Carradale

A steep climb to sweeping mountain and island views

Take a stroll around the village and out along the shore, or explore the Deer Hill Trail in Carradale Forest which takes you to the craggy summit of Cnoc nan Gabhar. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views across Kilbrannan Sound to Arran. The forest is a haven for wildlife, so look out for deer, red and black grouse and many birds of prey.

Walking trails

Carradale route card (PDF)

Walking

Deer Hill Trail

Enjoy an eagle’s eye view over Carradale Bay and Kilbrannan Sound from the rocky summit of Cnoc nan Gabhar.

Prolonged steep slopes for up to 600m. Uneven grassy paths with rough, narrow and muddy sections.

3 ¾ miles / 5.9 km

Allow 2 ½ hours

More information

This strenuous route leads you through woodland and open moorland dotted with bright rhododendrons to the summit of Cnoc nan Ghabar. Enjoy a magnificent panorama over Carradale Glen, Kilbrannan Sound and Arran. Spot Ben Cruachan, Argyll’s highest point, to the north. This is called Deer Hill for good reason – look out for red, roe, fallow and sika deer, as well as moorland birds amongst the heather, and golden eagles and hen harriers overhead.

Activities

Watching wildlife

Look out for red and roe deer amongst the mature trees and butterflies and sika deer in open sunny glades around the younger trees. These grassy areas are also home to voles, the favourite food of birds of prey like buzzards and kestrels.

Head up onto higher ground to find moorland birds amongst the heather and perhaps see a golden eagle circling overhead. Alternatively, visit Carradale village and stroll beside Kilbrannan Sound, where you might be lucky enough to see basking sharks or leaping salmon.

Explore Carradale on long distance trails

Carradale is on the route of the 100 mile Kintyre Way, a waymarked long distance trail that criss-crosses the lovely Kintyre peninsula between Tarbert and Dunaverty.

You can also explore the Kintyre peninsula following National Cycle Route 78, which passes close to Carradale.

Facilities and access

Parking (charge)

Picnic area

Tourist information

Viewpoint

Walking

Stay the Night

There are public toilets and a selection of places to eat, drink and shop in Carradale and the wider East Kintyre area. There’s also a tea room with tourist information at the Carradale Network Centre – check for their opening hours.

Car parking information

The charges to park at this forest car park are:

• £1 for up to 1 hour – all vehicles
• £3 for all day
• Blue Badge holders park free. Please display your Blue Badge clearly.

Payment can be made using RingGo.

Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates. Nearby car parks with free parking can be found in our Forest Search, marked as a 'P' without the £ symbol.

Annual parking pass available:

Available in advance by downloading the application form and emailing to the Regional Office. Please read our Annual Pass terms and conditions (PDF) before applying.

More about parking

Stay the Night

Stay the Night continues to run here through to 31 October 2024. This means self-contained motorhomes and campervans will be able to park overnight for one night in some of our car parks.

There is a £7 charge to Stay the Night at this car park. Payment can be made through RingGo with details of how to do this at the car park.

To help plan your stay, please see the details below:

Grianan

• Height barrier – No
• Motorhome capacity of car park – 4
• Suitable for large vehicles/caravans – No
• Parking notes – On a slope – levelling blocks recommended. and safely – don’t block access to forest road

Port Na Storm

• Height barrier – No
• Motorhome capacity of car park – 2
• Suitable for large vehicles/caravans –  No
• Parking notes – Slight slope to site – levelling blocks are advised. Please park considerately and safely – do not block site container, 24 hr access required

Please visit our Stay the Night page for full details, participating locations, best practice, and terms and conditions of use.

Stay the night

Getting here

The Deer Hill Trail starts at the Port Na Storm car park, which can be found on the left as entering Carradale village.

The north end of the forest can be accessed via Grianan car park. This can be found on the east side of the B842, half way between Dippen and Grogport.

Using SatNav?

PA28 6SB is the nearest postcode for Port na Storm car park.
PA28 6QJ is the nearest for Grianan, but about a mile south of the site.

Public transport

There are regular buses from Campbeltown to Carradale. Plan your journey at Traveline Scotland.

Get directions