Kintyre - Basic Geography
Hi, everybody.
I managed to snatch a couple of Kintyre visits in April, and would like to share some of my observations with you. So I've put together 5 Google Earth pictures which, hopefully, will help you to understand some of the places I will be talking about, and find them for yourselves, should you ever manage a visit.
I would also suggest that anyone unfamiliar with the area should cast an eye over earlier postings on this forum, which contain lots of useful information.
The first picture shows Upper Kintyre. It is generally accepted that Kintyre begins at Tarbert, for West Loch Tarbert almost cuts right through the peninsula at Tarbert. Kintyre is a great base from which to visit other places, too. A ferry goes from Tarbert due east to the Cowal Peninsula. Two others leave Kennacraig for Islay, far to the west. One goes to Port Ellen, in the south of Islay, the other to Port Askaig, on the Islay shore of the Soiund of Jura. From Port Askaig you can take a small vehicle ferry across the Sound to Jura. Every Wednesday one of the Islay ferries carries on through the Sound of Jura to the small island of Colonsay, and thence up to Oban, the departure point for Mull. A ferry sails from Claonaig, on Kintyre's eastern shore, to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. From the town of Brodick on the east cost of Arran you can catch another ferry to Ardrossan, on the Ayrshire coast. And finally a vehicle ferry shuttles to the garden island of Gigha from Tayinloan, just a little way south of Rhunahaorine Point.
The second picture shows the southern, lower portion of the Kintyre Peninsula. I apologise for the cloud/fog, but I couldn't persuade the US military to re-photograph it for me. The area of fields and farmland between Campbeltown and the west coast is known as the Laggan, and is a winter refuge for thousands of Greenland White-front and other migratory geese. Geese also winter at Rhunahaorine Point, which can be seen in the first photograph. To the south of the Laggan is mostly high moorland, with some conifer plantations. The southern shores of Kintyre are mostly high, often spectacular sea cliffs, much beloved of fulmars.
The third photograph shows an enlargement of the Laggan, lying between Campbeltown and Machrihanish. The former military airbase can be clearly seen a little way north of Machrihanish. Wind turbines are now manufactured there. Campbeltown Loch, Davaar Island, and the coast running south from Davaar can yield good seabirds.
Photograph number 4 is an enlargement of the Campbeltown Loch/Davaar area. The NATO refuelling pier can be clearly seen on the south shore of the loch. Black Guillemots can be seen there. The Doirlinn, known alternatively as "Stinky Hole", is a small area close to the shore road where wind, tide and shoreline topography combine to produce masses of cast-up, rotting seaweed, hence the name. It can be excellent for waders, ducks and assorted seabirds. Kildalloig often yields good duck sightings, particularly eider, wigeon and shelduck.
Finally, photo number 5 covers Machrihanish, one of the best birding spots in Kintyre. The spur of rocks to the left of the little crescent of beach in front of the village is favoured by roosting Sandwich Terns. Carrying on through the village, the little bay between the wee white house and the Marine Research Laboratory (ex lifeboat station) can be superb for all kinds of seabirds, particulary when the wild winds whip from the north-west, driving the birds into the bay for shelter. If you take the dirt road out past the Research Laboratory you will come to the Seabird and Wildlife Observatory (Warden - Eddie Maguire). Eddie is on duty there most days from April to October. Sea-watching from here can be excellent, especially when passage migrants travel past the headland. Divers, Skuas, Gannets, Auks, Sea Ducks, Shearwaters, Petrels, all appear on the record books of the Observatory. Otters are frequently seen, and the area is heaving with both Grey and Common Seals. Twite are commonly seen, as are Wheatears and Hooded Crows.
Best wishes,
Dave Kennedy