Camping and drinking water on Kintyre Way

[Da PAN]

Hello,

We want to stay in our tent when we walk the Kintyre Way. Are there any nice spots to put up the tent for the night that you can recommend? Is it possible to drink the water from the rivers in that area or do we have to expect diseases like the "beaver fever" in Canada? 

Regards,
Henry

[Jacquetta]

Hey Henry
Sorry, can't speak from experience (I'm a softie, I prefer a B&B at end of a day's walk, especially if it's been raining all day) but I can look up the current map for you, which shows campsites near Tarbert, at Clachan, north of Tayinloan, Carradale, between Campbeltown and Machrihanish and at Dunaverty.  So the coverage isn't bad, though most would need an overnight wild camp between Carradale and Campbeltown.  There are bound to be websites that review campsites: can anybody advise?

Also, the standard advice about water here is never to drink casual water without treating it.  We don't have beaver fever in Scotland, but there are normally sheep and other animals breeding and excreting upstream of any water you will walk past, so it's normal to carry the excellent water available free from nearly all Scottish taps.  Personally I might carry iodine tablets if I was worried about thirst on hot weather/long days, but most people wouldn't bother.

If nobody replies on campsites, try a web search and do tell us how you get on, thanks - Jacquetta

[brian shepherd]

Think I may have replied to your query earlier. Campsites at Point Sands (mile north of Tayinloan: Kintyre Way passes through the site) Carradale, Machrihanish and Southend. Between Tarbert and Claonaig you can camp on the foreshore or in the rough grazing on the other side of the road: it seems to be an accepted thing. I live in the area and I also operate Tayinloan Taxi and Baggage Transfers.  If I can help at all with local information, just ask.

If you want to know about buses from Glasgow, www.citylink.co.uk operate services 4 each way daily, except Sunday 3 each way. Flights with BA from Glasgow International direct to Campbeltown around 09.00hrs and 16.30 hrs daily except Saturday and Sunday.
Any other questions, just ask.

All the best
Brian Shepherd 

[libby]

Hi Henry, I can confirm that the drinking water from tap on the Kintyre is fantastic - it tasted better than any of our bottled water. A very kind lady in Clachan filled our bottles for us  ( she was doing her gardening and stopped for a chat).
Brians service is very good and our bags always got there before us.
                                                    regards Elizabeth

[brian shepherd]

Hello Henry

Sorry I did not tell you about the Muasdale Holiday park which has camping pitches its 6 or 7 miles south of Tayinloan and there is a good shop in the village as well.

Cheers

Brian

[Da PAN]

Hi everyone!

Thank you for the very useful hints and tips. We are going to start tomorrow! The weather forecast looks good and I am strongly looking forward to jumping of the bus in Tarbert and start walking

Regards
Henry