The Mull of Kintyre is the blunt southwestern headland that marks the end of Scotland. Immortalised in song by Paul McCartney, the Mull is a simple but steep tarmac walk with stunning views across to Ireland as well as along the coast.
Summary
Tarmac private road; very steep on the climb back up. Optional detour to memorial is on a muddy path.
Terrain
Parking at end of public road for Mull of Kintyre
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1. The road to the Mull of Kintyre is one of the most tortuous in Scotland. The public road ends at the top of the final descent to the lighthouse and there is parking for a number of cars here. The road down to the Lighthouse is even steeper than what you have driven, and with a total lack of passing places it is these days only for the use of those staying at the lighthouse cottages. The sign at the parking area reads 'End of public road' - and after that drive, it can feel like the end of the world! Begin the walk by heading down the first series of sharp hairpin bends.
2. Almost immediately the lighthouse comes into view far below; such is the descent to it that the lighthouse appears from here to be almost level with the sea, but it is in fact atop cliffs some three hundred feet high. A more gentle section of road follows, with an old marker stone indicating a mile to the lighthouse. Continue to a second series of hairpin bends, descending to reach an abandoned house. Ireland is just 12 miles away and in clear weather you can make out the mountains and glens of Antrim, Fair Head and Malin Head as well as Rathlin Island.
3. Continue down the road towards the lighthouse, passing a series of closely-spaced drystone walls that are a testament to the storm winds here - one former lighthouse keeper was a keen gardener and had to resort to these walls in an attempt to shelter his vegetable plots. Pass the communications masts to reach the gate at the top of the lighthouse complex. There has been a light here since 1788; the current lighthouse was built, like most in Scotland, by Robert Stevenson of the famous lighthouse building family. It has been automated since 1996 and the former keepers' cottages are now used for holiday rentals.
4. It is worth descending this far to see the views up the Kintyre coast which have been hidden until this point. The Mull of Kintyre was, of course, made world famous by Paul McCartney's hit song in 1977, with bagpipes played by a Pipe Major from Campbeltown. After enjoying this desolate spot, begin the long climb back up the road.
5. Above the first series of zig-zags look over to the left to see a stone memorial. This can be reached by a short detour on a sometimes muddy path. It is a memorial to the 29 people killed in a Chinook helicopter crash in 1994 - and a reminder that visibility here is frequently very poor. If visiting the memorial then you can cut across the moor on a faint, level path to rejoin the road a little further up. Continue up the road to return to the parking area and the start.
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