Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghà idheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32
unitary authority council areas
For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" ( gd, comhairlean), which are all governed by single-tier authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Ga ...
in Scotland and a
lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas are the separate areas of the United Kingdom appointed a lord-lieutenant – a representative of the British monarch. In many cases they have similar demarcation and naming to, but are not necessarily coterminate with, the coun ...
. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020). The administrative centre for the council area is in
Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead (; gd, Ceann Loch Gilb ) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom, with a population of around 2,300 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The village lies at the end of Loch G ...
at
Kilmory Castle
Kilmory Castle, also known as Kilmory House, is a large 19th century house located just to the south of Lochgilphead, in old county Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. It is currently occupied by the headquarters of the Argyll and Bute Co ...
, a 19th-century
Gothic Revival building and estate. The current council leader is Robin Currie, a councillor for
Kintyre and the Islands.
Description
Argyll and Bute covers the second-largest administrative area of any Scottish council. The council area adjoins those of
Highland,
Perth and Kinross,
Stirling
Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...
and
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire ( sco, Wast Dunbairtonshire; gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann an Iar, ) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. The area lies to the west of the City of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's commuter to ...
. Its border runs through
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of C ...
.
The present council area was created in 1996, when it was carved out of the
Strathclyde
Strathclyde ( in Gaelic, meaning "strath (valley) of the River Clyde") was one of nine former local government regions of Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and abolished in 1996 by the Local Government et ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
, which was a two-tier
local government
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-l ...
region of 19
district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...
s, created in 1975. Argyll and Bute merged the existing Argyll and Bute district and one
ward
Ward may refer to:
Division or unit
* Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward
* Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
of the
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
district. The Dumbarton ward, called 'Helensburgh and Lomond', included the
burgh of
Helensburgh
Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local gove ...
and consisted of an area to the west of
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of C ...
, north of the
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...
and mostly east of
Loch Long
Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately in length, with a width of between . The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its west ...
.
The council area can also be described by reference to divisions of the
counties of Scotland. The council area includes most of
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.
Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...
(Argyll less the
Morvern
Morvern, historically also spelt Morven, is a peninsula and traditional district in the Highlands, on the west coast of Scotland. It lies south of the districts of Ardgour and Sunart, and is bounded on the north by Loch Sunart and Glen Tarbert, ...
area, north of
Mull
Mull may refer to:
Places
*Isle of Mull, a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides
** Sound of Mull, between the Isle of Mull and the rest of Scotland
* Mount Mull, Antarctica
*Mull Hill, Isle of Man
* Mull, Arkansas, a place along Arkansas Highway ...
, which is part of the Highland council area), part of
Buteshire (the
Isle of Bute
The Isle of Bute ( sco, Buit; gd, Eilean Bhòid or '), known as Bute (), is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, United Kingdom. It is divided into highland and lowland areas by the Highland Boundary Fault.
Formerly a constituent is ...
) and part of
Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire ( gd, Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann) or the County of Dumbarton is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Dunbartonshire borders Pe ...
(the Helensburgh and Lomond ward).
Council
Thirty-six representative members make up the council, elected, since 2007, by
single transferable vote
Single transferable vote (STV) is a multi-winner electoral system in which voters cast a single vote in the form of a ranked-choice ballot. Voters have the option to rank candidates, and their vote may be transferred according to alternate ...
and, before that, by the
first-past-the-post system
In a first-past-the-post electoral system (FPTP or FPP), formally called single-member plurality voting (SMP) when used in single-member districts or informally choose-one voting in contrast to ranked voting, or score voting, voters cast their ...
. The
2017 election saw the
SNP become the largest group. This was the first time since the creation of the modern authority that the representatives of a political party had outnumbered
Independents in holding the largest number of seats on the council; nevertheless, it was a coalition of Independents,
Conservatives
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
, and
Liberal Democrats who would go on to form an administration following the election.
In February 2012, the council was criticised for allegedly setting up "spy" accounts on social media. As a result of the investigation, a council employee was suspended for setting up "fake social media accounts to monitor what was being said about the council". The council's own investigation later confirmed it had "found no evidence of any form of spying or covert surveillance having been carried out by any employee within the council's communication team."
Wards
Eleven multi-member wards were created for the 2007 election, replacing 36 single-member wards which had been in place since 1999 (adjusted up from 33 in the 1990s):
*
South Kintyre (3 seats)
*
Kintyre and the Islands (3 seats)
*
Mid Argyll (3 seats)
*
Oban South and the Isles (4 seats)
*
Oban North and Lorn (4 seats)
*
Cowal
Cowal ( gd, Còmhghall) is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde.
