KINTYRE WAY 2011 - Part 1. [Advert free video].

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The Kintyre Way is an approximate 87-mile official Long Distance Footpath (that can be extended with detours) across the Kintyre peninsula. With many variations and permutations to consider our spin on it was to take the bus from Glasgow Buchanan Street Bus Station to Tarbert (via Luss and Inveraray) then walk initially on our Day 1 to Claonaig to catch the ferry over to Lochranza and stay in the recently refurbished superb Lochranza Scottish Youth Hostel. Taking the ferry back across from Arran to the peninsula again in the morning our Day 2 on this walk continued to the village of Clachan.

This video however is the hike from Tarbert (An Tairbeart) the gateway to the Kintyre peninsula, over to Skipness then along to the ferry terminal. Thereafter, our trek would take us to Clachan followed by the fantastic walk to Tayinloan that ended at the ferry connection to Gigha where we stayed for two nights. Creag Bhan, Achamore Gardens and the beautiful beaches on the island make the Gigha Hotel an ideal destination. Once back on the mainland we hiked over to Carradale and then into Campbeltown where it was our intention to end the walk at the crucifixion cave painting on Davaar Island. Ultimately, we were flying back to Glasgow from Machrihanish Airport (a journey thats well worth the forty quid) but tide times clashed with flight times so we had to abort the Davaar adventure. With a bus, four ferries, a flight and tide times to incorporate into the walk - what could possibly go wrong?

The narrow peninsula means that the sea is never far away, and the superb views take in many islands including the dramatic mountains of Jura and Arran, fertile Islay and Gigha, and even Rathlin Island and the Northern Irish mainland in the later stages. Did we manage it all? Well, you'll have to watch this 7-part video collection to establish if we did or not.

The walk commences at one of Scotland's must see / must visit places, namely Tarbert on Loch Fyne where you can get lunch and refreshments on the barge or any of the numerous local cafes and local Hotels. Tarbert (and Tarbet) means a narrow neck of land between two stretches of water over which ships were dragged. There is a ferry service from Tarbert that links with Portavadie.

The route of the Kintyre Way immediately commences from Tarbert with the climb up to the scaffolding-surrounded ruin of the 13th century Tarbert Castle, a location that generates commanding seaward views and retrospective views back over the town. The Castle is currently in the care of Historic Scotland although very little actually survives of it. Once a Norwegian stronghold, the castle was enlarged by Robert the Bruce and later became a stronghold of the Clan Campbell. Its high occupation above Loch Fyne generates views up East Loch Tarbert and beyond to the Firth of Clyde.

The guidebook for the walk gives the initial Day One commencement of the walk along the pendulous isthmus of Kintyre as 11-miles whereas the on-line information describes it currently as 12.06-miles [19.3km]. Once beyond the Tarbert Millennium Cairn built by Andrew McDiarmid its basically just a slog, particularly if you're carrying full packs, over to Skipness before the sea views add a touch of glamour on a good day. Skipness in Norse means Ship Point and there was was a steamer service to Skipness before storms swept away the old pier. If you ever do this walk then look out for the old World War 2 Look-Out position on the right as you head along towards the pier as I didn't realise the significance of the building until later in the week! Skipness has a small local supply store.

As regards that cairn one can't help to wonder what the intrepid Cameron would think about it. Probably kick it down like the others eh!!

We arrived in Tarbert by bus and stayed overnight at Andrew's quaint B & B 'The Moorings' to enable as early a start as possible to connect with the ferry timetable.
'Bundle and Go'
'O weary are the feet that tramp the stony streets of June,
And hungry is the gangrel's heart that hears the nameless tune;
For earth's call is a strong call, and it's happiness to yield,
And my foot is on the long road that leads me far a-field'

Copyright free music on this video provided from the Jane Crawford charity cd and if you only ever watch one other part of this Kintyre video collection then make sure you watch the fantastic walk in the part 3 sequence.

[all text and pictures - roddymck 2011].

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