Robbie Williams Info Board

Two larger-than-life stars called Robbie have been making the news on the west coast.

Singing superstar Robbie Williams has made a surprise visit to Campbeltown.

And Scots actor Robbie Coltrane has been holidaying in Tarbert, Harris.

The pop star, who first came to fame with boy band Take That, sailed in and enjoyed a round of golf at Machrihanish.

He is the latest celebrity to be spotted in the area. Hugh Grant has previously been seen playing golf and the area is a regular haunt of Sir Paul McCartney.

Community leaders hope the appearance of such big names will boost tourism, following the news that the Ministry of Defence had lifted the threat of a nuclear dump which had been hanging over the area.

Locals spotted Robbie - still in a sporting mood after seeing the Open at Troon - enjoying a round at Machrihanish.

Les Oman, chairman of Dalriada Business Action Group, said: "Robbie Williams was seen playing golf at Machrihanish on Wednesday when his yacht was tied up at the moorings at Campbeltown. Film star Hugh Grant has been seen playing golf at Machrihanish not all that long ago too, so there's a fair bit of celebrity watching going on."

Mr Oman said that with the nuclear dump threat lifted, there were hopes that the remoteness of Kintyre by land, coupled with its easy accessibility by sea and air, would encourage more of the rich and famous to holiday there.

The action group still hopes the Scottish Executive will boost tourism in the area by reinstating the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry link.

Mr Oman added: "The ferry issue is certainly not dead. We are expecting to hear from the transport minister next month about whether they will put the route out to tender again."

George McMillan, vice-chair-man of Campbeltown and Kintyre Enterprise, said he felt the area could really move forward now, after the MoD announcement, as the threat of a dump had been "a planning blight on the whole area".

Meanwhile, eagle-eyed Harris residents could be forgiven for stopping and staring in the main street of Tarbert, Harris, this week. For Scots actor Robbie Coltrane was in their midst, after arriving at the weekend for a well-earned holiday.

Coltrane, 54, has played the giant, Hagrid, in the J.K. Rowling Harry Potter movies, and has appeared in the James Bond movies Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough.

The gentle giant was seen sporting a baseball cap in Tarbert, where he visited local shops before driving away in a Renault Clio. It is understood that he and a friend are staying in self-catering accommodation in South Harris.

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