The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The Arroch ...
(3 seats)
*
Dunoon
Dunoon (; gd, Dùn Omhain) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As wel ...
(3 seats)
*
Isle of Bute
The Isle of Bute ( sco, Buit; gd, Eilean Bhòid or '), known as Bute (), is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, United Kingdom. It is divided into highland and lowland areas by the Highland Boundary Fault.
Formerly a constituent is ...
(3 seats)
*
Lomond North (3 seats)
*
Helensburgh Central (4 seats)
*
Helensburgh and Lomond South (3 seats)
Elections
*
1992 Argyll and Bute District Council election (Strathclyde region)
*
1995 Argyll and Bute Council election
*
1999 Argyll and Bute Council election
*
2003 Argyll and Bute Council election
The 2003 elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on the 1 May 2003 and were the third for the unitary authority, which was created under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 and replaced the previous two-tier system of local gover ...
*
2007 Argyll and Bute Council election
Elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on 3 May 2007 the same day as the other Scottish local government elections and the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using 11 new wards created as a result of th ...
*
2012 Argyll and Bute Council election
Elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eleven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 36 councillors being ele ...
*
2017 Argyll and Bute Council election
The 2017 Argyll and Bute Council election took place on 4 May 2017 alongside local elections across Scotland. This was the third local election to take place using the Single Transferable Vote electoral system.
Background
At the previous elect ...
NeverSeconds
In June 2012, the council was heavily criticised for banning a local primary student, Martha Payne (aged 9), from taking photographs of her school dinners for her online blog. The blog,
NeverSeconds, had been praised by the celebrity chef,
Jamie Oliver
James Trevor Oliver MBE OSI (born 27 May 1975) is an English chef, restaurateur and cookbook author. He is known for his casual approach to cuisine, which has led him to front numerous television shows and open many restaurants.
Oliver reac ...
, had attracted over two million visits, and at the time of the ban had raised nearly £2,000 for a food charity. On the day the story broke, the blog had raised over £40,000. After an initial statement from the council defending the decision, the ban was subsequently overturned by council leader,
Roddy McCuish
Roderick William "Roddy" McCuish is a Scottish politician who was an independent member of the Argyll and Bute Council, having formerly been the leader twice, both with the Scottish National Party (SNP) and later as an independent. On 8 January 2 ...
.
In November 2012 a book written by David Payne, Martha's father, revealed the background to the council's attempt to censor and bully a 9-year-old girl. The book says: "My anger and frustration at Argyll and Bute Council was not being soothed by time. Thinly veiled attacks on our parenting on national radio and an abusive phonecall stood out as examples of a public body sick to the very top. Complaints via the proper procedures and through elected councillors had brought no visible changes. Far from being contrite they seemed to take a pride in being untouchable."
Transport
Railways
The main railway line in Argyll and Bute is the West Highland Line, which links Oban to Glasgow, passing through much of the eastern and northern parts of the area. From the south the line enters Argyll and Bute just to the west of Dumbarton, continuing north via
Helensburgh Upper to the eastern shores of the
Gare Loch
The Gare Loch or Gareloch ( gd, An Gearr Loch) is an open sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland and bears a similar name to the village of Gairloch in the north west Highlands.
The loch is well used for recreational boating, water sports and f ...
and
Loch Long
Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately in length, with a width of between . The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its west ...
. The line comes inland at
Arrochar and Tarbet to meet the western shore of
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond (; gd, Loch Laomainn - 'Lake of the Elms'Richens, R. J. (1984) ''Elm'', Cambridge University Press.) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the lowlands of C ...
. At the northern end of the loch the lines leaves Argyll and Bute to enter
Stirling council area
The Stirling council area ( sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about ( estimate). It was created under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 with the boundaries of the Stirl ...
. The Oban branch of the West Highland Line re-enters the area just west of
Tyndrum
Tyndrum (; gd, Taigh an Droma) is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.
Location and facilities
Tyndrum is a popular tourist village, ...
, and heads west to Oban: stations on this section of the line include
Dalmally
Dalmally (Scottish Gaelic: ''Clachan an Dìseirt'' or ''Dail Mhà ilidh'') is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station.
Former Labour Party leader John Smith was born in Dalmally ...
and
Taynuilt railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Taynuilt station.JPG
, borough = Taynuilt, Argyll and Bute
, country = Scotland
, coordinates =
, grid_name = Grid reference
, grid_position =
, manager = ScotRail
, platforms = 2
, c ...
