Kintyre Way Stage 2: Skipness to Clachan

Summary

The second section of the Kintyre Way begins with a roadwalk; however the traffic is light and the coastal views over to Arran are excellent. Further on the route climbs across desolate moors of tussocky grass before beginning to descend through forestry plantations. Several lochs are passed before the route finally reaches the small, attractive village of Clachan.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Waymarked tracks and constructed path, but some sections remain boggy.

Getting there

Start

Skipness.

Public Transport

Skipness is served by occasional buses to Tarbert; Clachan is well served on the route between Tarbert and Campbeltown.

Start Grid Ref

NR901576

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 20km / 12.5 miles
Time: 4.5 - 5 hours
Ascent: 295m (Profile)

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Explorer 357 - Kintyre North

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Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

On reaching the B8001 in Skipness from the first stage of the Kintyre Way, turn right along the road to the southwest. The road, which has little traffic, passes the primary school and then continues close to the shore, with great views across the Kilbrannan Sound to the mountains of Arran. After a little over 3km the Claonaig ferry terminal is reached. From here a summer vehicle ferry service operates to Lochranza on Arran. Continue along the road which now heads inland to reach a road junction at Claonaig itself.

Stage 2

Turn left - signed for Campbelltown - and continue, crossing an old stone bridge and a group of cottages. Once past the entrance to the modern house of Rockfield the road passes through a fine remnant of the original oak and birchwoods which once clothed these shores. A further kilometre on a wooden sign indicates a car park off to the right. There is a signed path off to the left here which descents through the woods to the shore, but the route of the Kintyre Way is to the right, into the car park; as with the rest of the route it is marked by blue marker posts with the Kintyre Way swirl. Go through the gate and follow the track which begins to climb. The oakwoods are soon left behind and for the most part the track has open, tussocky moorland to the left and a young commercial forest plantation on the right.

Stage 3

The track has been recently improved; the best views are still looking back towards Arran. The route winds left and right, eventually climbing and passing under the electricity pylons at a high point. The vehicle track then descends, with more woods on the right, before ending at a turning area. From here the Kintyre Way continues straight on between the two rocks, still on a wide, constructed route. It soon descends to reach the Larachmor Burn. Go left over the stile here and cross the new bridge over the burn to reach another stile on the far side. From here, the newly built path heads left, winding to and fro but generally keeping the same distance from the burn.

Stage 4

Eventually the clear path climbs to the right and leaves the burn behind, crossing a low pass. Lonely Lochan Fraoich (heather lochan) then comes into view, with a distant prospect of the mighty Paps of Jura far beyond. The path heads to the left of the lochan, crossing a stile. There is a short section of very boggy ground before a second stile is reached and the constructed path resumes. The path continues round the lochan, climbing to its highest point of the day to avoid a steep section of bank; the lochan from here provides a fine foreground to the view of Jura. The water is then left behind as the path heads left through the gap in the forest.

Stage 5

A second small lochan, Lochan a'Chreimh, is soon reached. The path heads to the right from here and then reaches a pleasant forestry track. Turn right along this, following it for two kilometres to a cross-roads of tracks; turn left at this point, and then, when this larger track forks, keep right. The much larger Loch Ciaran is seen ahead, together with a distant view of the wind farm on Deucheran Hill, visited later on the Kintyre Way. Follow the track into a section of forestry before emerging just above Loch Ciaran on the far side. The track runs for some distance a short way above the loch before swinging to the right; at this point, the Kintyre Way turns left onto another section of constructed footpath. This crosses a stile and then descends down a small glen beside the Allt Mòr burn. Further down the constructed path becomes intermittent, with sometimes wet grassy sections between.

Stage 6

At one point a blue Kintyre Way marker is well to the right of the path; do not ascend past this but simply continue in the same rough direction, climbing diagonally on a muddy path, rough in places, to gain height and pass well above a steep section of stream bank. The path comes close to the stream again, passes under some pylons and then bears right (marker post) towards the woods. Cross a cutting by means of wooden steps and enter the birchwood beyond. Look out for the markers here; the path soon heads left to descend and pass through a gap in an iron fence. Continue to the right of a fenced enclosure, bearing left once more at the far end to pass between two fences. The grand house over to the right is the Balinakill House, a luxury wedding venue. Follow the path to the left until it reaches a lane, and turn right down this. It quickly leads to the small village of Clachan and the A83. The main part of the village are straight across the road, whilst to the right is a petrol station with well stocked, small shop. The Kintyre Way from here heads to the left along the main A83 for the start of the next stage.

Next stage: Clachan to Tayinloan

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