

Feedback from participants was also overwhelmingly positive with one of the events coming in for special praise.

Davie Rutherford from Lochgilphead commented: “The Holy Loch Nature Reserve walk led by Dr Neil Hammatt was marvellous and inspiring to learn about the resilience of nature.”

Agnes Harvey from Blairmore, a former chair of Cowalfest and walk guide for the Carrick to Ardentinny ramble, echoed Davie’s words: “It was a fantastic walk and I’m so pleased that I got to see a kingfisher right at the start. The reserve is a precious natural resource that needs to be supported.”

Marie Flynn, a keen bird spotter, added: “It really was fascinating to see the range of wildlife on our doorstep.”