. The majority of services on the line are operated by
ScotRail: as of 2019 the summer service has six trains a day to Oban, with four on Sundays. In addition to the ScotRail service is the nightly
Caledonian Sleeper
''Caledonian Sleeper'' is the collective name for overnight sleeper train services between London and Scotland, in the United Kingdom. It is one of only two currently operating sleeper services on the railway in the United Kingdom, the other b ...
, although this does not run on the Oban branch.
Helensburgh also has a much more frequent service into Glasgow and beyond via the
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line (defined by Network Rail as the ''Glasgow North Electric Suburban'' line) is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by ScotRail Trains. As a result of the incorporation of the Airdrie–Bathga ...
, which has its western terminus at the town's
central railway station.
Roads
The main
trunk roads in Argyll and Bute are:
[
*The A82, which runs along the western shore of Loch Lomond, providing the main route between Glasgow and Fort William.
*The A83, which leaves the A82 at Tarbet, heading west and then south to eventually reach Campbeltown by way of ]Inveraray
Inveraray ( or ; gd, Inbhir Aora meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is a former royal burgh, the traditional county town of Arg ...
and Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead (; gd, Ceann Loch Gilb ) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom, with a population of around 2,300 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The village lies at the end of Loch G ...
.
*The A85, which leaves the A82 at Tyndrum
Tyndrum (; gd, Taigh an Droma) is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.
Location and facilities
Tyndrum is a popular tourist village, ...
(just outside Argyll and Bute) and heads west to Oban via Dalmally
Dalmally (Scottish Gaelic: ''Clachan an Dìseirt'' or ''Dail Mhà ilidh'') is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station.
Former Labour Party leader John Smith was born in Dalmally ...
.
*The A828, which leaves the A85 at Connel and north through Appin
Appin ( gd, An Apainn) is a coastal district of the Scottish West Highlands bounded to the west by Loch Linnhe, to the south by Loch Creran, to the east by the districts of Benderloch and Lorne, and to the north by Loch Leven. It lies north ...
to join the A82 at Ballachulish.
*The A815, which leaves the A83 in Glen Kinglas
The Arrochar Alps are a group of mountains located around the head of Loch Long, Loch Fyne, and Loch Goil, near the villages of Arrochar and Lochgoilhead, on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The mountains are especially popula ...
near Cairndow
Cairndow; ( gd, An CÃ rn Dubh) is a coastal hamlet, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. The town lies between the A83 road and the head of Loch Fyne.
Cairndow's school closed in 1988 after the roll fell to just 3 pu ...
, heading south through Strachur and Dunoon
Dunoon (; gd, Dùn Omhain) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As wel ...
and ends at Toward
Toward; ( gd, Tollard) is a village near Dunoon, Scotland, at the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula.
During the Second World War, the Toward area was a training centre called HMS Brontosaurus also known as the No 2 Combined Training Centre (C ...
40 miles later, on the southern tip of the Cowal
Cowal ( gd, Còmhghall) is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde.
The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The Arroch ...
peninsula. The A815 is the main road through Cowal.
*The A886, which leaves the A815 at Strachur, passing through Glendaruel
Glendaruel (Gaelic: ''Gleann DÃ Ruadhail'') is a glen in the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The main settlement in Glendaruel is the Clachan of Glendaruel.
Features
The present Kilmodan Church was built in the Clachan of Glen ...
, the route includes a ferry link to the Isle of Bute
The Isle of Bute ( sco, Buit; gd, Eilean Bhòid or '), known as Bute (), is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, United Kingdom. It is divided into highland and lowland areas by the Highland Boundary Fault.
Formerly a constituent is ...
, Colintraive
Colintraive ( gd, Caol an t-Snà imh) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Once the site where cattle were swum across the narrows to the Isle of Bute, the MV ''Loch Dunvegan'' — a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne — now provides ...
- Rhubodach terminating at Port Bannatyne
Port Bannatyne ( gd, Port MhicEamailinn) is a coastal village on the Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland that is home to many steamers. Port Bannatyne developed into the 1900s as a quieter and more unusual alternative to Rothesay. It is a pop ...
to the north of Rothesay
Rothesay ( ; gd, Baile Bhòid ) is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay, which offers an onward rail ...
.
Ferry services
Due to its heavily indented coastline and many islands, ferries form an important part of the council area's transport system. The main ferry operator in Argyll and Bute is Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), which operates services from the mainland to most of the inhabited islands. Several other routes are operated by commercial operators, usually on contract to the council, although the Western Ferries service across the Firth of Clyde is run on a commercial basis.
