Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 98

modern accretions) belong to the fifteenth-century Tower House, with its intact arrow slits
and gun loops. The best reason to make the short stroll up here, however, is to take in the
views , glorious across Loch Fyne and all the way across to the Cowal peninsula.

1

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION TARBERT

By bus Buses stop in the centre of town on Campbeltown
Rd and Barmore Rd.
Destinations Campbeltown (5 daily; 1hr 15min); Claonaig
(Mon-Sat 3 daily; 30min); Glasgow (5 daily; 3hr 15min);
Kennacraig (3-6 daily; 15min); Kilberry (2 daily on
schooldays; 40min); Skipness (Mon-Sat 3 daily; 35min);
Tayinloan (3-6 daily; 30min).

By ferry The ferry terminal is on Pier Rd, a ten-minute
walk along Harbour St.
Destinations Portavadie (hourly; 25min).
Tourist o ce On Harbour St (April-June, Sept & Oct
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm; July & Aug Mon-
Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; T 01880 820429,
W kintyreway.com).

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Ca'Dora Harbour St T 01880 820258. The pick of several
cafés ranged along the seafront which, despite looking
rather dull from the outside, pulls in the punters for its
pizza and pasta, though it's renowned, above all, for its
ice cream. Daily 10am-7pm.
Ì Knap Guest House Campbeltown Rd T 01880
820015, W knapguesthouse.co.uk. Handsome Victorian
townhouse with four pristine rooms leading off a beauti-
fully appointed lounge; each room manifests a curious
mixture of traditional Scottish and Asian furnishings, which
somehow works. A little tricky to find as th ere's no sign;
it's next to the Woods Financial Services shop. £70
Scott's Harbour St T 01880 820190, W struan.biz.
Classy, contemporary bistro inside Struan House with
just half a dozen tables. The food is fabulous, notably

the seafood dishes like crab and chilli bruschetta,
and scallops and chorizo with linguini (£11.95). Tues-
Sat 6-10pm.
Ì Starfish Castle St T 01880 820733, W starfish
tarbert.com. Sparkling, informally run seafood restaurant
where scallops are king. A plate of these will set you back
£17, as will the Starfish stew, comprising mussels, queen
scallops and the catch of the day. Complete your meal with
the crumble of the day. Mon-Thurs & Sun 6-10pm, Fri &
Sat noon-2pm & 6-10pm.
Struan House Harbour St T 01880 820190, W struan
.biz. Built in 1846 as a small hotel, it's now a charming six-
room guesthouse with bespoke furnishings, grand wooden
bedsteads, and some sweet little to uche s like bedside
lamps, books and pictures on the walls. £75

Carradale and around
The only place of any size on the east coast is the fishing village of Carradale which,
according to one 1930s guide, was “popular with those who like unsophisticated
resorts”. The village itself is rather drab, but the tiny, very pretty harbour with its small
fishing fleet, and the wide, sandy beach to the south, make up for it. On the east side
of the beach is Carradale Point , a wildlife reserve with feral goats and a good example of
a vitrified fort built more than two thousand years ago on a small tidal island off the
headland (best approached from the beach). There are several pleasant walks with good
views across to Arran laid out in the woods around Carradale, for which the best
starting-point is the car park at Port na Storm on the road into the village. The B842
ends fourteen miles north of Carradale at Claonaig , little more than a slipway for the
small summer car ferry to Arran.

Network Carradale Heritage Centre
On the road into Carradale • April-Sept Mon-Wed & Fri-Sun 10am-5pm; Oct-March Mon, Tues & Fri-Sun 11am-4pm • Free • T 01583 431296
The small but informative Network Carradale Heritage Centre has exhibits pertaining to
the local fishing and farming industries. It also offers a wide selection of bikes to rent,
and there's good home-baking to be had in the tearoom.

ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND CARRADALE AND AROUND

By ferry The ferry terminal is at Claonaig, fourteen miles
north of Carradale.
Destinations Claonaig-Lochranza, Arran (8-9 daily; 30min).

Bike rental You can rent bikes at the Network Carradale
Heritage Centre (see above; £14/5hr, £20/day).