Campbeltown

Campbeltown from Across the Loch

At the head of a deep loch sheltered by Davaar Island and surrounded by hills lies Campbeltown, one of the largest towns in Argyll. 38 miles south of Tarbert on the A83 it really does seem like you've reached the end of the road, but this is the ideal base for exploring scenic southern Kintyre.

Lifeboats in Campbeltown Harbour Askomill: North Side of the Loch Town and Harbour Moored Fishing Boats

The town originally known as Kinlochkilkerran, was renamed in the 1600s by the then Earl of Argyll, the Chief of the Clan Campbell. It became one of the main points for immigration from the Lowlands and grew in importance and economic strength. Its heyday was during the Victorian era, when its shipbuilding was strong, its fishing fleet vast and it seemed there was a distillery, or several, on every street.

Campbeltown Centre

Campbeltown Heritage Centre

Distant View of the Harbour

The decline of these industries heralded a decline of the town's fortunes. Only one distillery, Springbank lasted through to the present day and its fishing has been ravaged by the imposition of controversial EU quotas.

But the old Victorian splendour of Campbeltown did seem to be thrown a lifeline in the closing years of the last century. A new car ferry link was established with Ballycastle in Northern Ireland. But it only lasted two years and then ceased. There is new hope, however, as moves are afoot to re-establish the route. Watch this space...

There is also something of a revival of the distillery industry under way. Springbank has a new malt in production, Hazelburn. It takes its name from an traditional brand, with the first of the new batch due for bottling in 2006. Springbank has since acquired another old site and has ambitions to add a further brand. Meanwhile, Glen Scotia was acquired by the Loch Lomond Distillery Company in the second half of the 1990s. Having refitted the distillery, they began production of the first Glen Scotia for many years in the first distilling season of the new millennium.

It was once said that there were 34 distilleries and almost as many churches in Campbeltown. Though most distilleries are gone it seems many of the churches survive, if not in their original use. One such change of use is of the former Lorne Street Church, which is now the Campbeltown Heritage Centre. The building itself is most striking, with its stripy bell-cote and pinnacles and is locally referred to as The Tartan Kirk.

Open daily during the summer months only, the Heritage Centre has displays on the whisky industry and exhibits relating to the 6th Century St Kieran, the Apostle of Kintyre. Kieran lived in a cave nearby, which can be visited, but is only accessible at low tide.

Another place to visit is Davaar Island which, like St Kieran's cave, can only be accessed at low tide. A mile long causeway leads from the mainland to the island where, in a cave, a painting of the Crucifixion mysteriously appeared in 1887. The mystery was solved when, in 1934, a local artist, Archibald MacKinnon, claimed the work. The following year, at the age of 85, he returned to renovate it.

Other places and points of interest in the town itself include the 'Wee Picture House', an art deco cinema on Hall Street. Built in 1913, it now doubles as cinema and bingo hall. The Campbeltown Cross is a major sight on the quayside. Dating from the 1300s it is blue-green in colour and contains scenes intertwined with elaborate Celtic knotwork.