Campbeltown

Campbeltown (Scottish Gaelic:Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain) is located on the southern portion of the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Campbeltown reflections

Get in

By car

37 mi (60 km) south of Tarbert (Loch Fyne) along the A83.

By bus

Campbeltown is served by the citylink bus from Glasgow to Campbeltown 3 times per day (including Sundays). Note that this bus calls at every settlement along the way which results in a long journey time. The bus also calls at various places allowing passengers to transfer onto ferries run by Caledonian MacBrayne (see below). Buses can get very busy during peak season - you may see two buses running in convoy!

By plane

• 🌍 Campbeltown Airport (CAL  ^IATA). Twice daily service (not weekends) run by British Airways (operated under the name Loganair). Flight time is approximately 30 mins, though with the right weather behind the plane can be done in about 10!  

By boat

• Caledonian MacBrayne, runs the following car ferries which allow access to the various islands around the Kintyre peninsula, and an occasional service across the Firth of Clyde.
  • Ardrossan to Campbeltown, three sailings per week in summer. There are connecting trains from Glasgow Central, giving a total journey time of about 4 hours.
  • Tarbert to Portavadie every hour or so (daytime) daily. Together with the Gourock to Dunoon service, this provides a shorter route from Glasgow, or makes part of various circular routes.
  • Kennacraig to Islay twice a day. Kennacraig is 6 miles South of Tarbert.
  • Claonaig to Lochranza every 1 1/4 hours daily in summer only. Claonaig is 4.5 miles south of Kennacraig

The first 2 ports are served by the Citylink bus service to Campbeltown (see above). Claonaig is served by a 3 times per day Mon-Sat by West Coast Motors service 448 from Tarbert.

Get around

A variety of local bus services operate in and around Campbeltown, all operated by West Coast Motors. There is a town service (number 100 or 440) that runs every half hour Monday-Saturday daytime.

See

• 🌍 Springbank Distillery, 85 Longrow, PA28 6EX, ☎ [phone]. See whisky being made. (updated May 2016)
• 🌍 Campbeltown Picture House, 26 Hall St, ☎ [phone]. Scotland's oldest, still running, purpose built, cinema. Closed in 2016 for renovation. (updated May 2016)

Do

• Mull of Kintyre Seatours, ☎ [phone]. Fast boat trips around Kintyre and to Arran, the Firth of Clyde, Islay and Northern Ireland. Also run regular wildlife-watching trips to Sanda Island, Ailsa Craig and the Mull of Kintyre. 
• Paddle Steamer Waverley. This vintage steamer, occasionally sails from Campbeltown to the Mull of Kintyre or Ireland. 

Buy

Eat

• 🌍 Whisky Macs Bar & Grill, 4 Shore St, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 Taj Mahal Tandoori, 16 Hall St, ☎ [phone]. 

Drink

• Drink the locally distilled whisky from Springbank, Glengyle, or Glen Scotia. Then sing the song "Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky".

Sleep

• 🌍 The Royal Hotel, Main St, ☎ [phone]. (updated Dec 2016)
• 🌍 Dellwood Hotel, Drumore, ☎ [phone]. (updated Apr 2017)

Go next

• Skipness
• Tarbert (Loch Fyne)