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Argyll and Bute

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Overview

Wikivoyage guide · 14 sections

▸Introduction892 chars

Argyll and Bute is a region in the western Scottish Highlands. It's a scattered, disparate region, but you can't blame the planners who created it from other counties in 1974. Blame those long cold sea lochs that break up its terrain and force the roads to wind around and double back. What united it in the 19th and early 20th centuries was in-shore shipping from Glasgow using the Crinan Canal as a short cut: a fleet of "Clyde Puffers" like those of the Para Handy Tales of Neil Munro.

This page describes the Argyll and Bute mainland, plus those islands that are only a short ferry ride (Bute, Gigha, Luing, Easdale and Kerrara) or connected by a bridge (Seil). It doesn't include those with a longer sea crossing - they're part of this same region but feel quite different in character. They're described under Inner Hebrides, mainly Islay, Jura, Mull, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Lismore.

▸Towns3,541 chars

Signage in Argyll is in Gaelic followed by English, so the Gaelic versions are also stated here.

1 Loch Lomond is the boundary of this region. The national park straddles the loch and its western part in Argyll includes Loch Goil and Loch Long in Cowal, and the "Arrochar Alps" or Forest of Argyll. Its eastern part (with Ben Lomond and The Trossachs) is in Stirlingshire.

1 Luss (Lus) is the first village up the west bank of Loch Lomond, very tourist-trappy, and bypassed by the busy A82.

2 Tarbet (note the spelling) (An Tairbeart) stands at a junction. Stay on A82 by the loch to reach Ardlui, Crianlarich and Tyndrum, for routes to Oban, Glencoe, Fort William and Skye. Or turn west on A83 via Arrochar (An t-Àrchar) and the head of Long Long to climb over "Rest and Be Thankful" then along Loch Fyne for Inveraray, Tarbert and Campbeltown.

3 Helensburgh (Baile Eilidh) is a seaside town with several notable buildings, some by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia2,714 words

Introduction

Council area of Scotland Council area in ScotlandArgyll and Bute Earra-Ghaidheal agus Bòd (Scottish Gaelic)Argyll an Buit (Scots)Council area Coat of armsMotto: Seas ar coir ("Maintain our right")Argyll and Bute shown within ScotlandCoordinates: 56°06′N 5°30′W / 56.1°N 5.5°W / 56.1; -5.5Sovereign stateUnited KingdomCountryScotlandLieutenancy areaArgyll and ButeDunbartonshire (part)Unitary authority1 April 1996Administrative HQKilmory CastleGovernment • TypeCouncil • BodyArgyll and Bute Council • ControlNo overall control • MPsBrendan O'Hara (SNP) • MSPs 2 MSPs Jenni Minto (SNP) Jackie Baillie (L) Area • Total2,667 sq mi (6,907 km2) • Rank2ndPopulation (2024) • Total87,690 • Rank27th • Density34/sq mi (13/km2)Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT) • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)ISO 3166 codeGB-AGBGSS codeS12000035Websiteargyll-bute.gov.uk Argyll and Bute (Scots: Argyll an Buit; Scottish Gaelic: Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, pronounced [ɛrˠəˈɣɛːəl̪ˠ akəs̪ ˈpɔːtʲ]) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020). The administrative centre for the council area is the town of Lochgilphead. Argyll and Bute covers the second-largest administrative area of any Scottish council. The council area adjoins those of Highland, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.

More in regions0

4 Kilcreggan (Cille Chreagain) is a small village on the Rosneath peninsula west of Gare Loch, with a ferry from Gourock.

Cowal (Còmhghall) is the peninsula west of Loch Long. So close to Glasgow, yet so remote and unpopulated, because of the long sea lochs that separate it from other areas. Once visitors have struggled over "Rest and Be Thankful", they're keen to get past Long Fyne and motor on west; they may not even notice the turn-off for the road that doubles back into Cowal.

5 Dunoon (Dùn Omhain) is the usual way into Cowal, by ferry from Gourock. It has botanic gardens and a summer Highland Gathering.

6 Bute (Eilean Bhòid) is usually reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay. It has the flamboyant Mount Stuart House.

The main road to Kintyre (A83) runs down the west bank of Loch Fyne.

7 Inveraray (Inbhir Aora) is a remarkable 18th century planned town: it and the castle were rebuilt by the Adams architects.

