Car and Ferry Travel Advice to and from Islay and Kennacraig

Looks like your profanity checker went a bit wild with good old Jarvis there. His name is not that bad, just a bit unfortunate ;-)

I kind of doubt that the alternative routes will be a great time and hassle saver though. The Arran route is comparably expensive and not really worth it unless you stay over on Arran anyway. I suspect the Dunoon route might get busy as well and actually be even slower if a lot of drivers decide to take it and therefore clog up the ferries.

Just leave a bit earlier than usual and if you get through well spend a bit of time in Tarbert. It's a good idea to have a bit of a buffer on that route anyway, as there aren't many viable diversions if the road is blocked.

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Armin
http://www.islayblog.com/

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Hi Armin, thanks for mentioning good old Jarvis there, I hadn't noticed it :-) Seems like the checker did a good job!

I remember a trip a few years back when we left Islay and an accident happened between Rest and be Thankful and Tarbet. The road was completely blocked and it took the rescue services hours to clear up the mess. There even was an announcement on the ferry and some people really paniced. Traffic was diverted from Inveraray over the A819 to Dalmally and A85 to Crianlarich, which is a beautiful trip but will take you at least an extra hour. On that day we had to get to Hull for the ferry to Rotterdam and we made it just in time.

When something like that happens you're basically stuck in Kintyre. You can alternatively take the A816 to Oban, which is not a nice road to drive, unless you have the time, or take the B840 along Loch Awe, which is also a lovely drive but single track. And in both cases you still have to drive over Crianlarich which in total will add a few hours to your journey.

I normally always build in a buffer and take it easy, as you said, there are many interesting places to visit. Last year we visited Auchindrain just outside Inveraray which is very much worth a visit. And Tarbert is a lovely little village with some fine restaurants :-)

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www.islayinfo.com

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Armin & Ron, the alternative routes are more for people looking to see a different part of the country rather than avoiding potential delays on the route most people follow! The advantage of the Islay route is that you can combine the price of the ferry with that to/from Islay, but as you say Armin its only really worthwhile if you're stopping over on Arran itself (after all it would be cheaper just to visit the island from Claonaig if only going for a day trip!) The Cowal route was an option myself and Linda were considering for one of our visits to Kintyre this year, but each time we went across the Rest and be Thankful instead... maybe next year I'll arrange to get the gates opened on the old road (but then I would want to be driving something a bit more sporty than a Vauxhall Zafira!)

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Bruce,

I think that's pretty much what I've said ;-)

Depending on how bad the traffic gets (looking at the acts for the festival I think it could actually get quite bad) I suspect the Cowal route could on this occasion actually almost be quicker. With the complication that it won't be if many other people think the same and use it.

I know of a number of people who use it regularly and say it is not much slower than the normal route and enjoy it because it is more scenic.

I've travelled the Arran route myself a few years ago, but only because I've combined it with a stay in Galloway and on Arran (climbing Goatfell in the process). I know some people living in Ayrshire and to my knowledge they always drive the normal way.

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Gruss,
Armin
www.islayblog.com
www.armin-grewe.com/islay/

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You're right Armin, that is more or less what you said... I was just mentioning it as, avoiding potential delays en route to Kennacraig was not the reason for mentioning the alternative routes in the first place!

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