Campbeltown Harbour nestles at the head of the loch of the same name, on the east side of South Kintyre.

Campbeltown Loch is a superb natural harbour with good protection from just about every direction, and its harbour is in use by the fishing fleet.  There has been a significant increase in commercial traffic, and the Loch/Harbour is regularly used by the Royal Navy, large cargo Ro/Ro ferries, coasters, etc.

A pontoon for visiting yachts has long been established, and as of the winter of 2009 is being renewed and improved. There are also various spots where it is possible to anchor.

It's proximity to the coasts of Northern Ireland make it a natural stopping off point for Irish crews intending to sail the sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde. Likewise if heading for the NE corner of Ireland (say Ballycastle), Campbeltown is a sensible place to set out from.

The town is a good size, and there are plenty of marine specialists (more geared to fishing vessels) who may be able to sort out problems.

All in all a useful stopping off point.

Quick links to nearby harbours : Lamlash Harbour and Brodick, Arran , Girvan Harbour

Approaches from the north or south will involve keeping a reasonable offing, as the coastline inshore is littered with shallows and rocks. Keeping outside the 20 m contour clears this.

Approaching from the North, Otterard Rock (3.8m) rises up from surrounding depths of over 20 m, and is marked by an easterly Cardinal buoy (Q(3)10s).

Strangers should leave this buoy to landwards of them.

North and South going tidal streams across the entrance to Campbeltown Loch can reach speeds of 2 and 3 Knts respectively.

Entrance to the loch is made between Island Davaar and Macringan's Point, with BOTH having off lying rocks very close in (see charts). The reef under Davaar light is particularly to be avoided. Give both of these a reasonable offing, say 1 cable.

Island Davaar is connected to the mainland by a drying spit of sand and gravel called The Doirlinn (Dhorlin), and thus needs to be left on your port side as you enter. The northern extremity of this island is marked by a lighthouse (Fl(2) 10s 37m 23M), as seen in the photo gallery.

For a night entry there are leading lights both F.Y. the rear one being 28 m high, the forward one being 7 m high. These are displayed from a point to the South East of Campbeltown, and are best seen by reference to the chart. These line up on 240 degrees T.

The best daytime approach for strangers also involves coming in on a line of around 240 degrees, and be sure to identify the green conical Millbeg Bank buoy (Fl.G.2s) and the partner red can "A" buoy (Fl.R.3s).

This buoyage can be seen clearly in the photo gallery. The (drying) Doirlinn extends outwards close to the red can buoy, and the shallows of Millbeg Bank extend out to close to the green conical buoy. It is therefore necessary not to cut corners and pass between the two buoys. Once beyond Trench Point the Loch opens right out with no particular hazards for small craft.

Methe Bank (no problem for yachts) is marked by an isolated danger buoy BRB (Fl(2) 6s), and there are various dolphins around the NATO pier on the South side of the loch.

The head of the loch dries out to sand and mud, and there are various rocky and drying patches around the shores, best seen on the chart.

The yacht pontoon is tucked away behind the fishing harbour.

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Those determined to anchor will find several spots within the loch.

The best anchorage is east of the lower leading light, to the S of the loch, keeping a suitable distance off to avoid shallows. Avoid anchoring anywhere near the New Quay and its Ro/Ro berths.  This is likely to be extended, and sees a good amount of shipping traffic.

Anchorage is possible NNE of harbour but is exposed to SE winds, holding is not good and great care must be taken not to foul local Sailing Club moorings with large yellow buoys (not for use by visitors).

You will certainly need to use an anchor light at night within this loch, as fishing boats and commercial traffic move at all times.

Make sure you don't anchor anywhere that may obstruct the lifeboat leaving its berth, which is on the North West side of the Old Quay.

The main harbour is given over to fishing and commercial activity, HM 01586 552552.

The yacht pontoon runs parallel to, and behind the Old Quay, there is plenty of water for all pleasure craft. Do not stray far from the pontoon to the NW, as there is a drying bank.

New pontoons are being installed in the same position during December 2009. The total capacity is about 40 craft, the overnight visitors rate being £1.20 per metre. These charges are under review for 2010, and are liable to rise a little.

Contact the Campbeltown Loch Berthing Co. Ltd.,  on 07798 525821.

The new pontoons will have water available and electricity too, together with secure entry. The vast majority of visiting yachts use this facility.

Diesel, petrol and Calor gas are obtainable. There is no diesel on the pontoon but it can be obtained from a tank adjacent to the pontoon on the Old Quay or from a supplier just across the road from the pontoon exit.

Being a busy fishing harbour there are plenty of boat facilities to be found, including a chandlers, marine electronics and electrics, and even a surveyor.