8 Lochgilphead (Ceann Loch Gilb) is at the east end of the Crinan Canal, which enables small vessels to reach the Atlantic and Hebrides without rounding the Mull of Kintyre. Nearby Kilmartin has a remarkable collection of prehistoric, early Christian and medieval remains.

9 Tarbert (Loch Fyne) (Tairbeart Loch Fìne) is a fishing village, linked by ferry to Portavadie on Cowal. Five miles west is Kennacraig, with ferries to the islands of Islay and Colonsay. Further south, a ferry runs from Claonaig to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran.

10 Gigha (Giogha) is an island reached by a 15-minute ferry ride from Tayinloan. It has botanic gardens and standing stones.

11 Campbeltown (Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain) is at the end of this long, long road that brings you onto the scenic Mull of Kintyre.

Along the Atlantic Coast: the usual approach is by A82 north past Loch Lomond and Crianlarich to Tyndrum, then west on A85.

12 Taynuilt (Taigh an Uillt) has two "iron age" sights: the ruins of the 18th / 19th century iron furnace, and the remarkable modern engineering of Cruachan power station deep in the mountainside.

13 Oban (An t-Òban) is a transport hub, overlooked by the Victorian folly of McCaig's Tower. There are ferries to the islands of Mull (for Iona), Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, Barra and Lismore, also to Kerrara close inshore and effectively part of Oban.

14 Seil (Saoil) is an island connected to the mainland by bridge. Ferries cross the channels from Seil to the islands of Easdale and Luing. Boat trips sometimes venture beyond to Scarba and into the straits, site of the seething whirlpool of Corryvreckan. Just beyond is the north tip of Jura.

▸Understand2,470 chars

"A eolcha Alban uile, a shluagh feuta foltbhuidhe, cia ceud ghabhail, an eól duíbh, ro ghabhasdair Albanruigh?"

"O all ye learned of Alba! Ye well skilled host of yellow hair! What was the first invasion – is it known to you? Which took the land of Alba?"

- Duan Albanach or "Song of Scots" is an 11th century mythology of the earliest peoples

Glaciers carved out a series of deep valleys across the west of Scotland, which flooded as the sea level rose to become fjords. The largest and most westerly is Loch Fyne, then come Kyles of Bute / Loch Ruel, Loch Striven, then the Clyde group sometimes likened to a hand: Holy Loch is the stubby thumb, then Loch Long / Loch Goil, Gare Loch and Loch Lomond. But glacial debris blocked the outlet of Loch Lomond, so it became a freshwater lake.

Standing stones indicate that this region was populated by 3000 BC, but the first political entity that can be traced is Dál Riata, a kingdom based in Ulster. These people were called Gaels and in the 6th century AD expanded to take in the west coast of Scotland, where they faced off against the Picts. Airer Goídel, hence "Argyll", meant borderland or coast of the Gaels. The land was rugged and people got about by sea; the region eventually fell under the sway of the Vikings, who found its rain-lashed fjords a home from home. In 900 AD Dál Riata merged with the Picts to form Alba, the forerunner to modern Scotland.

A shire or county of Argyll emerged in the 14th century, with its county town at Inveraray, and the hereditary sheriffs or rulers were Clan Campbell. These big movers and shakers of Scottish history owed their position to loyalty to the Crown, even after this moved to London, so they were resented by other clans. One fellow who timed it wrong was Archibald Campbell (1629-1685), 9th Earl of Argyll, who joined the Monmouth Rebellion against James II / VII and was guillotined after its failure. But three years later James was deposed and the Campbells were back in favour.

There was never much industry here, and the 19th / 20th century landscape was dominated by forestry and upland farming, with tourism developing as transport improved. Argyllshire included the Lorn and Ardnamurchan peninsulas and several islands, but was abolished as a unit of local government in 1975. It was replaced by a region excluding those areas but including the island of Bute, with its governance based at Lochgilphead. In 1996 Helensburgh was added to Argyll and Bute.

▸By plane728 chars

1 Glasgow Airport (GLA IATA) is the principal airport for this region, with a good range of European and UK flights. For long-haul use Manchester (MAN) or London Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW).

By rental car from Glasgow Airport, head west on M8 to Greenock or Gourock for ferries to Cowal, or cross the Erskine Bridge to join A82 north past Loch Lomond.

2 Machrihanish (CAL IATA) near Campbeltown has flights twice a day from Glasgow. It's on the mainland and barely 80 direct miles from Glasgow, but the twisty road down the Kintyre peninsula is 180 miles and clogged with traffic in summer.

