Campbeltown Backpackers

You might know it for whisky and golf but…

Photo credit is David Hawgood.

Campbeltown Backpacker’s Hostel is right in the heart of the town, handy and convenient for all the facilities, including the celebrated and historic Art Nouveau cinema. The town itself is on the eats coast of Kintyre, that promontory of Western Scotland that, on a map, seems to droop down and round the Isle of Arran. Of course that description doesn’t do it justice at all, as Kintyre is widely reckoned to be one of the most beautiful places in Britain. And not just by that fellow from Wings.

Taking in coastal seascapes with views to the Islands; high mountain climbs and lowland rambles, the landscape here has stunning variety. If you’re out in it, look out for otters and seals in the wet; the potential for golden eagles flying overhead; and deer all over the hills. If you wander over the shingle causeway to Davaar you can commune with the colony of wild goats there.

The Hostel is a charmingly converted listed schoolhouse with bright, modern welcoming interiors. It has 16 beds in 2 rooms sharing communal kitchen, lounge and washing facilities – both for you and your clothes. Additionally there’s a secure cycle lock up if you’re touring on your bikes.

The town has amazing ferry links and. in fact, from here you could hop on a ferry and take your bike to Northern Ireland or Troon on the Ayrshire Coast or out to the islands of Gigha, Islay, Jura or Arran.

There, and I haven’t mentioned whisky or golf once.