Puck’s Glen

Puck’s Glen is a deep, rocky woodland gorge on the Cowal Peninsula, threaded by the Eas Mòr burn and a chain of small waterfalls. The established circular walk is about 2.5 km and takes roughly one to one and a half hours, with 126 metres of ascent. It is a good choice when you want a proper change of scenery without committing to a mountain day: the path quickly leaves the broad forest track and enters a dark, enclosed ravine beneath tall Douglas firs.

The best part is the steady variety. The route crosses the burn on footbridges, climbs short flights of rocky steps and squeezes between moss-covered walls, ferns and dripping banks. This is not one grand waterfall viewed from a platform; it is a succession of cascades, pools and little turns in the gorge, with the water appearing and disappearing beside the path. The footing is uneven, and some sections have unprotected drops. After rain, the falls become livelier but the rocks and steps can be slippery.

James Duncan developed the pathways through the gorge in the 1870s, when he owned the Benmore estate. The name plays on Puck’s enchanted woodland in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which suits the shaded, ferny atmosphere better than a bare list of measurements does. The Gaelic name Eas Mòr means “big waterfall”, a reminder that the burn—not a single lookout—is the point of the walk. For photos, walk into the gorge and include a bridge, handrail or stretch of steps with the burn and mossy rock; those foreground details show what makes this place different from an ordinary woodland stream.

The entrance is on the east side of the A815, about five miles north of Dunoon and a mile south of Benmore Botanic Gardens. The car park is free and there is a picnic area. The nearest public toilets and café are at Benmore Botanic Gardens, so it is useful to pair the two stops rather than expect a full service trailhead here. Buses between Dunoon and Inveraray can stop at the entrance on request.