Turns out there’s a link between Cumbria and this part of the Highlands.
A good walk from our stay in Taynuilt, one can find the grounds and buildings of the Bonawe Iron Furnace. It was built in 1753 with goal of producing “pig iron”, that is, crude iron, often used to help make steel. The company that built the iron furnace here on the southern shore of Loch Etive were from Cumbria, and chose this location as there plenty of wood around to produce charcoal, which was how the blast furnace would be fuelled.
At its high point this site produced 2,500 kg of pig iron a day. Ultimately, the advent of coke as a blast furnace fuel made the Bownawe Iron Furnace site less profitable and it closed down in 1876.
Just north of the furnace is the epic southern shore of Loch Etive, where one can enjoy massive views across the loch in any direction. After exploring this area, we finished up the day with a quick visit through Glen Orchy to the epic falls known as Eas Urchaidh.
All photos shot on my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. RAWs were converted in Lightroom, merged in Photomatix, then edited and finalised in Photoshop.
Inverawe House, built 300 years ago as a stronghold of clan Campbell. These days it houses the Campbell-Preston family, with a growing business involving smoked fish, meat, and game. Looming above in the distance is the ever-present Ben Cruachan .
The abandoned buildings of Bonawe Iron Furnace. This building was one of two charcoal sheds, built into a bank so that material could be brought in at the back of the building, at the top of the slope, and removed at a lower level at the front.
The top of the blast furnace building, surrounded by beautiful Highland autumn foliage on a moody overcast day.
The preserved ruins of the blast furnace. This composition was shot from the southern wing, known as the charging house, where raw materials were fed into the oven.
The heart of the furnace. Some of the buildings, such as the blowing house and the casting house, are now long gone; their foundations all that remains.
The heart of the Bonawe Iron Furnace site, framed by autumnal foliage.
North from the historical ruins we made our way towards the southern shore of Loch Etive. On the way, a small pond gave beautiful reflections of the massive Ben Cruachan in the distance.
From the old pier, looking all the way up towards Loch Etive’s northeastern head. Darkening clouds above press down on the mountains.
Glen Orchy #
After circling back to the car, we made a quick additional trip into Glen Orchy to checkout the series of falls of Eas Urchaidh .
This place is incredible; waterfalls pouring in everywhere as the valley bottom suddenly drops down into this mighty gorge.