Oban Airport (OBN IATA) has flights to the islands of Islay, Tiree, Coll and Colonsay, but no connection to the mainland air network.

▸By train812 chars

Your first task is to reach Glasgow, which has rail connections throughout England and Scotland.

Six trains per day run to Oban along the West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street, taking 3 hours. The route is north via Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Rhu, Garelochhead, Arrochar & Tarbet and Crianlarich where the train divides: part continues north to Fort William and Mallaig, while part goes west via Taynuilt to Oban. The Highland Sleeper runs Su-F from London Euston via the West Highland Line to Crianlarich and Fort William, but it doesn't call at Glasgow or connect with the Oban trains.

For the Isle of Bute, take the train from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay then the ferry to Rothesay.

Trains also run from Glasgow Central to Gourock, which has ferries to Kilcreggan and to Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula.

▸By road495 chars

The usual approach is by A82 along the west bank of Loch Lomond to Tarbet. (From the south or east, bypass Glasgow on M8 / M74 and cross Erskine Bridge.) Stay on A82 northbound for Crianlarich and Tyndrum, then A85 for Taynuilt and Oban. Or turn west onto A83 for Arrochar, Loch Long (where the side road to Dunoon and Cowal branches off), Inveraray, Lochgilphead, then south to Tarbert, Kennacraig, and all the way down to Campbeltown. Buses from Glasgow Buchanan Station ply these main routes.

▸By boat899 chars

Ferries sail roughly hourly between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on Bute, between Gourock and Kilcreggan, between Hunter's Quay near Gourock and Dunoon on Cowal, and between Portavadie on Cowal and Tarbert (Loch Fyne). A small, infrequent ferry runs between Claonaig near Tarbert (Loch Fyne) and Lochranza on Arran. For details of the Hebrides ferries, see Islay, Colonsay, Mull, Coll, Tiree and Oban.

Five Ferries is a cycle route of 51 miles, starting in Ardrossan in Ayrshire, crossing Arran to Kintyre then Bute and back to the mainland at Wemyss Bay. There are steep gradients along the route and it's often done as a charity challenge. From the first ferry landing at Brodick on Arran you'll have 75 min to cover 14 miles to catch the second ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig, otherwise your day unravels.

A summer foot-passenger ferry sails between Campbeltown and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.

▸Get around823 chars

You probably need a car. Points along the major routes have a couple of long-distance buses each day, and six trains for stations to Crianlarich. There are local buses around the main villages but most are timed for the daily school / shopping run and are not much help with sightseeing. However Bute and Gigha are small enough to explore by bike.

Rest and Be Thankful is the well-named mountain crest on A83 between Arrochar and Inveraray, which has been much disrupted by landslides and rock falls. Major engineering to overcome this is under way in 2025, with inevitable traffic disruptions.

May-Sept a ferry potters up Loch Lomond from Balloch (frequent trains from Glasgow Queen Street). On the west bank it calls at Luss, Tarbet and Inveruglas; on the east at Balmaha, Inchcailloch island, Rowardennan and Inversnaid.

▸See518 chars

Castles: Inveraray is elegant, the rest are picturesque ruins. Choose from Carnasserie near Kilmartin, Carrick, Dun Ara, Dunans on Cowal, Dunstaffnage near Oban, Duntrune, Kilchurn, Kilchrist, Kilmartin, Lachlan, Poltalloch, Rothesay, Skipness, Stalker . . .

Prehistoric monuments: the best collection is at Kilmartin near Lochgilphead.

Botanic gardens: best examples are Benmore near Dunoon and Arduaine near Oban. The rhododendrons are a riot of colour in early summer, and the climate suits other Himalayan species.

▸Do309 chars

Golf: most villages have a course.

Mountains: several rank as Munros, over 3000 ft; none are technically challenging.

Water sports use the extensive sea coast or the freshwater lochs, Loch Lomond being the largest.

Highland Games or Clan Gatherings are held in the larger villages on a fixed date each summer.

▸Eat195 chars

Seafood is the main menu item here.

Oban has the widest choice of cuisine, and a couple of its restaurants are top class.

Hotel and pub bar meals are generally the best pick in the smaller towns.

▸Drink292 chars

Hotel bars are usually the best choice for a drink and a meal. Oban and Lochgilphead are big enough to have free-standing pubs.

Brewery: Beer is brewed by Fyne Ales near Inveraray.