* Bute is served by a route across the Kyles of Bute
The Kyles of Bute ( gd, Na Caoil Bhòdach) form a narrow sea channel that separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the Scottish mainland. The surrounding hillsides are roughly wooded, and ov ...
between Rhubodach and Colintraive
Colintraive ( gd, Caol an t-Snà imh) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Once the site where cattle were swum across the narrows to the Isle of Bute, the MV ''Loch Dunvegan'' — a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne — now provides ...
in Cowal, as well as a route between Rothesay
Rothesay ( ; gd, Baile Bhòid ) is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay, which offers an onward rail ...
to Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay (; ) is a town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in Inverclyde in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is in the traditional county of Renfrewshire. It is adjacent to Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire. The town and villages have alway ...
in Inverclyde
Inverclyde ( sco, Inerclyde, gd, Inbhir Chluaidh, , "mouth of the Clyde") is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the hist ...
. Both routes are operated by CalMac.
*Coll
Coll (; gd, Cola; sco, Coll)Mac an TÃ illeir (2003) p. 31 is an island located west of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and ...
and Tiree
Tiree (; gd, Tiriodh, ) is the most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The low-lying island, southwest of Coll, has an area of and a population of around 650.
The land is highly fertile, and crofting, alongside tourism, an ...
are each served from Oban, via a CalMac service that also provides links between the two islands, and a once-weekly link to Barra
Barra (; gd, Barraigh or ; sco, Barra) is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway. The island is name ...
.
*Gigha
Gigha (; gd, Giogha, italic=yes; sco, Gigha) or the Isle of Gigha (and formerly Gigha Island) is an island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a population of 163 people. The climate is ...
is served by a CalMac route from Tayinloan in Kintyre
Kintyre ( gd, Cinn Tìre, ) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The peninsula stretches about , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately nor ...
.
* Islay is served by a CalMac route from Kennacraig
Kennacraig () is a hamlet situated on West Loch Tarbert, a south west of Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula, Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland.
Ferry terminal
Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sail from the terminal, on the rocky islet Eil ...
in Kintyre
Kintyre ( gd, Cinn Tìre, ) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The peninsula stretches about , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately nor ...
. The service is timetabled to utilise either one of two ports on the island, with both Port Askaig
Port Askaig ( gd, Port Asgaig) is a port village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland. The village lies on the Sound of Islay (Caol ÃŒle) across from Jura.
Economy
Port Askaig has a hotel, a petrol station and shop next to the ...
and Port Ellen having a service to the mainland.
*Feolin
Feolin (also known as Feolin Ferry) is a slipway on the west coast of Jura. provides a vehicle and passenger ferry service from Port Askaig on Islay across the Sound of Islay
The Sound of Islay ( gd, Caol ÃŒle) is a narrow strait between th ...
on Jura is linked to Port Askaig on Islay via a vehicle ferry run by ASP Ship Management on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council.[ There is also a passenger-only service between the island's main centre, ]Craighouse
Craighouse ( gd, Taigh na Creige) is the main settlement and capital of the Scottish Inner Hebridean island of Jura, in Argyll and Bute. In 1971 it had a population of 113. The village is situated on the sheltered east coast of the island at t ...
, and Tayvallich on the mainland that is operated by Islay Sea Safaris.
*Kerrera
Kerrera (; gd, Cearara or ''Cearrara'') is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, close to the town of Oban. In 2016 it had a population of 45, divided into two communities in the north and south of the island.
Geology
The oldest bedrock ...
is linked to Gallanach (about southwest of Oban) by a passenger-only service operated by CalMac.
* Lismore is served by two ferries, a vehicle and passenger service operated by CalMac that runs from Oban, and a passenger-only service from Port Appin
Appin ( gd, An Apainn) is a coastal district of the Scottish West Highlands bounded to the west by Loch Linnhe, to the south by Loch Creran, to the east by the districts of Benderloch and Lorne, and to the north by Loch Leven. It lies north ...
that is operated by ASP Ship Management on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council.
*Mull
Mull may refer to:
Places
*Isle of Mull, a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides
** Sound of Mull, between the Isle of Mull and the rest of Scotland
* Mount Mull, Antarctica
*Mull Hill, Isle of Man
* Mull, Arkansas, a place along Arkansas Highway ...
is served by a route between Oban and Craignure
Craignure (; gd, Creag an Iubhair) is a village and the main ferry port on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The village is within the parish of Torosay.
