Scotland Off the Beaten Track

Argyll & Bute | Clachan | Half day walk | ★★★★

This is one of Kintyre's best walks, cramming a picture-postcard village, a small hill with stunning views, and a tranquil coastal and riverside section into under 4 miles. Dun Skeig's summit comes complete with two hilltop forts, while the modern house encountered on the descent has a setting guaranteed to make anybody jealous. Varied underfoot conditions mean this walk may well take longer than its length suggests - good footwear required - but don't let that put you off.


📌 Walk: Lochs of views from Dun Skeig ★★★★
Start / finish on minor road (street parking) in Clachan village centre, G.R.: NR 765561 ///highly.published.shelf

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 180 m | ⌚ Half a day | ⬤ Moderate
Summits: Dun Skeig (143 m) | Features: Dun Skeig hill forts
Terrain: Very varied. Minor road to Quinhill; track then occasionally boggy path to summit. Wet path on descent to Portachoillan. Coastal and riverside sections on a track which is often fi…

Argyll & Bute | Southend | Village sights | ★★

Aptly-named Southend sits at the, well, south end of the Kintyre peninsula, about 10 miles from Campbeltown. The Kintyre Way passes through the quiet village - where southbound walkers are only a day's walk from the finish at Machrihanish, ironically northwest of this point. Hopefully trail vision won't stop them from exploring the interesting nooks and crannies of this section of coastline, which includes a sweeping, sandy beach and some interesting caves, and a smattering of sights relating to St Columba, who later established the famous monastery on Iona.


📌St Columba's footprints; St Columba's well ★★
Description: Footprints carved into rock, possibly dating back to the year of St Columba's arrival on Kintyre in 563AD; the well has similar possible historic links.
By minor road a mile west of Southend, G.R.: NR 673078 ///hours.congested.hero
Always open | Free

Anything else? Space for one car only; head right (east…

Argyll & Bute | Southend | Headland / viewpoint | ★★★

Campbeltown is as far south as many people are prepared to go when they visit Kintyre. But since you've made all the effort to get here, it's worth continuing beyond the end of the A83, south on the B842 and then ever-narrowing roads towards the far southwestern tip of the peninsula. The windy road climbs steeply into increasingly remote country, before levelling off as it passes between two low hills at "The Gap". Abruptly a small parking area signals the end of the public road - beyond is the Mull of Kintyre coast and lighthouse. Immortalised in song by Paul McCartney, this Scottish Lands End is one of the country's best places from which to watch the sun set. Northern Ireland is only 12 miles away at its closest point, and seems even closer on a clear day. To get the best views you'll need to proceed on foot beyond the car park on disintegrating tarmac. Be warned: if you go the full distance to the l…

Argyll & Bute | Campbeltown | Half day walk | ★★★

Island Davaar! Adopt a pirate accent and it sounds even more exciting. Linked by a tidal causeway to mainland Kintyre near Campbeltown, its whole coastline is worth exploring. Sun-blushed sheep graze the lush grass between the causeway and picturesque lighthouse, whilst the south and east coasts boast tall cliffs and numerous caves. One of these contains a stunning cave painting - a life-size depiction of The Crucifixion drawn by Archibald MacKinnon in 1887 reputedly after a vision. Whatever you do, keep an eye on the time, ensuring you're safely back on the mainland before the causeway gets covered by seawater again.


📌 Walk: Island Davaaarrrr! ★★★
Start / finish at layby on minor road 2 mi east of Campbeltown, G.R.: NR 745195 ///unpainted.hats.outdoor

▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 40 m | ⌚ Half a day | ⬤ Moderate
Features: The Dorlinn causeway; Crucifixion Cave; Island Davaar lighthouse
Terrain: Rough, bouldery shoreline and tidal causeway …

Argyll | Town | ★★★

Fewer than 50 miles away from the Ayrshire coast, but 170 miles and nearly 4 hours by road, you have to make a real effort to visit Campbeltown - probably Scotland's remotest mainland town. Curving round a bay guarded by Island Davaar, the town used to be the whisky capital of the world. Sadly, the unwanted tagline of "quantity not quality" became attached to the whisky region, and dozens of distilleries closed leaving only three distilleries producing the water of life today. Springbank and Glengyle offer up the old and new in Scotland's whisky industry; there used to be an excellent value joint tour, but it appears you now have to visit them separately. Independent shops abound on a scale only matched in Scotland by island towns. The town's, err, spiritual heritage seems to have infiltrated local food menus, with haggis nachos smothered in whisky sauce featuring prominently. Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it.


Location

📌 Campb…

Gigha | Ardminish | Short walk | ★★★

You may well never have heard of Gigha (pronounced GEE-uh), even if you live in Scotland. It's a small island owned wholly by its own community, separated from the west coast of Kintyre by the Sound of Gigha. After a few difficult decades, it now has a growing population despite being one of southern Scotland's most isolated places. The island is traversed by a single, quiet road; if you only have a few hours here, a wander along it to the island's highest point at Creag Bhan is recommended, with a rougher track and hill path for the final mile. On a clear day, the views of Islay, Jura, Kintyre, Arran and Ireland from the summit take some beating. Refreshments available (except in low season) at The Boathouse near the start.


📌 Walk: Gigha's Creag Bhan ★★★
Start / finish at Ardminish jetty, Isle of Gigha, G.R.: NR 654491 ///pram.foot.trousers

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 130 m | ⌚ Short | ⬤ Moderate
Summits: Creag Bhan (101 m)
Terrain: Approach o…