Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Machrihanish and around
he only major development along the entire west coast of Gigha is
MACHRIHANISH
, at
the southern end of Machrihanish Bay, the longest continuous stretch of sand in
Argyll. here are two approaches to the
beach
: from Machrihanish itself, or from
Westport, at the north end of the bay, where the A83 swings east towards
Campbeltown; either way, the sea here is too dangerous for swimming. Machrihanish
itself was once a thriving salt-producing and coal-mining centre - you can still see the
miners' cottages at neighbouring Drumlemble - but now survives solely on tourism.
6
Machrihanish Golf Club
Between the beach and Campbeltown Airport • April-Oct £65; Nov-March £30 •
T
01586 810213,
W
www.macgolf.com
Dominating the village of Machrihanish, and the main draw in these parts, is the
exposed 18-hole championship course of the
Machrihanish Golf Club
, between the
beach and Campbeltown Airport on the nearby flat and fertile swath of land known as
the Laggan. One of Scotland's finest links courses (established in 1876), it plays out on
a quite spectacular landscape, and is particularly notable for its first hole, which cuts
across the Atlantic in dramatic fashion.
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club
East of Campbeltown Airport • April-Oct £70; Nov-March £30 •
T
01586 810000,
W
machrihanishdunes.com
Established as recently as 2009, the sister course of Machrihanish golf course, the
18-hole
Machrihanish Dunes
, on the other side of the airport, is perhaps even more
impressive. he course layout, including the tee and green positions, is dictated solely
by the lay of the land.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
MACHRIHANISH AND AROUND
Machrihanish Holiday Park
Machrihanish Village
T
01586 810366,
W
campkintyre.co.uk.
Superbly
located next to the fairways and with direct sea views, this
large, fully equipped, family-run campsite has a terrific mix
of caravan and tent space, as well as heated wooden
wigwams an
d ful
ly fitted bell tent
s (sleep
ing two pe
ople)
.
March-Oct.
£14
/pitch; wigwams
£32.50
; bell tents
£50
Old Clubhouse Pub
Machrihanish Village
T
01586
810000.
Overlooking the first tee, the erstwhile clubhouse is
now a very agreeable village pub, frequented by golfers and
locals alike, which means it's not nearly as pretentious as it
might be. Good bar food and decent ales.
Daily 11am-11pm.
The Putechan
Bellochantuy
T
01586 421323,
W
theputechan.co.uk.
Located in a roadside hamlet some
nine miles from Campbeltown on the A83, this former
hunting lodge is now a tip-top restaurant with a cool
interior of charcoal-grey painted walls and carpets, and
gorgeous, bespoke wooden tables. The food is similarly
impressive, from the likes of smoked haddock mornay, to
monkfish wrapped in parma ham (£17.95). You're best off
making a reservation, and when you do, request a window
table as the sea views are fantastic.
Daily noon-10pm.
Campbeltown
CAMPBELTOWN
's best feature is
its setting, in a deep bay sheltered by Davaar Island and the
surrounding hills. With a population of around 5000, it's Kintyre's largest town, and its
shops are by far the best place to stock up on supplies. Originally known as
Kinlochkilkerran (
Ceann Loch Cill Chiaran
), the town was renamed in the seventeenth
century by the Earl of Argyll - a Campbell - when it became one of the main points for
immigration from the Lowlands. As is evident from the architecture, Campbeltown's
heyday was the Victorian era, when shipbuilding was going strong, coal was shipped by
canal from Drumlemble, the fishing fleet was vast and Campbeltown Loch was said to be
made of whisky. Nineteenth-century visitors to Campbeltown frequently found the place
engulfed in a thick fog of pungent peat smoke from the town's 34
whisky distilleries
. Today,
only three distilleries are left to maintain this regional subgroup of single-malt whiskies.
If you're here on the third weekend of August, be prepared for the
Mull of Kintyre
Music & Arts Festival
(
W
mokfest.com), which pulls in some big-name rock bands, plus
some good traditional Irish and Scottish ones.