Geography
The village is located around Craignure Bay, on Mull's east coast. ...
on the island's east coast, as well as routes across the Sound of Mull (between Lochaline and Fishnish, and Tobermory and Kilchoan
Kilchoan ( gd, Cille Chòmhain) is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, beside the Sound of Mull in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village in mainland Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on th ...
). All three routes are operated by CalMac.
** Iona is linked to Mull via a CalMac service from Fionnphort
Fionnphort (, ) is the principal port of the Ross of Mull, and the second largest settlement in the area (its population is approximately 80). The village's name is the anglicised pronunciation of the Gaelic for "White Port" and previous names ...
at Mull's southwest tip.
*The island of Seil, which itself is linked to the mainland via the Clachan Bridge, has links to two further islands: Easdale and Luing
Luing ( ; Gaelic: ''Luinn'') is one of the Slate Islands, Firth of Lorn, in the west of Argyll in Scotland, about south of Oban. The island has an area of and is bounded by several small skerries and islets. It has a population of around 200 peo ...
. Both services are operated by ASP Ship Management on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council.[
There are also routes connecting some mainland locations in Argyll and Bute to other parts of the mainland:
*There is a CalMac service across Loch Fyne which provides a link between ]Portavadie
Portavadie ( gd, Port a' Mhadaidh) is a village on the shores of Loch Fyne on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.
The Portavadie complex was built by the then Scottish Office for the purpose of construc ...
in Cowal and Tarbert in Kintyre.
*The Cowal
Cowal ( gd, Còmhghall) is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde.
The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. The Arroch ...
peninsula route is a passenger-only service from the Dunoon
Dunoon (; gd, Dùn Omhain) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As wel ...
Breakwater to Gourock
Gourock ( ; gd, Guireag ) is a town in the Inverclyde council area and formerly a burgh of the County of Renfrew in the west of Scotland. It was a seaside resort on the East shore of the upper Firth of Clyde. Its main function today is as a ...
pier, giving easy access to ScotRail services at Gourock railway station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Gourock Railway Station concourse Mar 2019.jpg
, caption = Concourse, with walkway to ferry terminal
, borough = Gourock, Inverclyde
, ...
with onward transport to Glasgow Central station
, symbol_location = gb
, symbol = rail
, image = Main Concourse at Glasgow Central Station.JPG
, caption = The main concourse
, borough = Glasgow, City of Glasgow
, country ...
. This route was for a period run by a CalMac subsidiary company, Argyll Ferries
Argyll Ferries Ltd was a ferry company formed in January 2011 by the Scottish Governments department of Transport Scotland via the parent company David MacBrayne Ltd to tender for the Dunoon-to-Gourock public service route. Argyll Ferries were ...
, but has since January 2019 been operated directly by CalMac.
*CalMac provide a limited (3 ferry each way per week) service between Cambeltown in Kintyre and Ardrosssan in North Aryshire during the summer months.
*Western Ferries, a commercial operator, runs a vehicle and passenger service between Hunters Quay
Hunters Quay ( gd, Camas Rainich) is a village, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Situated between Kirn, Argyll, Kirn to the south and Ardnadam to the north, Hunters Quay is the main base of Western Ferries, operatin ...
to McInroy's Point that also provides a link between Cowal and Inverclyde in (partial) competition with the subsidised CalMac service.
*A service operated by Clyde Marine Services on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is a regional transport partnership for the Strathclyde area of western Scotland. It is responsible for planning and coordinating regional transport, especially the public transport system in the ar ...
runs between Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cille Chreagain'') is a village on the Rosneath peninsula in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland.
It developed on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde at a time when Clyde steamers brought it within easy reach ...
and Gourock pier, providing a link from the Rosneath peninsula to the rail network at Gourock.
Argyll and Bute also has ferry services linking it to islands in neighbouring council areas:
*Oban is the mainland terminal for services to Barra
Barra (; gd, Barraigh or ; sco, Barra) is an island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and the second southernmost inhabited island there, after the adjacent island of Vatersay to which it is connected by a short causeway. The island is name ...
in Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Outer Hebrides).
* Lochranza on Arran, in North Ayrshire, has a year-round service to Kintyre: during the summer the mainland port used is Claonaig, however in winter the service is reduced to a single daily return crossing from Tarbert.
There is also a passenger-only ferry service linking Campbeltown and Port Ellen on Islay with Ballycastle in County Antrim
County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population o ...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, running seasonally from April to September, operated by West Coast Tours as the Kintyre Express.
Cultural references
The later scenes of the 1963 James Bond
The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
film '' From Russia with Love'' were filmed around the lochs and hills of Argyll and Bute.
