Furnace Drove Road (Ford to Carron) Show path on map
Start location: Carron ( NR 944 996 )
End location: Kilneuair road-end, B840, 2.5km east of Ford ( NM 884 037 )
Geographical area: Argyll and Bute
Path type: Drove Road
Path distance: 9km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
Carron, partly restored as an MBA bothy, lies at the meeting point of two droving routes to Furnace: this one from Ford via Kilneuair; the other from Kilmichael Glassary. Our description follows the route in the opposite direction to the droves, i.e. from Carron to Kilneuair.
From Carron, go northwest uphill, steeply at first, on a rough track which is indistinct and boggy in places, into open country to reach a height of approximately 365m. Descending Bealach Gaoithe (windy pass) to the north end of Loch Gainmheach (sandy loch), the track passes several hill lochs, before further descending Bealach Ruadh (red pass). After about 1.5 miles the track reaches a farm track leading to Finchairn. Care is required to ensure that the track is followed in a northwesterly direction to the ruined medieval church at Kilneuair, as the Finchairn track is the more obvious. From the church, the track heads down to the B840 road. Ford can be reached a further 2km to the west along the B840.
OS Landranger 55
Heritage Information
This right of way formed part of an important drove road linking Loch Awe side and Loch Fyne side and is detailed in the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland's inventory for Mid Argyll. On the Roy map (1747-52), this old route from Ford can be seen crossing the Muir of Leckan, as well as the routes from Kilmichael Glassary and Durran.
Ford is said to have originally been known as the Ford of the Hazels. It once had a drover's inn, the change-house, also known as the Crown House (now a B&B) - this particular Ford Inn predated 1864's listed Ford Hotel (now closed). The change-house will have been an important resting point between the drove road from Salachary to the west and this onward route via Carron.
