Campbeltown

Taken on way to Southend

What a wonderful place! 

Well worth the incredibly long journey it needs to actually reach it. I travelled there in the spring to meet up with my very good friend Heather who was over on one of her regular visits from Colorado USA. The coach trip from Glasgow is long but the scenery keeps you distracted and you have a much needed break at Inverary by Loch Fyne. 

Campbeltown is not large but it is large enough, has everything you could need as far as shopping is concerned, schools, medical services and it is within some of the most beautiful countryside imaginable. It really does have everything  going for it except I think perhaps employment opportunities. It is famous for once having over around 30 distilleries, and as many churches. This probably is where the famous song comes from. 

Chorus:
Campbeltown Loch I wish you were whiskey,
Campbeltown Loch och-aye!
Campbeltown Loch I wish you were whiskey,
I would drink you dry.

Now Campbeltown Loch is a beautiful place,
But the price of the whiskey is grim.
How nice it would be if the whiskey was free
And the Loch was filled up to the brim.I’d buy a yacht with the money I’ve got
And I’d anchor it out in the bay.
If I wanted a sip I’d go in for a dip
I’d be swimmin’ by night and by day.We’d have a gathering of the clans
They’d come from near and far
I can see them grin as they’re wading in
And shouting “Slainte mhor!”.But what if the boat should overturn
And drowned in the Loch was I?
You’d hear me shout, you’d hear me call out
“What a wonderful way to die !”

But what’s this I see, ochone for me
It’s a vision to make your blood freeze.
It’s the police afloat in a dirty big boat
And they’re shouting: “Time, gentlemen, please!” 

Right there in the middle of Campbeltown loch sits Davaar Island. I have always had some sort of affinity with this island, I don’t really know why, it may be as simple as the fact it was my House when I was in High School, but I knew about Davaar in my head before I ever went to the school so I can’t be sure. 

  

Davaar island

  

I had a glorious weekend there with Heather and her family. It is one of those places where people still actually stop in the street to chat to each other and as it is Heather’s home town everyone knows her so stopping to chat happened pretty frequently. The people are incredibly friendly, or maybe they are just ‘normally’ friendly and it is the rest of the country which has become so insular and private. There are few places I can think of where life is lived at the same pace as in Campbeltown. 

In some ways it is a bare little place but in others it has great charm. You will even find, much to your shock I think (I know I was amazed), palm trees! Yes there are palm trees in Campbeltown. Then of course the harbour area and the view to Davaar. The little shops where assistants actually acknowledge you, even chat with you as you browse amongst novelties and necessities. 

We got the most delicious Wheaton rolls and Barm cakes from McIlchere’s baker shop and I bought a couple of books in a little second hand bookshop off Main street then some of my favourite Yankee candles in a tiny place on the Main Street and some wonderful sweeties in a great sweet shop which had everything you could imagine on sale. 

We had a wonderful lunch in the Ardshiel Hotel on Kilkerran Road. Fresh Haddock which was delicious and the portion more than satisfying. The hotel itself was really nice with an intimate bar area and recently refurbished dining area which was that rarity these days, spacious, each table had space around it and conversations were therefore private. Outside, just off the dining area was a peaceful sun trap of a garden where we had our coffee. Definitely to be recommended. 

  

10 out of 10 from me

  

Then I was taken on a lovely drive down as far as Southend through some beautiful countryside each isolated property we passed becoming my favourite. I think we all have dreams of a little cottage in some lovely setting. I would settle for any in and around Campbeltown. 

  

Just one of the interesting places at Southend

  

Some of the views are stunning and entering into Southend I saw interesting ruins and caves. I promised myself I would get to explore them properly someday. 

Campbeltown is one of very few places in the UK that I would say I could seriously consider settling in. Definitely a 5 star place in my books and I will certainly return when the opportunity presents. 

 

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