There is a town in southern Argyll & Bute that makes for a great getaway thanks to its access to West Coast hotspots, wonderful accommodation, and it's surprisingly storied past.
Campbeltown has a population of around 4,500 people, and was once upon a time a whisky powerhouse.
It has its own loch, more than enough to do for a long-weekend getaway, and many great places to eat (and drink!)
Here’s the in’s-and-out’s of some of the things you could get up to on a trip to the Scottish town, and a bit of history on the town itself.
Campbeltown is located on the eastern coast of Argyll & Bute in Scotland. It’s towards the south of the Peninsula.
It has its own local airport, which has several flights to and from Glasgow most days, making it more accessible than many nearby parts of the Scottish west coast.
It can also be accessed by boat, which sets off from the North Ayrshire town of Ardrossan.
As a town filled with greenery and the Scottish sea, it makes for a great holiday destination, and so there are plenty of great places to stay.
If you’re looking for a touch of luxury, the Craigard House Hotel is a stunning 13 bedroom accommodation with its own patio garden and popular award-winning restaurant dining.
There’s also the Grammar Lodge Guesthouse, and The Royal Hotel, which are both 4-star venues.
Campbelltown was once a whisky powerhouse with over 30 distilleries, all of which were well-known for their quality.
This is because the town had been able to perfect its process when distilling was still largely illegal.
This refined process began to falter when Campbeltown whisky became more popular, and that drop in quality ironically led to many of these distilleries shutting down.
You can tour the one distillery that has made it through that rough period; Springbank.
The Springbank tour is a great way to learn about the history of whisky in Campbelltown, through its main persisting distillery that is still thriving.
Now, while learning more about this story itself is well worth making the trip, it’d be an added bonus to do so knowing you enjoy Springbank whisky.
There are Scottish-based retailers like Royal Mile Whiskies that deliver internationally, and have a great range of Springbank bottles that’s always being updated.
If there’s ever been a good excuse to buy yourself a bottle of whisky ‘holiday research’ is definitely one!
There’s lots more to do on top of the whisky tour. You can also learn about the history of the town at the local heritage centre, which has information on coal mining, farming and fishing.
It’s also a great place to get a cup of tea or coffee, with an exhibit-filled cafe.
If you’re looking to see more of the local area, there are lots of great walks and cycling routes that are well signposted. From a wander around the town’s edge to nearby Davaar Island, to a visit to one of the two nearby lochs, there are plenty of sights to see.
Campbeltown is a great stop on a road trip, as you can get a ferry straight from the green and lush Ayrshire, and it will allow you to travel north in Argyll & Bute, through to the western isles.
Thanks to all it offers in terms of things to see and do, it makes for a great stop in your Scotland itinerary.
