Argyll walking festival steps up after four-year hiatus

It’s 21 years since Russell and Dorothy Bruce came up with the idea and two decades on it is scheduled to return from September 12-16 after a four-year gap due to covid and heavy weather in October 2023.

Dorothy, who now lives in the Borders, said: “It’s good to know that Cowalfest is still going.

“My husband and I started it in 2003 when Russell became one of the first directly-elected board members of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, not long after it came into being.

“Forestry and Land Scotland had received money to upgrade and create new all-purpose paths and were keen to have them utilised. Health boards were also advocating the benefits of outdoor activities for mental as well as physical health.

“The festival was only possible because of the many volunteer walk leaders, who along with their skills and knowledge of the walks, imparted information on the area, the wildlife and the history. The same went for the rangers of the many agencies involved,” added Dorothy.

A well-attended, public meeting was held in Strachur which led to a number of people volunteering to form a committee.

From the start, collaborations with musicians, local arts groups and other community organisations were a vital part of the strategy.

“Many of the other walking festivals at the time concentrated on fairly long walks. As not all our potential participants wanted a long hike, what we were trying to achieve was an event that lots of people could enjoy whether it was just a short stroll around old Dunoon or a walk that really challenged them which they would have been put off doing on their own.

“We hoped that that mix, along with other events, would let people see Cowal in a new light, different from the 1960s version many remembered, and come along for a few days to enjoy themselves and make new friends. I hope we achieved that in a small way,” added Dorothy.

For more details and to book a place on any of 24 walks and events please visit www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk/cowalfest.