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 Crinan Basin and Lighthouse |
 Tarbert |
 Kilmartin House Museum |
Lochgilphead is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. It lies at the head of Loch Gilp, an arm of Loch Fyne. It is also the chief town of Mid Argyll, an area of land south of Oban and north of Kintyre which extends west from Loch Fyne to the Atlantic Ocean.
Lochgilphead is a planned town in the style of Inveraray and Bowmore on Islay. There are tourist services in the town and range of places to stay.
North of the town is the most important collection of historic sites on mainland Scotland. Kilmartin Glen, has 350 ancient monuments, of which 150 are prehistoric, some dating back 5,000 years. Of particular note is the ancient fortress of the Scots at Dunadd. The village of Kilmartin with its Museum of Ancient Culture sits at the heart of this amazing landscape.
South of Lochgilphead is the small port of Ardrishaig. This is the south-eastern end of the Crinan Canal, a waterway built in 1801 to allow vessels to avoid the long trip around the Mull of Kintyre. The western end of the canal is at Crinan on the Sound of Jura, providing direct access to the North Atlantic and the Hebrides. Close by is the peninsula leading to the harbour village of Tayvallich.
Tarbert is a lovely fishing village backed by rocky hills. The distinctive church tower dominates its skyline. Tarbert was a centre for the herring industry as far back as 836AD when it gained mention in the Annals of Ulster. Though the fishing industry is under threat, tourism is increasingly important to Tarbert and the village hosts yacht races in season, as well as a powerboat Grand Prix.
As you travel south from Tarbert, you realise just how close the rest of Kintyre is to being an island, with only the short distance from East Loch Tarbert to West Loch Tarbert providing the link back to the mainland.
A few miles further still is Kennacraig, the location of the main ferry terminus for Islay; and a rather lonely spot in which to find such an important transport link.