The area has also been indirectly immortalised in popular culture by the 1977 hit song "Mull of Kintyre
The Mull of Kintyre is the southwesternmost tip of the Kintyre Peninsula (formerly ''Cantyre'') in southwest Scotland. From here, the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland is visible on a calm and clear day, and a historic lighthouse, the second ...
" by Kintyre resident Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
's band of the time, Wings
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...
.
Towns and villages
*Achahoish
Achahoish ( gd, Achadh a’ Chòis) is a village on the west coast of Knapdale in the Scottish council area of Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghà idheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority counci ...
; Airdeny; Appin
Appin ( gd, An Apainn) is a coastal district of the Scottish West Highlands bounded to the west by Loch Linnhe, to the south by Loch Creran, to the east by the districts of Benderloch and Lorne, and to the north by Loch Leven. It lies north ...
; Ardbeg (Islay); Ardbeg (Bute); Arden; Ardfern; Aldochlay; Ardlui
Ardlui ( gd, Àird Laoigh) is a hamlet in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It is located at the head of Loch Lomond. It is on the A82 road between Crianlarich and Glasgow and Ardlui railway station is on the West Highland Line between Glasgow ...
; Ardmay; Ardgartan; Ardpeaton; Ardrishaig; Arduaine; Arrochar; Ardentinny
Ardentinny ( gd, Àird an t-Sionnaich or Àird an Teine) is a small village on the western shore of Loch Long, north of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.
Nearby is Cruach a Chaise (Cheese Hill), while on the ...
; Ardnadam
* Barcaldine; Bellochantuy; Benderloch; Blairglas; Blairmore; Bonawe
Bonawe (; ) is a village in Ardchattan Parish Argyll and Bute, Scotland opposite Taynuilt on the north shore of Loch Etive, most famous for the shipping firm J & A Gardener's Bonawe Quarry - now owned by Breedon Aggregates Scotland Ltd (). Bo ...
; Bowmore
Bowmore ( gd, Bogh Mòr, 'Big Bend') is a small town on the Scottish island of Islay. It serves as administrative capital of the island, and gives its name to the noted Bowmore distillery producing Bowmore single malt scotch whisky.
History
...
; Bridge of Orchy
Bridge of Orchy ( gd, Drochaid Urchaidh) is a village in Glen Orchy in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is named after the crossing over the River Orchy, which was constructed by British Army during the pacification of the Highland Clans following ...
*Cairndow
Cairndow; ( gd, An CÃ rn Dubh) is a coastal hamlet, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. The town lies between the A83 road and the head of Loch Fyne.
Cairndow's school closed in 1988 after the roll fell to just 3 pu ...
; Cardross
Cardross (Scottish Gaelic: ''CÃ rdainn Ros'') is a large village with a population of 2,194 (2011) in Scotland, on the north side of the Firth of Clyde, situated halfway between Dumbarton and Helensburgh. Cardross is in the historic geographical ...
; Carradale; Clachan A clachan ( ga, clochán or ; gd, clachan ; gv, claghan ) is a small settlement or hamlet on the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man and Scotland. Though many were originally kirktowns,MacBain, A. (1911) ''An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaeli ...
; Cairnbaan; Campbeltown; Clachan of Glendaruel
Glendaruel ( Gaelic: ''Gleann DÃ Ruadhail'') is a glen in the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
The main settlement in Glendaruel is the Clachan of Glendaruel.
Features
The present Kilmodan Church was built in the Clachan of Gl ...
; Cladich; Clynder Clynder is a place on the western shore of the Gare Loch, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Historically in the County of Dunbarton, Clynder is one of a string of small settlements on the Rosneath Peninsula. It is almost directly opposite Rhu, and overlo ...
; Colgrain; Colintraive
Colintraive ( gd, Caol an t-Snà imh) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Once the site where cattle were swum across the narrows to the Isle of Bute, the MV ''Loch Dunvegan'' — a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne — now provides ...
; Connel; Coulport
Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport, shortened to RNAD Coulport, on Loch Long in Argyll, Scotland, is the storage and loading facility for the nuclear warheads of the United Kingdom's Trident programme.
The base, near the village of Coulpor ...
; Cove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. Coves usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are o ...
; Craigendoran
Craigendoran (Gaelic: ) is a suburb at the eastern end of Helensburgh in Scotland, on the northern shore of the Firth of Clyde. The name is from the Gaelic for "the rock of the otter".
It is served by Craigendoran railway station. Craigendoran pi ...
