The Kintyre Way – All from one base
If you prefer to sleep in the same bed each night – here’s a way to do the Kintyre Way! A group of us, local to Kintyre, tried this out on days in summer 2022 and spring 2023. We wanted to check that it was possible for visiting walkers to book accommodation in one place for 7 or 8 nights and complete the 100 mile route.
So , staying on the west coast. We do and so for each section we all left from home, Campbeltown, Tayinloan and Clachan. All on the west coast of the peninsula and all on or within easy reach of the A83 and the Citylink 926 route. The 926, offers a local service from Campbeltown to Luss and should stop anywhere it is safe to do so if you can’t get to a designated bus stop. If booking – book from your closest.
Here's what we did.
Section one: Tarbert to Claonaig. We did this in reverse by catching the 8.40 926 from Campbeltown. Some of us got on in Campbeltown – the others at various points on route to Tarbert. We all alighted at Tarbert and after a leisurely breakfast and stroll around Tarbert we caught a local west coast motors bus to Cloanaig Ferry Terminal. You can of course miss out a few miles by staying on the bus to Skipness Village and alighting by the shop at 12.30. Then it’s over the hill to Tarbert. Check out OS maps and Kintyre Way website plus the Rucksacks Guide to the Kintyre Way to keep you on track and point out view points, places of interest etc and there are many!
Why did we do it in reverse? Well starting in Tarbert we would have had to get to Skipness for the 12.30 bus back to Tarbert. Tight for time and a bit of pressure – though doable if you catch the 6.30am bus from Campbeltown.
Check the City Link 926 timetable for your options back down the west coast.
Section two: Claonaig to Clachan. Remember you don’t have to do the sections in order or from north to south if you are based in one place. Section two is best done with the same start as section one. Bus to Tarbert, bus to Cloanaig. This time, from Claonaig Ferry Terminal , you walk back up to the crossroads- or get off the bus at the crossroads, and head down the B road to on the east of the Kintyre peninsula. After a short distance on the road the Kintyre Way turns right at Oakwood and head over the peninsula, back to Clachan on the west side. Wild section with great views of the islands and some lochans to pass. Arriving at Clachan you can catch the 926 Campbeltown bound bus. We took a car to Clachan and left it there and jumped on the bus to Tarbert at around 9.15am. Why did we do this? . You may end up arriving back at Clachan in time for the teatime bus, 17.38 but if you don’t there is a later one - the last bus at 21.31 and there is nowhere at present to wait about in Clachan. The Filling Station has hot drinks and picnic tables but closes at 7pm.
Section three: Clachan to Tayinloan. This is 9 miles, mainly on shore but a wee change of scene as you head uphill and past the Standing stones at Ballochroy – back onto the shore and on wards to . Ferry Farm which hosts Big Jessie’s Tearoom. It’s a short walk to Tayinloan Village to catch the bus back. This section is easily done starting at Taynloan Village/ Tayinloan Stores and walking north. Check out the 926 timetable. Lots of options. If coming north to south. Remember to leave time to walk up for the bus, especially if you are planning to stop at the tearoom.
The first three sections work well too if you are staying north of Tayinloan. If staying at West Loch Shores or Tarbert, you should find buses that work for you…
Section 4: Tayinloan to Carradale. The route takes you from Tayinloan on the west, back over the peninsula to the east side and winds its way on a forest track, down to the Heritage Centre and Blackbird café at Carradale. As of May 2023 there is also a gallery here too. Which bus did we take? We took the 8.40 am Glasgow bound 926 from Campbeltown and alighted at Tayinloan. We headed off to Carradale, arriving late afternoon and getting the 16.45 bus to Campbeltown. There’s a later bus at 18.16 but whatever one you catch you get to Campbeltown, too late for the 926 to get to accommodation further up the west coast. Being local, we had arranged for a friend to give us a lift. Visiting walkers, not based in Campbeltown itself, have either used a local taxis service or alternatively an earlier start with the 6.30am bus to Tayinloan and the 13.15pm from Carradale to Campbeltown. Again you could leave a car in Campbeltown for more flexibility and less pressure on your walking times.

Section 5: Carradale to Campbeltown. A great section. It’s long but with a bit of planning and imagination you can break it up into some great chunks. This gives you plenty of time to catch the best brunch and lunch venues at Carradale or Torrisdale. It’s a 22 miler if you do it in one day. Bus from Campbeltown to Carradale to start is fine – but if you are staying out of Campbeltown then you’ll need to have a car in Campbeltown . The first bus down the west coast gets you to Campbeltown at 10.30 – so first bus then to up the east coast is then 12.30. So, car, taxi or lift essential for this one unless you are based in Campbeltown or of course Carradale. Our favourite this year has been, car to Torrisdale – park -bus to Saddell – walk back to Torrisdale and lunch at the distillery café. Jump in car. Browse the timetables and get a plan!

Section 6: Campbeltown to Southend. Check the West Coast Motors re buses and either head to Southend and walk back or walk there and bus back. We caught bus to Campbeltown, arriving 10.28am then to Southend for 12.30. It’s a long bit of road coming back into Campbeltown and we didn’t make it back in time for the bus back up the west coast to Tayinloan. So, taxi, or lift required or a car in Campbeltown. An alternative and we have done this a lot is just to take the bus down – have lunch at the tearoom and then do an 8 mile circular route. To Polliwilline by road and then pick up the Kintyre Way to come back along the shore route to Southend. On these occasions we have taken a car to Southend. A very relaxed kind of day. Although if you have never walked the Leerside road with views od Arran, Ailsa Craig and the Ayrshire coast, then don’t miss it out!
Section 7:Southend to Machrihanish. This is a great walk, but its challenging, tough, and long but if you get the weather the views are superb. If you don’t get the weather then it’s maybe best to give it a miss and come back again to do this section. It’s a long way in rain and wind and the mist can roll in very quickly. If you don’t have a car to help with the logistics then this one maybe requires a change of accommodation either staying in Southend, Campbeltown or Machrihanish. You’ll need a taxi at some point, but the journeys are short.

We had fun planning our walks. Next plan is to see what can be done from a base in Carradale or Tarbert. Love to see on here how others have tackled the 100 miles of the Kintyre Way.