Kilcreggan is a village in Argyll and Bute, on the tip of the Rosneath peninsula. To the east of the peninsula is Gare Loch, west is Loch Long (both narrow but deep fjords), and south is the Firth of Clyde. So it's somewhat isolated by land, but grew up in the 19th century when Clyde steamers linked it to Glasgow, and city merchants began to establish their summer homes and residences here.
Get in
By road Kilcreggan is 16 miles from Helensburgh and 40 miles from Glasgow. From A82 take A814 through Helensburgh to Garelochhead then down the Rosneath peninsula.
Garelochhead Bus 316 runs M-Sat every two hours from Helensburgh to Kilcreggan, taking 40 mins and continuing to Cove (for the gardens) and Coulport navy base.
If you don't have a car then by boat is quickest, on the ferry from Gourock on the south bank of the Clyde. This takes 15 mins, foot passengers only, adult single £3.60, return £7. It sails year round M-Sat roughly hourly 07:00-18:00, no Sunday service. (If the ferry cannot run, the replacement bus takes 1.5 hours.) Gourock has trains every 15 mins from Glasgow Central, taking 40-50 mins, with the last train after 23:00. In Kilcreggan everything is clustered around the 1 ferry pier. The ferry between Kilcreggan and Helensburgh was axed in 2012.
Going overland, the nearest railway station is Garelochhead, which only has 3-4 trains a day. Helensburgh Central has trains from Glasgow Queen Street every 30 mins.
In previous years the paddle steamer Waverley occasionally sailed to Kilcreggan, but in 2019 she had boiler problems and fundraising is under way for repairs.
Get around
You need your own wheels.
See
- Painted rocks: there's a tradition of painting the large glacial boulders along the beach, one example being "Tut-Tut" as it spoofed a pharaoh's head. This tradition is over a century old, as "Para Handy" in Neil Munro's tales of the Clyde Puffers once claimed to have painted several. These artworks come and go as wind and waves scour away the paint and other artists see opportunities. So just look out for examples.
- 1 Linn Botannical Gardens, Cove G84 0NR (3 miles northwest of Kilcreggan), ☏ 44 1436 84 2084. Open all year daily 11:00-17:00. Somewhat overgrown garden in Cove on Loch Long. Adult £5.
Do
- Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering is held at Rosneath Castle in mid-July. The 2021 event was cancelled so the next is probably Sun 17 July 2022, tbc.
- 1 Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival is held in Cove Burgh Hall in late November. Talks by a series of authors, single event £6, weekend pass £40. The next is expected to be Fri 18 - Sun 20 Nov 2022 but tbc.
Buy
- The Bank of Scotland opposite the pier is open M Th 10:00-12:00 & 13:30-16:00 and has an ATM.
- The RBS Mobile Bank also parks here every second Tuesday 11:05-11:15.
- Costcutter convenience store is in Argyle Buildings facing the ferry pier. It's open M-Sa 07:00-18:00, Su 08:00-15:00.
- There's also Boots pharmacy (M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00) and Kilcreggan Antiques (Th F 10:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-16:00).
Eat
- Next to the ferry pier, the Kilcreggan Café is open daily 09:30-17:00.
Drink
- Creggans Bar is open daily 12:00-00:00.
Sleep
- 1 Knockderry Country House Hotel, Shore Road, Cove G84 0NX. 15 room hotel, built in 1848 and extended by the architect William Leiper in 1890 including adding some fine stained glass. B&B double from £80.
Go next
- From Gourock turn east into Glasgow, or south towards Ayr, or take another ferry from Gourock to Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula.
- With your own transport, drive north through Garelochhead then south to Helensburgh or north to Loch Lomond and the head of Loch Long.