Saddell Bay and Castle
A sandy bay in east Kintyre below the tower of Saddell Castle, where Antony Gormley's cast-iron figure GRIP looks out from the rocks to Arran.
A lane runs down from Saddell Abbey to the sea, where Saddell Bay opens out in a sweep of sand on the east coast of Kintyre, looking across Kilbrannan Sound to the mountains of Arran.
At its northern end stands Saddell Castle, a dark stone tower house once home to the Bishop of Argyll and built with stone taken from the abbey. It is now let as a holiday home.
On the rocks below the castle stands GRIP, a cast-iron figure by Antony Gormley. It was made as part of his LAND project for the Landmark Trust's fiftieth anniversary and was only meant to stay for a year, but an anonymous donor made it possible to keep it for good. The figure gazes out across the water to Arran, and changes with every tide and every light.
Park at the abbey and walk down; the shore is open at any time.
Open at all times.
The castle is a private holiday let; the shore and GRIP are open to walk to.
- Where
- Saddell, east Kintyre.
- Sculpture
- GRIP, by Antony Gormley.
- View
- Across to Arran.
Down the lane from Saddell Abbey to the shore, off the B842, PA28 6RA.
Beinn an Tuirc DistillersKintyre Gin at Torrisdale.4 miles7 min by road
Glen Scotia DistilleryOne of Campbeltown's three working distilleries, founded in 1832, with tours, tastings and a Victorian-style shop.9 miles16 min by road
CampbeltownA harbour town on Kintyre with a great whisky past, three working distilleries and Scotland's oldest working cinema.9 miles17 min by road
Springbank DistilleryCampbeltown's family distillery of 1828, the only one in Scotland to floor-malt all its barley and do everything on site.9 miles18 min by road
Skipness CastleA castle facing Arran, to the north.22 miles40 min by road
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.