Home -> Europe -> Scotland -> Travelogue 2000 -> Tuesday 18 July

Oban, the west coast and Loch Lomond

Today we want to visit the peninsula Kintyre, but we have run out of L.P.G., which is much cheaper than petrol, so we decide to make a detour via Oban. It takes almost 10 minutes before the gas tank is full. That's because it is an old gas tank, the employee tells us. After that we hurry southwards.

At Croabhaven we have to take a walk through the village. It looks like a puppet place; it is so clean and proper and the houses are as new, with all different and soft colours. Terry and Lorna, the owners of the hotel in Strathyte, have lived here for years and brought it to our attention.

A bit more to the south we pass Kilmartin and many prehistoric sites. The oldest and most impressive is the South Cairn from about 3.000 BC. No pictures of it, just this charming country house we saw along the road.
At Tarbert the peninsula begins and one can find there the ruin of the 14th century castle of Robert de Bruce.

The A83 along the west coast is a very good road and as a matter of fact we pass it too fast to enjoy the view on the sea and nice sandy beaches. One has to take a pause to walk around a bit. With a clear sky one can see Ireland from here. To the south, the road goes to the eastern side of the peninsula, towards Campbeltown.

We don't want to go to the Mull of Kintyre (southwestern point), although it has become famous by the song of Paul McCartney (who also has lived there). There is not much to see, we are told.
The trip along the east coast pleases us much better, with now and then fantastic views on the island Arran. It is a single road track and meanders slowly along the coast, through small villages. A long and lovely drive.

The way back mainly leads us along roads we have driven on already, today or yesterday. Past Inveraray Castle and the Falls of Falloch (north of Loch Lomond) we return to our hotel. Short as this description is, it turns out to be a trip of almost 600 kilometers and certainly a worthwhile one.

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with Elisabeth and Teije