A Year In Kintyre
Week 2 | Skipness Castle
Kintyre is as much about jumping into a car and enjoying the tranquility and landscape as you travel as much as the destination. It is not uncommon to see wild deer on the hillside, wild rabbits chasing around in a field and there's even the possibility of an eagle swooping across the road ahead of you, or spiralling in the sky above. You'll be surprised how much goes on around you.
Kintyre's History
Kintyre has a varied history which you can delve in as deep as it interests you, from books about the area available from most large bookstores, from information stored at Campeltown Library or in the history museum there, or via the great historic monuments and landmarks throughout the peninsula.
Scotland's history is imprinted with the great Clans clashing time and time again often resulting in bloodthirsty battles or worse! Kintyre is no exception to this rule and you piece together some of the highlights of this as you investigate and explore Kintyre, from the scenes at Dunaverty Rock to the previous ownership and history of Skipness Castle.
Skipness Castle
A thirty minute drive in an anticlockwise direction south and then east of Tarbert, or a thirty minute drive north of Carradale brings you to the quiet village of Skipness, it is quaint with only one small store which serves the locals with their daily goods such as bread, milk and newspapers, and the outlook across to Arran from the shore completes this idyllic lifestyle choice.
Continue through Skipness for several hundred yards and you can park in the car park, to the right a lovely relaxing walk for several kilometres will take you to the castle and the grounds. If you are elderly or disabled you may wish to drive all the way to the lower car park at the castle which has space for a handful of cars only.
The castle itself is a 13th Century stone building with incredibly thick walls and in remarkably good condition, the interior sections are marked identifying the areas and their uses and the aspect from the foot of the castle is simply stunning with Arran, the Kilbrannan Sound and the Firth Of Clyde all opening up infront of you. A short walk up the steps into the main keep of the castle and then up a small spiral staircase will bring you to the roof of the building and deliver yet a more impressive aspect, perfect for a stunning panoramic photo.
It is not uncommon for people to sit at the foot of the castle and have a picnic, or perhaps snack at the Seafood Cabin (seasonal only) whilst exploring the area.
It has become increasingly popular also for camping along the stretch between the ferry terminal and Skipness along the east coast by the road side, and it is a nice spot to spend a few solitary days, however, if you wanted to go Camping in Kintyre in a location with stunning views, with sandy beach access, and shower and WC facilities then you wont find much better than Muasdale Holiday Park on the west coast of Kintyre, it will take you 30 minutes to drive to Skipness from there also.
More Information
If you would like to find out more in depth information or see some photos of Skipness Castle pop over to www.skipness.info.
Look out for Week 3 in our Year In Kintyre.