Skipness is just over 100 miles from Glasgow, taking about 3 hours by car. The journey takes you alongside Loch Lomand, over the ‘Rest and be Thankful’ mountain pass and down Loch Fyne; breathtaking Scottish scenery. You get updates on possible road closures from Twitter A83 which is prone to landslides.
*PETROL & DIESEL – We advise filling up your tank in Dumbarton or Lochgilpead – there is no longer a petrol station in Tarbert.
The Scottish Citylink 926 coach service between Glasgow (Buchanan Station) and Campbeltown stops in Tarbert, where you can change for the local bus service Ardrishaig 448 between Lochgilpead and Skipness, this drops you right in front of the Castle gates.
Glasgow to Tarbert – Tickets and times
Tarbert to Skipness – Times and Tickets
Skipness is within 30 mins drive of 4 ferry terminals (Cloanaig, Kennacraig, Tarbert, Tayinloan) linking Skipness to the Isle of Arran, Islay, Cowal peninsula and Isle of Gigha. From Glasgow there is an opportunity to island-hop via Arran to Skipness (Ardrossan-Brodick, Lochranza-Claonaig). From Lochranza on Arran there is a 30min crossing to Cloanaig (Summer) or an 1h25min crossing to Tarbert (Winter). From Portavadie on Cowal there is a 25min crossing to Tarbert. From Port Ellen (2h) or Port Askaig (2h15min) on Islay there are crossings to Kennacraig. From Tayinloan (20min crossing) you can visit the Isle of Gigha. Caledonian Macbrayne (CalMac) run all the major ferry routes on the West Coast of Scotland. We recommend CalMac’s Hopscotch tickets for journeys using more than one ferry route.
Calmac – Summer timetables
Calmac – Winter timetables
Calmac – Hopscotch Tickets
This first section of the Kintyre Way walk, climbs out of Tarbert, passing the castle, through forestry and open moorland eventually descending to Skipness through old oak and birch woodland. The walk is 10 miles and takes about 4 hours. The terrain is mainly forestry road but there are some off-road sections, so proper footwear is essential.
Kintyre Way – Tarbert to Claonaig
There is a direct air service between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown Airport (CAL), operated by Logan Air, priced from £68 for a return. Campbeltown is an hour’s drive from Skipness.