The Ark

A stay at Loch Riddon Bothy allows the perfect opportunity to visit and wonder at our very own Ark.  It was built two years ago in a wonderfully scenic location, only eleven miles from the Bothy, above the village of Tighnabruaich on a hilltop with far reaching views down the west Kyle of Bute - on a clear day it is possible to see all the way to Arran. It is actually worth visiting in any weather.

Tighnabruaich resident David Blair wanted to raise awareness of the threat of Climate Change and this was his answer.  This modern Ark is six metres high, five metres wide and over twenty metres long.    It was constructed from larch trees that had been felled as they were suffering from a fungal disease which made them unfit for most construction projects. The simple wooden bench seat that winds its way around the base of the structure is designed to encourage reflection.

View down the West Kyle of Bute from inside the Ark

Showing a Detail of the Construction

Word of the Ark spread during the lead up to COP26 in November 2021 which was held in Glasgow.  Conference attendees chartered buses to travel from Glasgow to the Ark and the hillside was briefly alive with indigenous tribal leaders wondering at the construction and the view.

There is a long layby at the side of the road which makes parking easy and a little wooden gate opens onto a short winding path that takes you right up to the Ark.  It really is a visit in its own right but can easily be combined with trips a little further afield.

The Ark from the Roadside