Dunoon Pier

The first pier in Dunoon was built 1835, it was enlarged in 1867 and again in 1881.  The pier you see today was built in 1895.

In June 2009, the Waverley struck Dunoon Pier in what was described by the Waverley website as ‘landing heavily’.  Both the steamer and the pier were damaged and a few passengers suffered minor injuries.

Overlooking the pier is a statue of Mary Campbell, known as Highland Mary

Robbie Burns first saw Mary Campbell in church while he was living near Tabolton. He dedicated the poems “The Highland Lassie O”, Highland Mary and To Mary in Heaven to her. His song “Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary, And leave auld Scotia’s shore?” suggests that they planned to emigrate to Jamaica together, unfortunately, after a brief illness she died at Greenock in 1786, aged 23.

Highland Mary
By Robert Burns

Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
The castle o’ Montgomery,
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!
There Simmer first unfald her robes,
And there the langest tarry:
For there I took the last Fareweel
O’ my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom’d the gay, green birk,
How rich the hawthorn’s blossom;
As underneath their fragrant shade,
I clasp’d her to my bosom!
The golden Hours, on angel wings,
Flew o’er me and my Dearie;
For dear to me as light and life
Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Wi’ mony a vow, and lock’d embrace,
Our parting was fu’ tender;
And pledging aft to meet again,
We tore oursels asunder:
But Oh! fell Death’s untimely frost,
That nipt my Flower sae early!
Now green’s the sod, and cauld’s the clay,
That wraps my Highland Mary!

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips,
I aft hae kiss’d sae fondly!
And clos’d for ay the sparkling glance,
That dwalt on me sae kindly!
And mouldering now in silent dust,
That heart that lo’ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom’s core
Shall live my Highland Mary.