Torrisdale Bay carpark

The car park at Torrisdale Bay isn't what you'd typically plan a day around, but it's the gateway to one of Argyll's most rewarding coastal walks. Park up here and you've got immediate access to a stretch of shoreline that feels properly remote despite being just a few miles from Campbeltown. The bay itself is where the real draw lies - a sweeping arc of sand and shingle backed by low cliffs, with the kind of light that makes everything look better than it probably has any right to. On a clear day, you're looking across the Firth of Clyde towards the Mull of Kintyre. It's free, naturally. Allow an hour minimum if you're just stretching your legs along the shore, longer if you fancy exploring the rock pools or sitting about with a flask. Families with young children do fine here - the beach is accessible and there's enough to keep them occupied, though it's not a traditional seaside resort type affair. History types might appreciate that this stretch of coast has seen everything from Viking raids to Spanish Armada ships. It works perfectly as a morning stop if you're based at Carradale Bay Holiday Park just up the road - honestly, it's the kind of spot that makes the Kintyre peninsula worth the drive. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though you won't want to linger all day.