- Overview
- Day-by-day itinerary
- Photos
Why choose this route?
Tarbert’s harbour, Campbeltown and Machrihanish’s beach reward the drive down Kintyre. Give the peninsula proper time, then work north for your final Inveraray night.
Argyll & Oban — good for: Food, history and coast in one mainland trip; no ferry booking needed unless you extend to an island. The compromise: The A83 can be disrupted at the Rest and Be Thankful, and a coastal detour makes a ferry connection less forgiving.
Your route at a glance
Pink markers show the itinerary’s day areas. Tap a marker for its name, or open the stops in Google Maps. Ferry crossings and road journeys need separate checks for your travel dates.
- Renfrew — collection / return
- Day 1: Inveraray
- Day 2: Lochgilphead
- Day 3: Tarbert
- Day 4: Campbeltown
- Day 5: Machrihanish
A glimpse of the places
Photo: Tim Glover · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for display.
Your 6-day plan:
- Day 1: Inveraray
- Day 2: Lochgilphead
- Day 3: Tarbert
- Day 4: Campbeltown
- Day 5: Machrihanish
- Day 6: Return to Renfrew
5 nights away. Open the daily plan below for the food, activity and overnight choices.
Itineraries
Day 1
Inveraray
Collection: Allow for the 14:00 handover in Renfrew before starting this day. Choose an evening stop that fits the campsite’s check-in time.
Walk the harbourfront and choose one heritage visit. This is a useful first west-coast night after the afternoon handover, rather than pushing straight to the far end of Kintyre.
Make it work: Check A83 road conditions before leaving; the Rest and Be Thankful section can affect this trip.
Day 2
Lochgilphead
Use the Crinan Canal area for a waterside walk and Kilmartin for archaeology, choosing one as the main outing.
Make it work: Leave Kintyre’s southern beaches for their own day.
Day 3
Tarbert
Explore Tarbert’s harbour on foot. If you want a food-led detour, plan Skipness separately rather than treating every turn-off as essential.
Make it work: Book seafood stops around their actual season; take supplies down the peninsula.
Day 4
Campbeltown
Walk the harbour and make one booked activity the focus, or continue to Machrihanish for the beach. Keep distillery visits separate from the driving programme.
Make it work: Do not add Davaar as a casual walk: the causeway needs separate tidal planning.
Day 5
Machrihanish
Use the beach as a proper stop before turning north up Kintyre. This is the place to slow down, so consider an extra night if you want both the southern peninsula and a relaxed return.
Make it work: The northbound A83 is part of today’s plan; do not leave the full peninsula drive to handback morning.
Day 6
Return to Renfrew
Today is the return journey, with standard handback by 12 noon. Check live traffic, allow time to refuel and arrive at the agreed return point. Optional sightseeing and cafés come after the return only, unless a later handback has been agreed.
Food: Breakfast in the van before leaving your final pitch keeps the morning flexible. Sleeping: No overnight pitch is included for this final hire day; book an additional night if extending.
