Kintyre top picks

kintyre

Both battered and blessed by the ocean that surrounds it, the Kintyre peninsula is breathtaking however you choose to explore it. Whatever the pace or style of your journey, once you get Kintyre sand between your toes, you will long to return again.

With views that surpass California’s celebrated Route 66 and far less traffic, the Kintyre 66 is a new (66-mile) driving route that loops the peninsula and takes in coastal and cultural highlights, including the historic town of Campbeltown and a hop over to the isle of Gigha – it is a truly spectacular motoring experience. Kintyre is well-suited to those travelling under their own steam, too, with plenty of scenic woodland and beach walks and the 103-mile Kintyre Way long-distance trail (much of which is accessible to bikes as well) waymarked from Tarbert to Southend and up to Machrihanish. Most visits to Kintyre start at Tarbert, a pretty fishing port with a striking church tower. Shops and cafes surround the harbour. It’s home to the ivy-covered ruin of Tarbert Castle, a medieval stronghold that was to become an important site for Robert the Bruce, and hosts annual seafood, music and book festivals.

Between Tarbert and Bellochantuy, the waves are so close to the road that you can almost taste the spray and it’s well worth stopping at Muasdale to do just that. If you have time to go further afield, Tayinloan is the port for the ferry to the lovely little Isle of Gigha, home to the celebrated Achamore Gardens, which are particularly lovely in late spring. The east coast of Kintyre may be its road less travelled, but there are rewards here, from castles to a ruined abbey. Set in lush vegetation with views to the Isle of Arran, the village of Carradale remains a working fishing port. A walk on the golden beach at Carradale Bay is bound to blow away any cobwebs, whether you cover its full mile and visit the Iron Age hill fort at the eastern point. As you draw closer to Campbeltown, the hill-top route boasts views of the islands beyond, and there are more lovely beaches, including Westport – which feels a million windswept miles away from the bustling neighbouring town. Looking out to the Isle of Davaar and its Stevenson lighthouse, there is plenty to discover in Campbeltown – from the variety of shops and restaurants, to the redeveloped sea front, and Tartan Kirk, a local history museum named for its colourful brick patterns. There are only

summer view overlooking Carradale Bay with the island of arran in the distance

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three distilleries left of more than 30 in the town’s heyday, but whisky still has an important role to play – with tours and tastings on offer. The palm trees that surprisingly dot the town centre today may be suggestive of a Caribbean resort, but if you are on a quest to find unblemished white sand dunes, head for nearby Machrihanish, a favourite water sports destination, and you can enjoy a round of golf in a splendid, world famous setting. The remote southern tip of the Mull of Kintyre may be most famous now for its link to Paul McCartney, but this is a spot rich with older history, too, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the Antrim coast.

DIARY DATe:

tarbert seafood Festival, July 2 and 3. a celebration of fish and shellfish with stalls on the harbour front and plenty to see and do.