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Lochgilphead town centre was originally built in 1790 hence it’s pretty uniform layout. At one time the town enjoyed better sea transport links. Lochgilphead once had a pier which supported maritime links with Glasgow but today most people travel to Lochgilphead by car or coach.
Lochgilphead is the administrative capital of Argyll & Bute. If you are staying at Burnside Cottage the burgh town boasts a reasonable selection of shops including some craft shops, a painting gallery, pharmacist, iron mongers, a few cafes, chip shop, indian restaurant, a supermarket, petrol stations and reasonable leisure facilities including a library, swimming pool and golf course. There is a children’s play area on the waterfront.
The Square Peg is an excellent gift and craft shop located on the shore front in the centre of town. It also has a cafe and card shop attached. The Stag Hotel is worth a visit and Pinto’s Vegetarian Restaurant on Argyll Street can be recommended.
In the last hundred years or so Lochgilphead has increasingly been seen as the capital of Argyll & Bute. The Argyll & Bute Council Headquarters are located on the outskirts of town.
The town stands at the head of Loch Gilp itself an inlet of Loch Fyne and it’s location provides a useful stopping off point on your way south to The Mull of Kintyre or the ferry at Kennacraig for the islands. At a more local level Lochgilphead is well placed for the tourist to enjoy the Crinan Canal and you can also head northwards to Kilmartin Glen and onwards to Oban and the far north.
The visitor to Lochgilphead outside of the tourist season will get a a truer feel for the day to day goings on of a West Highland town. In one sense nothing much appears to be happenings but take the time to scratch the surface and you will uncover a vibrant local community.
A regular bus service connects Lochgilphead to the surrounding area and onwards to Glasgow.
Kilmory Woodland Park
An easily accessible woodland walk around Kilmory Castle on the outskirts of Lochgilphead. The woodland surrounds the Argyll & Bute Council Headquarters and is clearly sign posted off the A83 just north of Lochgilphead.
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