Argyll - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 102

Burnet Building
St John St • Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Free
Built as the town library in 1897, the Burnet Building is crowned by a distinctive
lantern and decorated with four relief panels depicting the town's main industries at the
time. The building harbours a very old-fashioned one-room local museum, and also
includes the Linda McCartney Memorial Garden , which you should approach from
Shore Street. Here, you'll find a slightly ludicrous bronze statue of Linda holding a
lamb, a piece commissioned by Paul McCartney, who spent many happy times with
Linda and the kids on the farm he owns near Campbeltown.

1

Campbeltown Heritage Centre
Lorne St • April-Sept Mon-Sat 9am-5pm • £2 • T 07733 485387, W campbeltownheritagecentre.co.uk
The former Lorne Street Church, with its stripy bell-cote and pinnacles, has been
cleverly converted into the intermittently interesting Campbeltown Heritage Centre .
Due prominence is given to the town's once-glittering industrial heritage, in particular
the local fishing and whisky industries; going hand in hand with the local malt
production was a significant coopering industry, and at one stage there were more than
sixty coopers in Campbeltown. By far the most prominent exhibit here, however, and
occupying the spot where the main altar once stood, is a beautiful wooden skiff, Ye rd a ,
dating from 1906. Look out, too, for the model of the Victorian harbour-front with
the light railway running along Hall Street.

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION CAMPBELTOWN

By plane Campbeltown Airport ( T 01586 553797, W hial
.co.uk) lies three miles west of town towards Machrihanish.
Destinations Glasgow (Mon-Fri 2 daily; 40min).
By bus The main bus terminal is in front of the swimming
pool on the Esplanade.
Destinations Carradale (Mon-Fri 5 daily, 4 on Sat; 45min);
Glasgow (5 daily; 4hr 15min); Machrihanish (Mon-Sat
9 daily; 20min); Southend (Mon-Sat 6 daily; 25min);
Tarbert (5 daily; 1hr 10min).

By ferry The ferry terminal is on the south side of the
harbour, from where it's a five-minute walk into the centre.
Destinations Ardrossan (June-Sept Fri & Sun 1 daily;
2hr 40min).
Tourist o ce Old Quay (April-June & Sept Mon-Sat
10am-5pm, Sun noon-4pm; July & Aug Mon-Sat
9am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm; Oct-March Mon-Fri 10am-
4pm; T 01586 552056). They have lots of useful infor-
mation and can book local accommodation.

ACCOMMODATION
Ardshiel Hotel Kilkerran Rd T 01586 552133,
W ardshiel.co.uk. A former whisky distiller's Victorian
mansion situated on a lovely leafy square, just a block or
so back from the harbour front. The rooms are functional
more than anything, but there's adequate comfort and
they are reasonably priced. More impressive is the hotel's
glamo rous, grown-up whisky bar, stocking in excess of 500
malts. £70
Campbeltown Backpackers Big Kiln T 01586 551188,
W campbeltownbackpackers.co.uk. Occupying the old
school house in the courtyard across from the heritage
centre, this new, community trust-run bunkhouse has
sixteen firm, pine beds in two dormitories, a self-catering
kitchen and small lounge. There's no reception as such:
if there's no one here, pop into the heritage centre, but if

that's closed just call the number on the door. Dorms £18
Oatfield House Three miles down the B842 T 01586
551551, W oatfield.org. A beautifully renovated white-
washed laird's house set in its own grounds on the road to
Southend, retaining three rooms of some character and
distinction. Guests are also free to ava il themselves of the
panelled dining room and parlour. £80
Royal Hotel Main St T 0800 151 3701,
W machrihanishdunes.com. New, high-end hotel that
sits well with the recent redevelopment of the harbour-
front area, and injects a big dollop of colour to this
otherwise dull street. The supremely comfortable rooms
are mostly furnished in bold tartan colour schemes, with
deep armchairs, big beds with thick d uvets and fluffy
pillows, and a host of other neat touches. £130

EATING AND DRINKING
Black Sheep Pub Main St T 0800 151 3701. The Royal
Hotel is pub is by far the most enjoyable watering hole in
town, with seating arranged around a shiny, semicircular

bar, in addition to some outdoor tables overlooking the
harbour. The eponymous Black Sheep cask ale trumps all
other ales here. Daily noon-1am.