Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace
Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace is quite an unusual heritage site. It is an industrial site in a beautiful natural setting – quite unexpected upon arrival. The nature and tranquillity around the area near Loch Etive make it hard to believe it was once a bustling furnace – and it is the most intact charcoal-fuelled ironworks in Britain.
Why visit Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace?
Perched on the banks of the breathtaking Loch Etive, in the beautiful village of Taynuilt, next to a nature reserve, you will find Bonawe Iron Furnace. The woodland, with many lovely walks, once fuelled the ironworks with local oak. The ironworks were established in 1753 and continued until the 1870s, producing pig iron and cannonballs. It is an interesting site to explore, with several outdoor interpretive panels to learn more about the site. There are the remains of buildings and indications of how water supplied the iron works from the local river—a must-visit, lesser-known site to learn about something a bit different whilst visiting Argyll.
Image credit: Kelpie Media
Where to Eat & Drink
The Taynuilt Inn in the village provides a cosy, welcoming Gastro pub offering hot meals made with local produce from the surrounding area.
Discover Taynuilt
Good to Know / Planning Tips:
- Style: Perfect for history enthusiasts.
- How to get there: It takes approximately 25 minutes to drive from Oban. Take the A85, then take the left-hand turning when you reach the signpost for Bonawe Iron Furnace in Taynuilt village. Take time to travel down the more minor road, then track to the small, free Iron Furnace car park. For buses, take one from Oban to Taynuilt Hotel (21 minutes), and from there it is a 21-minute walk to the site. If you are taking the train, stop at Taynuilt station and walk the last 20 minutes.
- Access: Uneven terrain and track.
- What to pack: Sturdy footwear for uneven terrain, weatherproof clothing, and a packed lunch.
- Best time of year to visit: Summer season, as the small ticket office and toilets are open. Outside of this, you can still park and walk around the site, using the interpretive boards to learn about its heritage.
- Facilities: There are toilets on site (open only during certain hours). There are also public toilets in the nearby village of Taynuilt. There are no on-site food vendors; there are a few small shops in the town of Taynuilt to purchase basic supplies.
KILCHURN CASTLE
Kilchurn castle is a must visit destination whilst in Argyll. It is a 15th century castle (now ruins) that is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.
DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE
A visit to Oban is not complete without popping to visit Dunstaffnage Castle. The castle is one of the oldest dating back to before 1240 and was the base for the MacDougall clan
DUNOLLIE CASTLE & MUSEUM
Dunollie Castle and the Dogstone are a fantastic way to spend a day in Oban.
ST CONAN'S KIRK
St Conan’s Kirk is a must visit when in Argyll as it has natural beauty looking out onto Loch Awe, character, an interesting history of the Kirk itself and an active local community within the church today.
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