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Kintyre Accommodation
The Kintyre Peninsula is made for walking and exploring
Campbeltown - the Kintyre's main town and airport nearby
Ferries to Isle of Arran from Kintyre 
Tarbert's pretty harbour town welcomes you to the Kintyre Peninsula
Tarbert's Seafood Festival has fun for all the family
You'll find little beaches all around the Kintyre Peninsula
The walks are scenic on the Kintyre Way 
Views of the Isle of Arran from the Skipness coastKintyre Peninsula Scotland Tourist Information Mull of Kintyre Tarbert Campbeltown Machirhanish
Kintyre is often billed as the only mainland island in Scotland and it does have a strong identify of its own. It is connected to the Scottish mainland by a thin isthmus at Tarbert.
It's a mixed landscape of moorland, farmland, rocky coast and beaches lined with sand dunes. It's good walking country and you can follow the Kintyre Way throughout the peninsula or do shorter walks to explore the countryside. Ferries run from several locations on Kintyre to the Isles of Arran, Islay and Gigha.
Kintyre Scotland Tourist Information
Kintyre is all but an island and the inhabitants certainly feel apart from Mainland Argyll that it falls within. In fact in the 11th century Magnus Barefoot, King of Norway circumnavigated Kintyre taking his boat across the Tarbert isthmus in order to lay claim to it after the Scottish King Malcolm Canmore said he could lay claim to any island he could circumnavigate. Of course, it's most famous for Wings' "Mull of Kintyre" song which refers to the most southerly part of the peninsula.
The Kintyre peninsula stretches from the sailing and fishing port, Tarbert, south. Near the southern end of the peninsula is Campbeltown, the main town of Kintyre. The A83 is now a relatively fast road that goes down the west coast of Kintyre. The east coast road is single track in places and can much longer. In fact travelling the peninsula is deceiving. It's much longer than you think - forty miles long.
Main accommodation centres are in Tarbert and Campbeltown but there is also a scattering of B&B, self catering accommodation and campsites along the coast. There is a regular bus service from Glasgow to Campbeltown - a long journey taking four and a half hours. There are usually three services a day. Check the Citylink website for up-to-date times and fares. There is an airport in Campbeltown with connections from Glasgow - check our Campbeltown page for more information. Ferries run to and from several locations - see the information below.
There is a friendly and helpful Tourist Information Centre in Tarbert on Harbour Street, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29. Tel: 08707 200624. Open Apr-Oct. Nov-March,open weekends only. There is also one in Campbeltown, MacKinnon House, The Pier, Kintyre, Campbeltown, Strathclyde, Scotland, PA28 6EF. Tel: 08707 200 609. Fax: 01586 553291.
Kintyre Ferries to Isle of Arran - Isle of Gigha - Cowal Peninsula
Ferries run from Kintyre to the Southern Hebridean islands of Arran, Gigha, Islay and Jura.
Caladonian MacBryane Ferries run services from Claonaig on the east coast of Kintyre to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. There are around nine services every day including Sundays. The crossings take half an hour and space is limited as it's a small ferry.
Caledonian MacBrayne also run small car passenger service from Tarbert to Portvadie on the Cowal peninsula, east of Kintyre. Between Mar-Oct there are about twelve crossings.
On the west coast of Kintyre just south of Tarbert the ferry for the Isle of Gigha departs from Tayinloan. Between Mar-Oct there are around ten sailings Mon-Sat with six on Sundays. The ferry crossing takes just twenty minutes.
Getting to Isle of Islay from Kintyre
Caledonian MacBrayne also run the main ferry service to Islay from Kennacraig south of Tarbert, Kintyre. Journeys dock at either Port Ellen or Port Askaig on Islay. The Port Askaig sailings go on to Colonsay and Oban. This is a bigger car passenger ferry than those above and have lounges and a cafeteria.
The Kennacraig ferry also docks at Feolin on the Isle of Jura.
From Port Askaig you can take a ferry across to the Isle of Jura. A passenger only ferry is run by K&C Byrne Tel. 01951 200320. Email. byrne@colonsay.org.uk.
Check the CalMac website for up-to-date timetables and prices for all journeys, weblink right or contact CalMac direct on tel: 08705 650000. Fax: 01475 635235. Email: reservations@calmac.co.uk. If you're planning a few ferry journeys it might be worth investing in one of the Island Hopscotch or Island Rover tickets. These are valid for several journeys between islands and can be more cost effective than buying the tickets for each journey separately. Again, check the CalMac website for up-to-date prices and offers.
The Kintyre Way
The Kintyre Way is a long distance circular walking route that covers the majority of the Kintyre Peninsula. It is 89 miles in total and to do the whole route can take between four to seven days.
It was only opened in 2006 and comprises serious hiking as well as more leisurely rambles. The route stretches from Tarbert in north Kintyre all the way down to Southend. It criss-crosses the peninsula to help you explore it fully.
The route is waymarked but check the dedicated website for maps and further information.
There is plenty of comfortable accommodation along the route to rest your weary legs at the end of the day.
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