Lochgilphead

Lochgilphead is a town at the head of Loch Gilp, an inlet of Loch Fyne. It's the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute on the west coast of Scotland, and in 2021 had a population of 2240. The town is not scenic, but it's worth spending a day or two to see the megaliths at Kilmartin, the Crinan Canal, and the scenic Tayvallich peninsula.

Get in
By bus: Scottish Citylink Bus 926 runs 5 or 6 times a day from Glasgow Buchanan via Dumbarton, Luss, Tarbet and Inveraray taking 2 hr 30 min to Lochgilphead, and continuing south to Tarbert (Loch Fyne) and Campbeltown. One bus a day runs via Glasgow Airport. Booking is recommended, as this is a busy route connecting with several ferries. On school days Bus 449 makes a couple of extra runs between Lochgilphead, Tarbert and Campbeltown.

The inter-city in Lochgilphead is on Lochnell Street, the main road.

By boat: see Tarbert (Loch Fyne) for ferries to Islay, Jura, Colonsay, Cowal and Arran.

From Apr-Sep the Jura Passenger Ferry, for foot passengers only, sails from Tayvallich to Craighouse on Jura. There are two sailings Monday and Wednesday-Saturday, one on Sunday, none on Tuesday. The crossing takes 45-60 min in a bouncy Rib, which has a cabin so you stay dry. Fares are £20 each way, bikes & dogs free, advance booking needed, tel +44 7768 450000. A day-trip gives you 6 hours on Jura.

Get around
West Coast Bus 425/426 runs from Lochgilphead to Tayvallich, with 5 per day Monday-Friday.

Bus 423 / 23 runs from Oban via Kilmartin to Lochgilphead. There are five buses on school days, and three on Saturdays and school holiday weekdays.

Bus 448 runs from Lochgilphead to Tarbert, Kennacraig, Claonaig and Skipness, three M-Sat.

See

 * "Aengus son of Fergus, king of the Picts, laid waste the territory of Dál Riata and seized Dún At and burned Creic and bound in chains two sons of Selbach, i.e. Donngal and Feradach."
 * - Annals of Ulster for 736 AD indicate that Dunadd was a royal stronghold, but not strong enough.


 * half a mile south of Lochgilphead is a mansion built in the 1830s. It's now the offices of Argyll and Bute Council, so you can only go in on council business, and some parts are in poor repair. The castle grounds are open as a park, with a riot of rhododendrons in early summer, and woodland walks around Kilmory Loch.
 * on the Atlantic coast is the west terminus of the Crinan Canal, which stretches for nine miles from Ardrishaig 1½ miles south of Lochgilphead. It was completed in 1801 to create a shortcut for small craft, especially the "Clyde Puffers", avoiding the stormy Mull of Kintyre. It remains navigable and there's a good towpath for walking or cycling.
 * Duntrune Castle on the shore a mile north of Crinan is private property.
 * Castle Dounie a mile south of Crinan is the rubble of an Iron Age hillfort, but it's worth coming for the views. The start of the walk by the shore is covered at the highest tides.
 * , south of the village and west of the main road, has a remarkable complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains, the best in Scotland. The "linear cemetery" is a line of five burial cairns: Glebe Cairn, Nether Largie North, Mid and South Cairns, and Ri Cruin. Standing stones are grouped at Nether Largie South, Ballymeanoch (next to Dunchraigaig Cairn) and Temple Wood.
 * Moine Mhor means "big bog" - a raised bog, once common but becoming rare, and now a National Nature Reserve. Access is a mile south of Kilmartin on B8025.
 * , south of the village and west of the main road, has a remarkable complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains, the best in Scotland. The "linear cemetery" is a line of five burial cairns: Glebe Cairn, Nether Largie North, Mid and South Cairns, and Ri Cruin. Standing stones are grouped at Nether Largie South, Ballymeanoch (next to Dunchraigaig Cairn) and Temple Wood.
 * Moine Mhor means "big bog" - a raised bog, once common but becoming rare, and now a National Nature Reserve. Access is a mile south of Kilmartin on B8025.

Do

 * Golf: Lochgilphead GC is north side of town. White tees 4518 yards, par 64, visitor day ticket £25.
 * Walk: Lots of walks, for instance along Crinan Canal. "The 39 Steps" is a gentle ascent through woodland above Ardrishaig, Richard Hannay never fled from any enemy agents here.

Buy

 * The Coop in Lochgilphead on Oban Road is open daily 7AM-10PM.

Eat

 * Taj Mahal at 41 Lochnell St (A83 main road) is open Th-Tu 5-10PM. Lee Garden takeaway is next door.
 * Tayvallich Inn is a seafood restaurant open daily noon-9PM.
 * Tayvallich Inn is a seafood restaurant open daily noon-9PM.

Drink

 * The Victoria and the Argyll Arms are the pubs in Lochgilphead. Both are temporarily closed in 2023.

Sleep

 * Empire Lodge is a small B&B on Union St Lochgilphead, one block back from the main road. Clean and welcoming, tel +44 1546 602381.
 * Corran B&B is by the A83 / A816 junction, tel +44 1546 603866.
 * Corran B&B is by the A83 / A816 junction, tel +44 1546 603866.

Connect
As of June 2023, Lochgilphead has 4G from all UK carriers, but coverage along its approach highways is very patchy. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * South to Tarbert on Loch Fyne, perhaps via the loop of lane along Knapdale west coast, then to Campbeltown and the Mull of Kintyre.
 * North past Ardfern and Arduaine Gardens, with a turn-off at Kilninver for Seil, Luing and Easdale islands, and onwards to Oban.
 * East through Inveraray towards Tarbet on Loch Lomond.