The Kintyre Way
The Kintyre Way
4.5
About
The Kintyre Way runs the length of the beautiful Kintyre peninsula on the west coast of Scotland and provides users with wonderfully diverse terrain which will challenge and enchant in equal measure. The route winds its way from Tarbert in the North to Machrihanish in the South with a total distance of 100 miles, can be completed in 4-7 days.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.5
10 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
1
Average
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Poor
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Terrible
0
Niall_Machall
8 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
I have walked most of the long distance walks in Scotland, and without doubt this one is the best - cracking scenery, varied terrain and great places to stay on the way. Put it on your Bucket List - you won't be disappointed,
Written 27 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon F
Campbeltown, Scotland, United Kingdom11 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
The Kintyre way stretches from Tarbert to Machrihanish, and crosses the Kintyre peninsula several times in its bid to reveal the best views and the best hospitality in the area. The route can easily be broken down into manageable 15-20 mile chunks, and each has its own unique character. Quieter and more peaceful than the more densely populated west highland way, this 100 mile epic is no less spectacular and should be at the top of every Scottish walker's to-do list. Most of it is also great fun on a bike, there are some great climbs and descents and fewer unrideable sections than there are on other more famous long distances rides.
Written 26 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosebud388
Shrewsbury, UK122 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
We have visited many parts of Scotland over the years but have not been to the Mull of Kintyre before. Luckily for us the weather was fine, a little cloudy on one of the days but we were able to see the lovely scenery. This is a very quite part of the country and the views awesome. Would certainly recommend to anyone wanting peace and quiet with beautiful scenery. We stayed at The Warren in Machrihanish and would recommend.Views overlooking the sea and the 18th hole of the local golf course. What more could one ask for.
Written 7 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicki L
Devon, UK144 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Beautiful drive especially as the weather was gorgeous!
We stopped a number of times to take photos,although none do it justice.
Kintyre is a place we will be returning too 😊
We stopped a number of times to take photos,although none do it justice.
Kintyre is a place we will be returning too 😊
Written 20 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith R
Exeter, UK198 contributions
Sept 2018
We drove down the west coast and saw Dolphins feeding not far off the shoreline. Great views and a few ancient stones to see on the way. Rather than travel the same bit of road we drove back up the east coast. The road is a little more windy but not much traffic. We stopped in a layby and were lucky enough to see two otters swimming in front of us.
Written 29 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susiesheld
Wanaka, New Zealand16 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
Starting from Tarbert can give a group of walkers with mixed ambitions a great day out. From Tarbert Castle there is the 1 mile Red Walk or the 2.5 mile blue walk which start the Kintyre way. These are both circular walks and the tracks are very well marked and pretty good underfoot (even in this very wet October) but good footwear is a must Parts are quite steep and rocky but nothing a reasonably fit person cannot manage. For the more ambitious the 9 mile stretch of the Kintyre Way to Skipness is good walk, gaining considerable height en-route with great views if the weather is good. Part is on Forestry tracks and part on mountain paths.
There is a bus back to Tarbert but do check the timetable.
There is a bus back to Tarbert but do check the timetable.
Written 22 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurice W
Argyll and Bute, UK57 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
This area is simply one of the most stunning and beautiful surroundings that I have ever come across. It is interspersed with numerous forest works and is of course part of the Kintyre Way.
We were attracted here for it’s beauty and views across to Arran. If you want to get away from the daily stresses and strains of life then this is the area for you!
This area is a perfect base from which to explore the Kintyre Peninsular and you can also get the nearby ferry to the nearby islands of Arran, Ghia Jura and Isla.
It is also well renowned for it's golf courses, one of which is Carradale Golf Course which is apparently a jewel in the golfing community and another best kept secret.
There are opportunities for shooting and deer stalking, fishing, walking, wildlife adventures including looking out for golden eagles, red deer. We even saw otters in the bay at Grog Port and we saw seals, sea lions and basking sharks in the harbour.
Oyster catchers, red squirrels and rare white tailed sea eagles can always be seen.
There are numerous castles nearby like Torrisdale, Sadell, ,Tarbert, Stonefield and Skipness. There are so many beautiful and remote white sandy beaches.
This is an area brilliant for cycling, kayaking and pony trekking and of course don't forget to pop into Campbeltown to sample the famous Scottish Glen Scotia and Campbeltown whiskeys at their distilleries.
This is simply a wonderful place to visit and at the end of the day have a whiskey or glass of wine and watch the sun set peacefully behind the mountains.
We were attracted here for it’s beauty and views across to Arran. If you want to get away from the daily stresses and strains of life then this is the area for you!
This area is a perfect base from which to explore the Kintyre Peninsular and you can also get the nearby ferry to the nearby islands of Arran, Ghia Jura and Isla.
It is also well renowned for it's golf courses, one of which is Carradale Golf Course which is apparently a jewel in the golfing community and another best kept secret.
There are opportunities for shooting and deer stalking, fishing, walking, wildlife adventures including looking out for golden eagles, red deer. We even saw otters in the bay at Grog Port and we saw seals, sea lions and basking sharks in the harbour.
Oyster catchers, red squirrels and rare white tailed sea eagles can always be seen.
There are numerous castles nearby like Torrisdale, Sadell, ,Tarbert, Stonefield and Skipness. There are so many beautiful and remote white sandy beaches.