; Craighouse
Craighouse ( gd, Taigh na Creige) is the main settlement and capital of the Scottish Inner Hebridean island of Jura, in Argyll and Bute. In 1971 it had a population of 113. The village is situated on the sheltered east coast of the island at t ...
; Craignure
Craignure (; gd, Creag an Iubhair) is a village and the main ferry port on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The village is within the parish of Torosay.
Geography
The village is located around Craignure Bay, on Mull's east coast. ...
; Craobh Haven; Crarae; Crinan Crinan is a name of Gaelic origin and it has a number of contexts:
* Crinan, Argyll
Crinan ( gd, An Crìonan) is a small village located on the west coast of Scotland in the region known as Knapdale, which is part of Argyll and Bute.
Before the ...
; Clachaig; Carrick Castle;
*Dunoon
Dunoon (; gd, Dùn Omhain) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As wel ...
; Dalavich
Dalavich ( gd, Dail Abhaich) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the western bank of Loch Awe and has a population of around 70. It is located from the main town and port of Oban, connected by the villages of Kilchrenan and ...
; Dalmally
Dalmally (Scottish Gaelic: ''Clachan an Dìseirt'' or ''Dail Mhà ilidh'') is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station.
Former Labour Party leader John Smith was born in Dalmally ...
; Druimdrishaig; Drumlemble; Duchlage; Dunbeg;
* Edentaggart;
* Faslane Port; Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
; Furnace;
* Glenbranter; Garelochhead
Garelochhead ( sco, Garelochheid,
gd, Ceann a' Gheà r ...
; Geilston; Glenbarr; Glencoe; Glenmallan; Grogport;
*Helensburgh
Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local gove ...
; Hunters Quay
Hunters Quay ( gd, Camas Rainich) is a village, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Situated between Kirn, Argyll, Kirn to the south and Ardnadam to the north, Hunters Quay is the main base of Western Ferries, operatin ...
;
* Innellan; Inveraray
Inveraray ( or ; gd, Inbhir Aora meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is a former royal burgh, the traditional county town of Arg ...
; Inverbeg; Inveruglas Isle;
*Kames
Kames may refer to:
;People
* Henry Home, Lord Kames, Scottish philosopher
* Abdesalam Kames, Libyan footballer
* Bob Kames, American organist
* Kambūjia, otherwise Cambyses of Persia
* Kamose, last Egyptian pharaoh of the Seventeenth dynasty ...
; Keillmore; Kilberry
Kilberry ( gd, Cill Bheiridh) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is close to the western coast of the district of Knapdale.
Kilberry Castle, just to the west of the village, was built in 1497 as a L-plan castle by a cadet branch of ...
; Kilchattan Bay; Kilchenzie; Kilcreggan
Kilcreggan (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cille Chreagain'') is a village on the Rosneath peninsula in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland.
It developed on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde at a time when Clyde steamers brought it within easy reach ...
; Kilmadan; Kilmartin
Kilmartin ( gd, Cille Mhà rtainn, meaning "church of Mà rtainn") is a small village in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland. It is best known as the centre of Kilmartin Glen, an area with one of the richest concentrations of prehistoric monuments ...
; Kilmore; Kilmun
Kilmun ( gd, Cill Mhunna) is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.It takes its name from the 7th century monastic community founded by an Irish monk, St Munn (Fin ...
; Kilninver; Kilmelford; Kilfinan; Kirn
Kirn is a town in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. It is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' Kirner Land. Kirn is a middle centre serving an area on the Nahe and in the Hunsrück.
Geography
Location
Kirn lies in a la ...
;
*Lagavulin
Lagavulin ( gd, Lag a' Mhuilinn, "hollow of the mill") is a small village approximately outside Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. The village is within the parish of Kildalton, and is situated on the A846 road
The A846 road is one o ...
; Lochawe
Loch Awe (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Obha'') is a large body of freshwater in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such ...
; Lochgair
Lochgair () is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies on the coast of Loch Gair, a small inlet on the west of Loch Fyne. The A83 road runs through the village.
In fiction
Lochgair is one of the main settings of Iain Banks's 1992 no ...
; Lochgilphead
Lochgilphead (; gd, Ceann Loch Gilb ) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom, with a population of around 2,300 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute. The village lies at the end of Loch G ...
; Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead ( gd, Ceann Loch Goibhle, IPA: ˆkʰʲaun̴̪ˈɫ̪ɔxˈkɤilÉ™ is a village on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It is located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and is widely consider ...
; Luss
Luss (''Lus'', 'herb' in Gaelic) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, on the west bank of Loch Lomond. The village is within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
History
Historically in the County of Dunbarton, its origina ...
