THINGS TO DO

Beech, hill and forest walks.

The most popular pastime amongst visitors to Port Righ is walking, and perhaps golf. Fortunately as there are so many choices, from Carradale Bay to the wind farm, walkers are likely to find it very quiet. Except on match days the golf course is also very peaceful. Dunvalanree has a series of walks based at Port Righ.

Network Carradale.

Not only is there a Tea room with home baking but also an exhibition on the historical, cultural and social background to the highland fishing village. Well worth a visit and it is also a start/end point for a number of forest walks.

Campbeltown

One of the brochures available is the "Campbeltown Town Trail". This gives a short note about the range of old buildings in the "Wee Toon", which is architecturally very rich. During Victorian times there were about 34 distilleries and the owners vied with each other to have the most impressive house.

You should try to visit Eaglesome’s shop. You can talk about THE bottle of whisky after you have seen it. Eaglesome does also have an interesting range of old Scottish ales as well as the spectacular variety of whisky for which they are well known.

Just next door is Campbeltown Pottery who have supplied us with the hospitality trays etc. They have an interesting range of mugs, plates, jugs vases etc.

The Heritage Centre is housed in an old church, the Tartan Kirk, and makes for an interesting time discovering the background to Kintyre today. The Museum (reached through the library) is a little old fashioned but does have some interesting local archaeological finds.

Visit the Springbank Distillery?

Distillery tours are available by appointment from Monday to Thursday during the summer. (April - September) Please book places in advance by emailing tours@jandamitchell.co.uk or telephoning +44 (0) 1586 552085. See their website at http://www.springbankdistillers.com.

The Wee Picture House, the country’s oldest working cinema, is an Art Deco treasure, on Hall Street.

Check out the tide times at the Campbeltown Tourist Office or on the notice board in Dunvalanree and take a walk across the isthmus to Davaar Island (no dogs) to see the cave painting of Christ on the Cross. This was painted in secret over 100 years ago and remained undiscovered for 30 years. Imagine being the person who found it!

Nature Reserve.

Situated right next to Dunvalanree is the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Carradale Nature Reserve. This is home to a small herd of Wild Goats. There are also a number of sheep in this area so dogs need to be kept on a lead.
At the Point, accessible around low tide is the Vitrified Viking Fort. The walls were set on fire and fused the stone so forming a good defence for the time. There is controversy as to whether the fire was set accidentally or on purpose!

Bird Observatory.

There is a bird observatory at Usaid Point at Machrihanish. This is the first landfall for many migratory birds and seals are often to be found here. If you pick a day when it is manned you will have a wonderful time seeing the wildlife.

Gigha.

Spend a day on God’s Island. Park the car at Tayinloan and hire a bike at the grocery shop on Gigha. Also available from the Post Office is a map of walks. Eat at the Boathouse, you will see it on the left as you walk up to the village from the ferry.
What to visit?

• The new wind turbines
• Achamore House gardens

Kildonan Dun.

Just off the road to Campbeltown is Kildonan Galleried Dun, which dates from the Iron Age. It is in remarkably good shape and it is possible to walk round the tops of the walls and imagine what the area looked like eighteen hundred of years ago. When it was excavated before the last war it produced a wealth of finds; some are on display in Campbeltown Museum.
There is a Forestry Commission car park close by at Ballochgair.

Mull Of Kintyre Lighthouse.

There has been a lighthouse at this remote end of the road beyond Southend since 1788. Cars must be left at the top of the hill before walking down the road for a mile or so. The road passes the memorial to the helicopter tragedy.

If you feel like a really good walk you could try for the ruined village.

Torrisdale Rugs

You have the chance to see Organic Tanning in action, which is unique to this area. Elsewhere all tanning is done with chemicals in large factories. Torrisdale uses an ancient method of making leather which was brought back into production about thirty years ago, with help from an old book. Tanning started at Grogport, and during subsequent years methods of handling have evolved and you can now see all this in action at Torrisdale Castle Tannery.

Sheepskin and deerskin rugs of exceptional quality are produced on the spot and there are other items for sale at both tanneries.

Saddell Abbey

Saddell Abbey is reputed to be the burial place of Somerled, widely considered to be the first king of Scotland. He founded the Abbey but was killed in 1164 before the Abbey was completed. The Abbey was finished by his son soon after 1200. There is an extensive collection of late medieval carved stone grave slabs under a canopy where there are a number of interpretation panels which set the scene.

Just over the main road is Saddell Castle built with stone from the abbey. There is a small parking area just inside the gate. After parking it is possible to walk down the drive, view the outside of the castle and the recently restored Saddell House and visit the beach. This is the beach that featured in the 'Mull of Kintyre' video by Wings. The castle was built for the Bishop of Argyll in the early sixteenth century.

Skipness

Skipness is on the north eastern corner of Kintyre, and is reached by keeping left at the Clonaig ferry terminal. The village itself is picturesque and boasts a castle, a chapel (dedicated to St. Branden after whom Kilbrannan Sound is named) and a garden centre. The Seafood Cabin, part of the SeaFood Trail is close to the castle for another opportunity to sample local delicacies.

The castle dates from the 13th Century and probably belonged to the Lords of the Isles, reverting to the crown when the Lordship was forfeited in 1493. It was later granted to the Duke of Argyll. Skipness Plants can be reached from a track to the left of the road down to the castle. Bill McHugh offers a mail order service and has a catalogue of unusual plants.

A Sea Cruise From Kintyre!

Mull of Kintyre Sea Tours, based at the old pier in Campbeltown, offers exhilarating and memorable fast marine trips to the spectacular scenery of the Mull of Kintyre or Ailsa Craig as well as being available for private charter.

Islay and Colonsay

Every Wednesday it is possible to sail from Kennacraig to Islay then Colonsay, spending about six hours there while the boat goes on to Oban. This is a spectacular cruise but it does leave Kennacraig at 0815 and gets to Colonsay at midday. Check the current Cal Mac timetables.