About
Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace, near Taynuilt at the head of Loch Etive, is the most complete charcoal-fuelled ironworks in Britain. A Cumbrian ironmaster founded it in 1753, drawn by Argyll's woodland for charcoal and by water to power the bellows, and it fired almost continuously for more than 120 years, the longest-lived charcoal blast furnace in Scotland, until the 1870s. Iron ore came by sea from Cumbria, and around 600 local Gaelic-speaking charcoal burners worked the woods each season. You can trace the whole process: the lade from the River Awe to the waterwheel, two vast charcoal sheds, the ore shed, the charging house, and the furnace and casting house where ore was smelted into pig iron. The furnace made cannonballs during the Napoleonic Wars, and in 1805 its workers raised Britain's first monument to Nelson, at Taynuilt; its slate plaque is on display. The site is bigger than it looks, and reviewers praise the staff introductions. Park at the bottom, by the ticket office.
ClosedPick a day for times and prices
- Until 31 Mar
- Closed
- From 1 Apr
- Daily 09:30–17:00, last entry 16:00
Today, Saturday 24 October
- Bonawe Historic Iron FurnaceClosed
Opening times may change at short notice.
1 April to 30 September daily 9.30am to 5pm; last entry 1 hour before closing; closed 1 October to 31 March. Historic Scotland recommends booking an entry slot in advance to guarantee entry. No works notice on 18 October 2026.
The site is on a hill with shingle and cobbles on its slopes; the main circular route round the buildings is about 250 m on gravel and grass, uneven in places. The shop is step-free, and the main exhibition room has step-free access to both levels from outside, with 8 wooden stairs between them inside. Toilets on site; the nearest adapted toilet is 9.5 miles away at Tesco, Lochside, Oban. No cafe or audio guide. Dogs on leads outdoors, not in roofed areas.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a lead at all times but not in roofed areas, and must never be left unattended. The site is open only 1 April to 30 September. The outdoor circuit round the buildings, on a lead.
Photo: Bonawe's stone charcoal sheds and furnace buildings across the grassy slope, with cloud over the hills beyond. Euan Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fuirneis_Iarainn_Bhun_Abha,_Taigh_an_Uillt_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2889586.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Reviews & Tips
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
