Campbeltown Malts Festival
Campbeltown's three distilleries — Springbank, Glen Scotia, and Glengyle — open their doors for a long weekend of tastings, tours, and exclusive releases. Smaller and more intimate than Fèis Ìle or Spirit of Speyside, with a genuine community feel. Springbank's open day is the highlight, with exclusive bottlings that sell out immediately. Glen Scotia and Glengyle offer tastings and warehouse tours. The town itself is compact enough to walk between all three distilleries in 10 minutes.
Full Argyll food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
Campbeltown Malts Festival is one of Scotland's most intimate whisky weekends — three distilleries in a 10-minute walk, a town that lives and breathes malt, and Springbank open day bottlings that collectors queue for online the moment tickets drop. Less commercial than Fèis Ìle, less crowded than Spirit of Speyside, and genuinely special if you can get a ticket.
Kintyre in May can be mild and sunny or wet and cold. Layers essential.
Programme highlights
| Event | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Springbank open day | Saturday | Exclusive festival bottlings, distillery access, and rare cask samples. |
| Glen Scotia warehouse tour | Friday-Sunday | Cask samples and a deep dive into the distillery. |
| Glengyle tastings | Friday-Sunday | Kilkerran expressions guided by the distillery team. |
Tickets & pricing
Guided distillery tasting
Open day access plus exclusive bottling allocation
Visitor tips
- Book accommodation in Campbeltown or Tarbert the moment festival dates are announced — October at the latest
- Combine with the Mull of Kintyre drive and a visit to Machrihanish beach
- Drive is scenic but long from Glasgow — 3 hours each way; stay at least two nights
Getting there
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Where to stay
Where to stay near Campbeltown Malts Festival
The map is centred on the festival — set your dates on it, or go straight to hotels, B&Bs and self-catering through the providers underneath.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Where to eat nearby
- The Wee ToonPub
- Café na MaraCafé
Getting Springbank open day tickets is the challenge — they vanish in minutes in January. Plan your whole trip around whether you succeed. Glen Scotia and Glengyle are more accessible and underrated. The town is small and accommodation books out months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
+How do I get Springbank open day tickets?
Tickets go on sale in January via the Springbank website. Set a calendar reminder — they sell out within hours, sometimes minutes.
+Do I need tickets for Glen Scotia and Glengyle?
Yes — both distilleries run ticketed tours and tastings during festival weekend. Book as soon as dates are announced.
+Is there anything to do if I miss tickets?
Springbank's shop is open and the town has a good whisky atmosphere even without a ticket. The distillery exteriors are worth seeing.
Compare with other festivals
Smaller and more focused than Fèis Ìle or Spirit of Speyside. The intimacy is the point — three distilleries, one small town, very knowledgeable crowd.
Near Campbeltown Malts Festival
Things to do nearby, from our sister site TripSCOT, which covers the day-out side. Distances are in a straight line from Campbeltown Malts Festival, not by road.
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