Experience the Coastal Beauty of Campbeltown

As Christmas approaches bringing with it cooler days and nights, a trip to Scotland doesn’t necessarily mean wrapping up in winter woolies. Indulge in a warming dram of whisky, mixed perfectly with some of the most temperate climates with which the country is blessed, with a visit to one of the hidden corners of Scotland, Campbeltown.

Situated near the Mull of Kintyre in Argyll, Campbeltown is the largest town in Kintyre with a population of just over five thousand. With its dramatic coastal views and close proximity to the Gulf Stream, Campbeltown generally enjoys higher temperatures than the UK average. This gives the town a tropical ambiance with many of the streets and gardens being scattered with palm trees, making it an ideal destination for a getaway at any time of the year.

The 1st hole of Machrihanish Golf Course has been voted to have “the best opening hole in golf” by golf architects and players, with an elevated tee on the edge of the shore and the fairway following the beach

Boats and whisky have played an important part in the history and economy of Campbeltown, with locals still thriving on the sea as shellfish remains a speciality. The resurgence in distilling is reflected with the town being home to both the oldest family owned distillery in Scotland, and the newest.

Springbank Distillery is unique in being the oldest independent family owned distillery in Scotland, and distillery tours are available by appointment from Monday to Thursday from April through to September. It is highly recommended to take the chance to see how the malt is produced in the only distillery in Scotland to carry out the full production process on one site with traditional floor malting, maturation and bottling all done in Campbeltown.

The first new distillery of the millennium; Glengyle Distillery was opened in March 2004, signifying a momentous event for the town and the whisky industry as a whole. Visitors are welcome at the modern, compact distillery, which produces Kilkerran Single Malt, scheduled for the first bottling in 2012. Whilst in such close proximity to Spingbank, the two distilleries could not be more different, representing the old and new in terms of when they were opened and the production techniques which are used.

Balinakill Country House Hotel provides the ideal accommodation for those who wish to escape from it all. The historical grade B listed mansion house dating from the 1890s is surrounded by six acres of beautiful grounds and some of the most picturesque highland scenery, with views looking out to the hills of Jura and Islay beyond. The hotel is the perfect base for exploring various areas of Kintyre, with ten individually furnished en-suite bedrooms. The restaurant offers guests an intimate dining experience in tasteful surroundings, with a menu created using the finest local produce. Creating a unique menu which encompasses the freshest local ingredients with which the areas is blessed, chef and proprietor Angus Macdiarmid has recently been awarded an AA Rosette.

After sampling quality cuisine and tasting the delights of the ‘water of life’, keen golfers can enjoy a game at the Machrihanish Golf Course, an outstanding natural 18 hole course well known throughout the world. Voted to have “the best opening hole in golf” by golf architects and players, with an elevated tee on the edge of the shore and the fairway following the beach, the course is situated on the Kintyre Peninsula, testing even the most experienced player. Due to wind temperatures, strengths and directions changing quickly, no two games will ever be the same.

Recently named one of the top 100 golf courses in the world by GOLF magazine, and listed in the top 100 golf courses outside the USA by the Golfer’s Digest, Machrihanish is one of the worldwide courses included in PerryGolf exclusive golf tours. Described as ‘magnificent and elusive’, the course is links golf at its best located at the southern tip of The Mull of Kintyre. PerryGolf offer both custom and grand touring of exceptional quality on some of the best courses across the globe and particularly in Scotland, the home of golf.

The Whisky Coast is a company formed through collaboration between sixteen distilleries, three tour companies, eighteen hotels, restaurants, golf courses and attractions on the West Coast of Scotland. The Whisky Coast aims to raise the profile of the West Coast as an area blessed with a high concentration of distilleries against the backdrop of a dramatic rugged coastline.

For more information regarding The Whisky Coast visit www.whiskycoast.co.uk

To book a tour in the area visit www.rabbies.com or www.scotsell.com, or to book a golf tour visit www.perrygolf.com

The sixteen distilleries who are members of The Whisky Coast are:
Springbank Distillery, Campbeltown
Glengyle Distillery, Campbeltown
Isle of Arran Distillery, Arran
Ardbeg Distillery, Islay
Bowmore Distillery, Islay
Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay
Bunnahabhain Distillery, Islay
Caol Ila Distillery, Islay
Kilchoman Distillery, Islay
Lagavulin Distillery, Islay
Laphroaig Distillery, Islay
Isle of Jura Distillery, Islay
Oban Distillery, Oban
Tobermory Distillery, Mull
Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William
Talisker Distillery, Skye

Associate members of The Whisky Coast are:
Perry Golf, Helensburgh
Scotsell, Glasgow
Rabbies, Edinburgh
Turnberry Resort, Turnberry
Balinakill Hotel, Campbeltown
Auchrannie Resort, Arran
Port Charlotte Hotel, Islay
Harbour Inn, Islay
Crinan Hotel, Lochgilphead
Isle of Eriska Hotel, Oban
Kinloch Lodge, Skye
Hotel Eilean Iarmain, Skye
Culloden House Hotel, Inverness
Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Inveraray
Crannog Restaurant & Sea Island Cruises, Fort William
Three Chimneys, Skye
Loch Fyne Whisky, Inveraray
Machrihanish Golf, Campbeltown
Machrie Hotel & Golf, Islay
The Majestic Line, Dunoon
Torosay Castle & Gardens, Mull

Whisky Coast is sponsored by:
Highlands and Islands Enterprise Skye and Wester Ross
Argyll and The Islands Enterprise
Lochaber Enterprise
VisitScotland
North Ayrshire Council
Caledonian MacBrayne
Highland and Islands Airports
Loganair
Scotch Whisky Tourism Initiative

The Whisky Coast encourages responsible drinking and supports the Drinkaware Trust which campaigns and educates to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol related harm

Instrumental in the formation of The Whisky Coast, ScotlandWhisky is a partnership between the Scotch Whisky and Tourism industries it seeks to utilise Scotch Whisky’s global reputation to promote Scotland as a high quality leisure destination and improve the visitors’ experience of Scotch Whisky. It is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, The Scotch Whisky Association, The Scotch Whisky Experience and VisitScotland.