;
*Machrihanish
Machrihanish ( gd, Machaire Shanais, ) is a village in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. It is a short distance north of the tip of the Mull of Kintyre, which faces out towards Northern Ireland and the Atlantic.
Machrihanish bay
The main ...
; Millhouse; Minard
Minard may refer to:
Places:
* Minard, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom
** Minard Castle a castle in Argyll
* Minard Castle (County Kerry) a castle in County Kerry, Ireland
People with the surname:
* Charles Joseph Minard (1781–1870), ...
; Muasdale;
* Oban; Ormsary; Otter Ferry;
* Peninver; Portavadie
Portavadie ( gd, Port a' Mhadaidh) is a village on the shores of Loch Fyne on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.
The Portavadie complex was built by the then Scottish Office for the purpose of construc ...
; Port Askaig
Port Askaig ( gd, Port Asgaig) is a port village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland. The village lies on the Sound of Islay (Caol ÃŒle) across from Jura.
Economy
Port Askaig has a hotel, a petrol station and shop next to the ...
; Port Bannatyne
Port Bannatyne ( gd, Port MhicEamailinn) is a coastal village on the Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland that is home to many steamers. Port Bannatyne developed into the 1900s as a quieter and more unusual alternative to Rothesay. It is a pop ...
; Port Charlotte; Port Ellen; Portincaple; Portnahaven
Portnahaven ( gd, Port na h-Abhainne, meaning river port) is a village on Islay in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The village is within the parish of Kilchoman. In 1991 it had a population of 150.
It is located at the southern tip of the Rinns ...
; Portkil;
* Rahane; Rhu; Rosneath
Rosneath (''Ros Neimhidh'' in Gaelic) is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It sits on the western shore of the Gare Loch, northwest of the tip of the Rosneath Peninsula. It is about by road from the village of Kilcreggan, which is sited ...
; Rothesay
Rothesay ( ; gd, Baile Bhòid ) is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay, which offers an onward rail ...
;
* Saddell; Salen; Sandbank; Shandon; Skipness; Southend
Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authority area with borough status in southeastern Essex, England. It lies on the north side of the Thames Estuary, east of central London. It is bordered ...
; Stewarton
Stewarton ( sco, Stewartoun,
gd, Baile nan Stiùbhar ...
; Strachur; Succoth; Strone; St Catherines;
* Tarbert (Kintyre); Tarbet (Dunbartonshire); Tayinloan; Taynuilt
Taynuilt (; , meaning 'the house by the stream') is a large village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland located at the western entrance to the narrow Pass of Brander.
Location
The village is situated on the River Nant about a kilometre before the rive ...
; Tayvallich; Tighnabruaich
Tighnabruaich; (; gd, Taigh na Bruaich) is a village on the Cowal peninsula, on the western arm of the Kyles of Bute in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. In 2011 the population was 660. It is west of Glasgow and north of the Isle of Arran.
Tighnabrua ...
; Tobermory; Torinturk
Torinturk () is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Torinturk is from Tarbert. Torinturk comes from the Gaelic for the hill of the boar. This is where the last wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine ...
; Toward
Toward; ( gd, Tollard) is a village near Dunoon, Scotland, at the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula.
During the Second World War, the Toward area was a training centre called HMS Brontosaurus also known as the No 2 Combined Training Centre (C ...
;
* Whistlefield; Whitehouse Whitehouse may refer to:
People
* Charles S. Whitehouse (1921-2001), American diplomat
* Cornelius Whitehouse (1796–1883), English engineer and inventor
* E. Sheldon Whitehouse (1883-1965), American diplomat
* Elliott Whitehouse (born 1993), ...
;
Places of interest
Islands
See also
*2012 Argyll and Bute Council election
Elections to Argyll and Bute Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the eleven wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 36 councillors being ele ...
*Censorship in the United Kingdom
Censorship in the United Kingdom has taken many forms throughout the history of the country, with either various stringent and lax laws in place at different times, especially concerning British cinema, entertainment venues, literature, the mon ...
*List of places in Argyll and Bute
This List of places in Argyll and Bute is a list of links for any town, village, hamlet, castle, golf course, historic house, lighthouse, nature reserve, reservoir, river, canal, and other place of interest in the Argyll and Bute council area ...
References
External links
Visit Scotland, Argyll & Isles - website
Statistics Scotland, Argyll & Bute - Webpage
Argyll and Bute Council
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Argyll And Bute
Council areas of Scotland
Districts of Scotland
Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
Firth of Clyde