📌 Clachan, Argyll & Bute
★★★★
This is one of Kintyre’s best walks, cramming a picture-postcard village, a small hill with stunning views, and a tranquil coastal and riverside section into under 4 miles. Dun Skeig’s summit comes complete with two hilltop forts, while the modern house encountered on the descent has a setting guaranteed to make anybody jealous. Varied underfoot conditions mean this walk may well take longer than its length suggests – good footwear required – but don’t let that put you off.
📷 Chronological photo guide
West Loch Tarbert from the ascent 
Dun Skeig 
Paps of Jura from near the top of Dun Skeig 
Paps of Jura 
West Loch Tarbert 
Looking south along Kintyre’s west coast 
Dun Skeig summit, hillfort & West Loch Tarbert 
Arran beyond Kintyre, from the summit 
Paps of Jura from the summit 
Portachoillan 
Coastline at Portachoillan 
Coastline at Portachoillan 
Return to the start alongside Clachan Burn
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road, Clachan village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 765561
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.746372,-5.562555
🚌 Bus to Clachan
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 180 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr
Features: △ Dun Skeig (143 m); 🏰 Dun Skeig hill forts
⬤ Moderate | Very varied. Minor road to Quinhill; track then occasionally boggy path to summit. Wet path on descent to Portachoillan. Coastal and riverside sections on a track which is often fine, but with sections of swampy mud which are difficult to avoid!
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with extension to summit: start – Quinhill – climb gate due east of Dun Skeig – Dun Skeig summit – return to gate – Portachoillan – Dunskeig Bay – start, keeping close to burn
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep graze the summit, with cows lower down. The coastal section is reputedly inhabited by otters.
Weather: Uninterrupted blue skies. Chilly, but exceptionally clear air making for brilliant views.
November 2014
