Inveraray and Loch Fyne

First answer is yes, there are other pleasant places in Argyll to visit and stay. You may consider the islands of Islay and Jura, The Mull of Kintyre certainly has its fans, but Campbeltown is not a destination in its own right, being a bit of depressed fishing town. Its location should be a tourist's dream but its location means it is off the tourist map and it does show.

Lochgilphead, Oban, the Cowal Peninsular all have their fans in addition to the islands.

Thanks for the reply and the honest appraisal of Campbeltown. We'd rather stay on the mainland than go out to the islands. I guess, really, I am intrigued having heard that Paul McCartney has a home somewhere on the Kintyre peninsula. (That's Beatlemaniac me grinning).

Also we understand Tarbert has a sailing race every May and is popular with boaters. As a town, is Tarbert worth a visit?

I went to the music festival in Tarbert and stayed at the Stonefield Castle. This festival is usually around the third weekend in September. It was wonderful! There are lots of castles. Clan MacAlister has a visitor center there. My sister went to the school in St. Paul so I visited.

If you are interested in history, you might want to read some of Nigel Tranter's books that take place in the area. Lord of the Isles would be a good one as is The Islesman.

Pam

Thanks, Pamela, the places & books you describe sound right up our alley. Will definitely look into these!

The Mull of Kintyre is a beautiful part of the world and different to other parts of the Highlands, and the full journey has its fans. If you do choose to go, it is a couple of hours drive each way from Lochgilphead to Campbeltown.

Thanks! Actually our overall trip will take in other parts of Scotland as well, and given your assessment of Campbeltown (and road fatigue) we may not venture that far.

We plan to start in Edinburgh for a few nights and take a day bus trip to St. Andrews (husband is a golfer). Then take the train from Edinburgh to Inverness, where we will pick up a rental/hire car. After a side trip to Nairn (family connection, must visit there) we will drive to the Isle of Skye via the bridge. Allowing 2 nights on Skye we'll then drive south to Inveraray . . . and at that point lies the decision about how far afield to go.

Tarbert is looking very attractive. Maybe we'll book 1 night in Inveraray, 2 nights in Tarbert, then 2 nights in Inveraray on the way back. From there it is an easy day's drive to Glasgow, allowing time to explore Loch Lomond a bit.

I love the fact that the Holiday Inn is literally walking distance to the airport terminal, so we can return our rental/hire car the night before and catch a morning flight with minimal stress.

Fill up on gas before heading down to Mull of Kintyre. I am sure that there are petrol stations but I didn't find them!

Pamela, good reminder to plan ahead and not get stuck with the tank running low. Last trip we filled up at a petrol station in Inveraray, and I seem to remember one in Lochgilpead, but beyond that who knows!