There is a slipway in the south corner of the harbour, suitable for hauling fishing vessels, and smaller pleasure craft may be able to dry out against the south western wall of the harbour for minor underwater maintenance. The slipway drying out facilities now have wooden keel bearers, leaning posts, and water and electricity connections.

The recently opened 'Aqualibrium' , houses are swimming pool, gym, and a library. Showers can be had here, and a cafe is onsite.

Campbeltown Sailing Club at the NW corner of the Loch welcomes visitors..check their website below:

http://www.campbeltownsc.co.uk/index.asp

Campbeltown has a good supply of shops together with a post office and banks. The following local link will give you a feel for the wee toon !

http://www.campbeltown.org.uk/

Transport is covered by 3 daily flights between Campbeltown Airport and Glasgow, plus 3 Buses a day to Glasgow.

Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, located by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran (Eng: The head of the loch by the kirk of St. Kieran) - this form is still used in Gaelic. It was renamed in the 17th century and became an important centre for shipbuilding and Scotch whisky, and a busy fishing port.

Whisky

Campbeltown is one of the handful of areas in Scotland categorised as a distinct whisky producing region, and is home to the Campbeltown Single Malts, at one point having 34 distilleries and proclaiming itself "the whisky capital of the world". However, a focus on quantity rather than quality, and the combination of prohibition and the Great Depression in the United States, led to most distilleries going out of business. Today only three active distilleries remain in Campbeltown, which have, or in one case is expected to have, an excellent reputation for their quality.

The well known folk song titled Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky is based on the town's history in this industry.

Culture

Apart from the distilleries, Campbeltown boasts a museum and a heritage centre. The museum has a varied collection of items from Campbeltown's past, and prehistoric items excavated from sites around Kintyre, such as axeheads, jewellery and combs. The 19th century building also houses the library and has plaques or exhibits related to famous Kintyre people: for example, William McTaggart and William Mackinnon. Near the museum is the Wee Picture House, a small but distinctive Art Deco cinema dating from 1913 and believed to be the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema in Scotland. These buildings are on the waterfront, as is a 14th century Celtic cross that also served as a mercat cross. St. Kieran lived in this area before the town existed. A cave named after him can be visited at low tide, as can the cave on nearby Davaar Island where pilgrims and tourists go to see a 19th century crucifixion painting.

Campbeltown also hosts the annual Mull Of Kintyre Music Festival, which has seen acts ranging from up-and-coming local bands to well-established groups such as Deacon Blue, The Stranglers and Idlewild perform.

On Friday 16 June 2006, First Minister Jack McConnell flew to Campbeltown to officially open Campbeltown's new 'Aqualibrium' Centre. Aqualibrium replaced the old Campbeltown swimming pool, which closed 7 years ago due to safety reasons, and houses Campbeltown's library (with the old building being the museum only), swimming pool, gym, conference centre and 'Mussel Ebb' Cafe.

The Kintyre Camanachd are a local shinty team that belongs to the Camanachd Association.

Argyll FM is a local radio station based in Campbeltown on 106.5, 107.1 & 107.7

Transport

Campbeltown Airport lies near the burgh, and a scheduled service runs between here and Glasgow Airport on weekdays, but not weekends.

Due to the town's isolated location near the far end of a long peninsula, in many ways it resembles sizeable communities on the islands of the Inner Hebrides in that transport by sea is particularly important, although nonetheless it is linked to the rest of Scotland by the A83 (to Tarbet) and A82 (from Tarbet to Glasgow).

Ferries once sailed from Campbeltown to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland, but the service was suspended in June 2002 until further notice. According to the Campbeltown Courier, the Scottish Executive repeatedly gives the message "not this year, maybe next" about this ferry service.

In 2006 a foot passenger ferry, The Kintyre Express, ran between Campbeltown and Troon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with a crossing time of one hour in calm weather. By 2007 this ferry no longer ran, although the vessel can be chartered privately.

Campbeltown was linked to Machrihanish by a canal (1794-mid 1880s) that was superseded by the Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway that closed in 1932.

 Language

Campbeltown is traditionally one of the few communities in the Scottish Highlands where the Scots language has predominated, rather than the previously widespread Scottish Gaelic. This was due to the plantation of lowland merchants to the burgh in the Middle Ages. Today the English language, in the form of the Scottish English dialect, is the predominant language in the town.

A wide range of hotels in the town cater for all tastes, the link below may give you some ideas:

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml/el/Campbeltown%3BArgyll/

Dedicated restaurants include a Chinese an Indian and a bistro, the link below has them all:

http://www.campbeltown.org.uk/campbeltown-eating-out.html