Kintyre

For other uses, see Kintyre (disambiguation).
Kintyre highlighted within Argyll

Kintyre (Scottish Gaelic: Cinn Tìre, Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [kʲʰiɲˈtʲʰiːɾʲə]) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles (48 km), from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately north of Kintyre is known as Knapdale.

Kintyre is long and narrow, at no point more than 11 miles (18 km) from west coast to east coast. The east side of the Kintyre Peninsula is bounded by Kilbrannan Sound, with a number of coastal peaks such as Torr Mor. The central spine of the peninsula is mostly hilly moorland. The coastal areas and hinterland, however, are rich and fertile. Kintyre has long been a prized area for settlers, including the early Scots who migrated from Ulster to western Scotland and the Vikings or Norsemen who conquered and settled the area just before the start of the second millennium.

The principal town of the area is Campbeltown (about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) by road from the Mull), which has been a royal burgh since the mid-18th century. The area's economy has long relied on fishing and farming, although Campbeltown has a reputation as a producer of some of the world's finest single malt whisky. Campbeltown Single Malts include the multi-award winning 'Springbank'.

Kintyre Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary, one of the officers of arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon, is named after this peninsula.

Towns and villages in Kintyre

The north-eastern coast of the Kintyre peninsula looking northward to Skipness and the Sound of Bute
Skipness Castle

Transport

Information on all forms of public transport is available from Traveline Scotland

Bus and coach services

Flights

Ferry services

Railways

No railways remain in use but there was a light railway from Campbeltown to Machrihanish from 1876 until 1931, initially built to transport coal. (see Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway)

Places of historic interest

Ruins of the old church at Kilchenzie with beehives below.

Prehistoric sites

Kintyre Peninsula visible from Torrisdale Bay.

Associated peerage titles

Test

The Mull of Kintyre test is said to be an unofficial guideline of the British Board of Film Classification for the censorship of adult films and images.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Newton, Norman S (1999). Kintyre.

Coordinates: 55°30′N 5°35′W / 55.500°N 5.583°W / 55.500; -5.583

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