Glen Shira

Glen Shira is a quiet glen in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland, at the northern end of Loch Fyne near Inveraray. It is a Special Area of Conservation, protected for its wildlife and scenery. The River Shira flows through the centre, starting at 350 metres above sea level. The river powers the 5 MW Sròn Mòr power station dam before running for eleven kilometres to Loch Dubh and Loch Shira. Loch Shira gives its name to the MV Loch Shira ferry that sails nearby on Loch Fyne. The glen is mostly a resident’s sheep farm with scattered houses such as Elrigbeg, Elrig More, Kilblaan and Drimlee. A single-track road climbs the glen to the dam and splits to reach Drimlee via a bridge over the River Shira. The glen was once home to Rob Roy MacGregor, who lived there briefly under the protection of John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll. Rob Roy built a house and a fank for sheep or cattle, though he left after the 1719 Jacobite Rebellion. Visitors find a peaceful landscape of rolling hills and the clear River Shira. The remains of Rob Roy’s house and fank still stand in the upper glen. A single-track road leads up to the dam, offering views of the power station and the surrounding hills. The glen’s conservation status means rare plants and animals thrive here. Loch Shira’s small inlet reflects the hills, linking the glen to Loch Fyne.