This is an area brilliant for cycling, kayaking and pony trekking and of course don't forget to pop into Campbeltown to sample the famous Scottish Glen Scotia and Campbeltown whiskeys at their distilleries.
This is simply a wonderful place to visit and at the end of the day have a whiskey or glass of wine and watch the sun set peacefully behind the mountains.
Written 30 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M-Pekkala
Scottish Borders5 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
I set off on the Kintyre Way with my son in July last year, from Tarbert.
We walked two sections of the route: Tarbert to Claonaig to Clachan, and then lost heart and will and decided to pack it in.
Section 1: Tarbert - Claonaig
Tarbert is lovely. A pretty port with a hill (lovely views), a castle, woodlands and white shell beach. It started well. Soon we climbed into the hills and onwards through a forestry plantation. Then for miles and miles we were walking on dusty gravel tracks with noisy and fast logging lorries speeding by. Soon the terrain turned into a boggy ground with millions of midges. The views and experiences improved on going down the hill to Skipness, which is lovely!
Section 2: Claonaig - Clachan
We didn’t enjoy anything on this section. Long, dreary, boring, hard slog with no reward whatsoever. You start on a coastal road, then climb a hill on forestry gravel roads, skirt a Windfarm to arrive on a neverending boggy headland pasture, with cows pats along your path, boggy ground, biting clegs, anxiety about encountering cows at every corner. Nightmare. After miles and miles, you come to another forestry plantation and logging lorries, and noise of forestry machinery. Not nice. Not an attractive view in sight. Again miles of it. Then you start coming downhill towards Clanach through a sheep pasture, excrements everywhere, boggy ground. Absolutely horrible. I was in tears.
We gave up after that.
Afterwards we drove around the Kintyre peninsula and had a truly wonderful time discovering beautiful places along the coast.
We walked two sections of the route: Tarbert to Claonaig to Clachan, and then lost heart and will and decided to pack it in.
Section 1: Tarbert - Claonaig
Tarbert is lovely. A pretty port with a hill (lovely views), a castle, woodlands and white shell beach. It started well. Soon we climbed into the hills and onwards through a forestry plantation. Then for miles and miles we were walking on dusty gravel tracks with noisy and fast logging lorries speeding by. Soon the terrain turned into a boggy ground with millions of midges. The views and experiences improved on going down the hill to Skipness, which is lovely!
Section 2: Claonaig - Clachan
We didn’t enjoy anything on this section. Long, dreary, boring, hard slog with no reward whatsoever. You start on a coastal road, then climb a hill on forestry gravel roads, skirt a Windfarm to arrive on a neverending boggy headland pasture, with cows pats along your path, boggy ground, biting clegs, anxiety about encountering cows at every corner. Nightmare. After miles and miles, you come to another forestry plantation and logging lorries, and noise of forestry machinery. Not nice. Not an attractive view in sight. Again miles of it. Then you start coming downhill towards Clanach through a sheep pasture, excrements everywhere, boggy ground. Absolutely horrible. I was in tears.
We gave up after that.
Afterwards we drove around the Kintyre peninsula and had a truly wonderful time discovering beautiful places along the coast.
Written 13 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amdgriggs
Sheffield, UK1,689 contributions
Aug 2019
Jenny and I just walked the first few miles of the Kintyre Way while on a campervan trip - starting at Macrihanish and walking up to Ballygrant and the first couple of miles out onto the moor on a sunny day before retracing our steps. Lovely views of the harbour from the start, including a good number of basking seals perched on rocks just off-shore in the sunshine and looking very peaceful. The road section as you turn inland is a bit of a slog but we were rewarded by increasingly fine views north and west each time we stopped and turned round - good views of Islay and Jura and more - and also spotted a heron and a buzzard within a few hundred yards. The moorland section beyond Ballygrant (and you can drive up that far and park, though the last few hundred yards are fairly rough with a lot of potholes and ruts) was very boggy after the track for the first mile or so to a gate and fence, and probably always will be, and we noted that the next 10-12 miles or so is probably the boggiest of the entire way though it's also got all the attractions of fine Scottish moorland walking. That's for another time - we had to turn round, walk back with the great views spread out in front of us all the way, put the obligatory entry in the visitors book in the weatherproof box by the gate, and head down for the harbour and a welcome drink in the Old Clubhouse, next to the Ugadale Hotel.
Written 9 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there any accommodation for a single, non camping walker in Tayinloan?
Written 24 January 2018
Hello. I would like to know about wild camping on the Kintyre way. Is it possible to camp on the Kintyre way? Also is it safe to do so? Any advise would be appreciated. Cheers Gary
Written 11 February 2017
TheKintyreWay
Campbeltown, United Kingdom
Good Afternoon Gary, Wild camping is legal in Scotland but there are some guidelines as to what to and what not to do. I shall refer you to the following site which shall help you. The Visit Scotland website in the wild camping section
Hope this helps.
KW Team
Written 12 February 2017
We are deciding between the West Highland Way and the Kintyre Way for our holiday in Augusta, Which do you recommend and why? I have heard the WHW can be quite busy in Augusta.
Many thanks, Sarah
Written 12 June 2016
TheKintyreWay
Campbeltown, United Kingdom
Good Morning Sarah, Many thanks for getting in touch, we of course would say to walk the Kintyre Way, but both routes offer a fantastic walking experience whatever the time of year.
Written 22 June 2016
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