Kintyre and Campbeltown

Sep 14th, 2015

Kintyre and Campbeltown

Day three of the home holiday, and unfortunately R’s dodgy knee has started playing up after our epic (1167m) ascent on Sunday. So we decided to have a rest from climbing and go out to the Kintyre peninsula.

We went out on the ferry from Portavadie to Tarbert. Looks as though the new marina, restaurant and spa at Portavadie are very swish (and from what I have heard are proving very successful). Some pretty views from the ferry and then we drove on to Campbeltown. Kintyre was not quite what I was expecting – the beaches all along the route of the A83 are sensational, pure white sand and fantastic views out to Jura, but the land itself is very agricultural.

After a stop for some photos and rock pool viewing, we went on to Campbeltown which is a long way from anywhere (well over 100 miles from Glasgow by road even though it can’t be even half that as the seagull flies), and to be honest is a bit underwhelming and run down. We wandered about a bit, saw the 1900s historic cinema, had a nice lunch at the Harbourside Grill and bought an expensive bottle of whisky (for R – not me – I am not a fan). Then we went on to see the end of the peninsula and the Mull of Kintyre.

I have to say that I always liked the song (although R claims to hate it – my rendition at least), but again, the place itself did not grip. It was a headland with a beach and a bit of a smell of ‘coo’. There were some interesting caves, and ‘St. Columba’s footprints and well’. I had the obligatory paddle, and then we turned for home.

The drive back seemed very, very long and we were glad to be home.

Presuming R’s knee is feeling better – tomorrow we will do another walk we have been meaning to for ages – the Cowal Way between Strachur and Lochgoilhead.

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