Carradale – Coastal Road Trip

Day 15 – Carradale to Oban

172 miles on day fifteen, one of our longer drives, and we packed in some great sights along the way from Carradale to Oban.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Deer — Feorlan

Carradale

Coastal Road Trip, Carradale Harbour — After another huge Scottish breakfast, we checked out Carradale’s small harbour. Just us, the seagulls and a solitary boat off on an early morning sail.

Saddell

Coastal Road Trip, Saddell Abbey — The remains of Saddell Abbey, built by Irish monks in the 1100s, it had operated as a local centre of worship for 350 years.

Davaar Island

Coastal Road Trip, Davaar Island Lighthouse — As we drove closer to Campbeltown, Davaar Island emerged in the distance, with views over to its Lighthouse.

Campbeltown

Coastal Road Trip, Campbeltown, Harbour, Logs — Logs stacked along the harbour at Campbeltown.

Feorlan

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Feorlan, Deer — Along the long winding road to the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse this young deer spotted us.

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Feorlan, Deer, close up — Quickly sniffed the air … then did a runner into the woodland.

Mull of Kintyre

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse — The Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. Following in the footsteps of Paul McCartney. We had to walk the final stretch down a steep lane from the cliffs above… we only walked part way and ‘zoomed’ the rest 😉

Coastal Road Trip, Mull of Kintyre, Green Foliage — Lush green or deep purple foliage everywhere you look.

Carskey Bay

Coastal Road Trip, Carskey Bay — The views down to the secluded Carskey Bay from the lane back from the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse.

Westport Beach

Coastal Road Trip, Westport Beach, Paddle Board, Surfer — A surfer braving the cold waters at Westport Beach.

Kilberry

Coastal Road Trip, Kilberry Sculptured Stone — One of the sculptured stones found in Kilberry, from around the 14th century.

Coastal Road Trip, Kilberry, Lane — The track past the stones.

Crinan Canal

Coastal Road Trip, Cairnbaan, Crinan Canal, Reflections — Perfect reflections in the still Crinan Canal at Cairnbaan.

Coastal Road Trip, Bellanoch, Crinan Canal, Boat Reflections — And more reflections further down the Crinan Canal at Bellanoch.

Coastal Road Trip, Old Crinan Harbour, Loch Crinan, Julian, Jarno — Suns out!

Coastal Road Trip, Old Crinan Harbour, Loch Crinan — Enjoying the views across Loch Crinan from Old Crinan Harbour.

Kilmichael Glassary

Coastal Road Trip, Kilmichael Glassary, Dunadd Fort — Views form the top of Dunadd Fort, one of the most important early medieval sites in Scotland. Legend says that the hero Ossian left the footprint in this stone when he leapt 1km from Rhudle Hill.

Kilmartin

Coastal Road Trip, Kilmartin, Nether Largie Standing Stones — The Nether Largie Standing Stones, Temple Wood, placed here around 3,200 years ago. They align with the rising and the setting of the moon and sun at significant times.

Loch Melfort

Coastal Road Trip, Loch Melfort — Buoys on Loch Melfort.

Loch Feochan

Coastal Road Trip, Kilninver, Loch Feochan — The warm evening light at Loch Feochan, near Kilninver.

Oban

Coastal Road Trip, Oban, Sunset — The sun starting to set over Oban Bay.

Coastal Road Trip, Oban, Sunset — Daylight almost gone as the sky turned to a dusty pink.

Daily video

Day 14 – Dunoon to Carradale

It rained much of our 149 mile journey today from Dunoon to Carradale, but we made the most of the breaks in the rain. We had stunning views of the lochs, rain or shine.

Photo of the day

Coastal Road Trip, Tarbet, Harbour, Lobster pots — Tarbet

Dunoon

Coastal Road Trip, Dunoon, wrapped bales, smiley face — Leaving Dunoon we passed a smiley face on some wrapped bales, a good start to the day!

Loch Riddon

Coastal Road Trip, Loch Riddon — Morning view down Loch Riddon.

Tighnabruaich

Coastal Road Trip, view above Tighnabruaich — The misty view from the hills above Tighnabruaich before we headed down into the village.

Coastal Road Trip, Kyles of Bute, Family fishing — A family fishing on the Kyles of Bute.

Portavadie

Coastal Road Trip, Portavadie Tarbet Ferry — The ferry leaving Portavadia for Tarbet. As we watched, a bunch of cyclists that we had overtaken earlier just miss it. Lots of cyclists in Scotland on this route, and some of those hills looked real tough, rather them than us.

Coastal Road Trip, Portavadie Tarbet Ferry Sign, Argyll's Secret Coast — It’s not really a secret then, is it?

Otter Ferry

Coastal Road Trip, Otter Ferry, Pontoon — A quiet pontoon at a very quiet Otter Ferry.

Castle Lachlan

Coastal Road Trip, Castle Lachlan — The remains of Castle Lachlan, halfway up Loch Fyne.

Inveraray

Coastal Road Trip, Inveraray Castle — We arrived at Inveraray just as a storm decided to descend on the town. So just jumped out of the car to take some quick pictures of the Castle.

Coastal Road Trip, Inveraray Jail, Jarno — Jarno looking cheerful outside the jail.

Coastal Road Trip, Inveraray, Pipe Band, Sign — What could be more Scottish?

Coastal Road Trip, Inveraray, War Memorial — The highland soldier war memorial reflected in the puddled path.

Coastal Road Trip, Inveraray, Harbour — The glowing seaweed and a freshly painted fishing boat bringing some colour to Inveraray Harbour.

Ardrishaig

Coastal Road Trip, Ardrishaig, Anchor, Lighthouse — Not much going on, just a loo break, a rusty anchor and a lighthouse.

Tarbet

Coastal Road Trip, Tarbet, Harbour, Lobster pots — Lobster pots piled on the quay at Tarbert Harbour.

Coastal Road Trip, Tarbet, Harbour, Border Force — Borderforce patrol boat at odds with the backdrop of quaint houses on the green Tarbert hillside.

Skipness

Coastal Road Trip, Skipness Castle — This was the biggest surprise of the day. Several miles down a small coastal lane we found Skipness Castle.

Coastal Road Trip, Skipness Castle, Julian, Jarno — Free to wonder around, and no one else but us there to enjoy.

Daily video