The Plan

A special place

Our project is not just about stabilising the bricks and mortar of the Old Castle. We aim to make sensitive improvements to the whole area round the castle at Lachlan Bay while respecting its natural beauty, wildlife and historic importance, and supporting the local community.

Special places like this, with nationally important heritage and environmental assets, can play a big part in ensuring the social and economic resilience of rural communities. They bring positive benefits to local businesses, stop the drift of people to towns and cities, attract young families whose children keep the local school open, and contribute to a thriving social and cultural life and a healthy population. Investment in these special places is essential.

Old Castle Lachlan is a special and valued place to everyone who discovers it.  Its increasing popularity to visitors means we need to ensure the site remains safe, undamaged and accessible to as many as possible. We also want enhance people's enjoyment and understanding of the heritage and contemporary importance and value of the site.

We are planning improvements to paths around the coast, a new bridge and car parking, more information on site, new tree planting and safe access inside the castle itself, including up to wall walk height. People will be able to spend a whole day here and go away feeling they have had a very special, rich experience in a unique, unspoilt place, one they will want to return to again and again.

Click here to see a masterplan of the project.

A wonderful day

Visitors will be able to make a day of it. As well as the Old Castle, there is lovely Strathlachlan church, a Georgian gem, and recently conserved Kilmorie Chapel, the resting place of the Maclachlan clan chiefs and one of the few remaining medieval church buildings in the West of Scotland. Then there are the coastal paths and bays to explore, teeming with wildlife and offering spectacular views of Loch Fyne. They lead to the site of an ancient settlement and the ruins of Kilbride chapel. Everyone can enjoy a bracing walk or tranquil rest by the loch, escaping from busy and stressful lives and feeling part of the natural world.

And at Lachlan Bay, the start or finish for a day's visit, is Inver Cottage, one of the best loved restaurants in the West of Scotland. There are spectacular views of both old and new castles and the loch from the restaurant where you can enjoy morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner.

The Lachlan Trust, run by volunteers, has a forty year lease on the Old Castle and its immediate area. The conservation plan has been drawn up by specialist architect Martin Hadlington. We are working with Historic Scotland and other local and national organisations to enhance understanding of our area including Argyll and Bute Council, Strathlachlan Community Association, the Here We Are Centre at Cairndow, and the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. The Discover Bute Landscape Partnership Scheme, the Friends of Portencross Castle and the Association of Preservation Trusts are among the organisations who have offered advice.