Distilleries: Oban has one whisky distillery, Campbeltown has three plus a gin distillery, and all offer tours.

▸Stay safe335 chars

Standard advice applies about dressing for a change in the weather, not leaving valuables on display in your car, and steer clear of the occasional rowdy drunk. Argyll folk are sonsie and honest, it's the other visitors you need to watch out for.

Winters in the west are mild so snow and ice on the roads are uncommon, but stay alert.

▸Go next472 chars

Glasgow is a grand city with Victorian architecture and lots to see and do.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is within Argyll and Bute west of Loch Lomond, but some of the best scenery is east in Stirlingshire.

Stirling is the picturesque city astride the historic road from lowlands to highlands.

Inner Hebrides are the islands reached by ferry from Argyll and Bute, notably Islay and Jura sailing from Kennacraig, and Mull, Tiree, Coll and Colonsay from Oban.

[edit] The County of Bute and the County of Argyll were two of the historic counties of Scotland. They were both "shires" (context; the area controlled by a sheriff) in the Middle Ages. From 1890 until 1975 both counties had individual separate elected county councils. In 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts were abolished and replaced with upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. The Strathclyde region was created covering a large part of western Scotland. Strathclyde was divided into nineteen districts, one of which the 1973 Act called "Argyll", covering most of the former county of Argyll, but also including the Isle of Bute from the County of Bute. The shadow authority elected in 1974 requested a change of name to "Argyll and Bute", which was agreed by the government before the new district came into being on 16 May 1975. As created in 1975, the Argyll and Bute district covered the whole area of fourteen of Argyll's sixteen districts and part of a fifteenth, plus two from the County of Bute's five districts, which were all abolished at the same time: From the County of Argyll: Campbeltown Burgh Cowal District Dunoon Burgh Inveraray Burgh Islay District Jura and Colonsay District Kintyre District Lochgilphead Burgh Mid Argyll District Mull District North Lorn District: the Lismore and Appin, and Ardchattan electoral divisions only, rest (Ballachulish and Kinlochleven electoral divisions) went to Lochaber district of Highland Oban Burgh South Lorn District Tiree and Coll District Tobermory Burgh From the County of Bute: Bute District Rothesay Burgh The two County of Bute districts together corresponded to the whole Isle of Bute. The rest of the County of Bute, being the Isle of Arran and the Cumbraes, went to Cunninghame district. The Ardnamurchan district from Argyll went to the Lochaber district of Highland. The new district was made a single Argyll and Bute lieutenancy area. Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas. Argyll and Bute became one of the new council areas, but had its territory enlarged to include the town of Helensburgh and surrounding rural areas, which had been in the Dumbarton district prior to 1996, and had formed part of the county of Dunbartonshire prior to 1975. The Helensburgh area had voted in a referendum in 1994 to join Argyll and Bute rather than stay with Dumbarton.

Council

[edit] Main article: Argyll and Bute Council The council is based in Lochgilphead at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate. Politically, the council has been under no overall control since 2007. Since April 2024 it has been governed by a coalition of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Greens and some independent councillors, all under the leadership of Councillor Jim Lynch of the SNP.

Transport

[edit] Railways[edit] Main article: West Highland Line A train crossing Loch Awe 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 and Loch Long. The line comes inland at Arrochar and Tarbet to meet the western shore of Loch Lomond. At the northern end of the loch the lines leaves Argyll and Bute to enter Stirling council area. The Oban branch of the West Highland Line re-enters the area just west of Tyndrum, and heads west to Oban: stations on this section of the line include Dalmally and Taynuilt railway station. 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, 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, which has its western terminus at the town's central railway station. Roads[edit] The A82, looking north 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 and Lochgilphead. The A85, which leaves the A82 at Tyndrum (just outside Argyll and Bute) and heads west to Oban via Dalmally. The A828, which leaves the A85 at Connel and north through Appin to join the A82 at Ballachulish. The A815, which leaves the A83 in Glen Kinglas near Cairndow, heading south through Strachur and Dunoon and ends at Toward 40 miles later, on the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula.[citation needed] The A815 is the main road through Cowal. The A886, which leaves the A815 at Strachur, passing through Glendaruel, the route includes a ferry link to the Isle of Bute, Colintraive - Rhubodach terminating at Port Bannatyne to the north of Rothesay.[citation needed] Ferry services[edit] Main articles: Caledonian MacBrayne and Western Ferries MV Isle of Mull and MV Isle of Lewis at Oban harbour, 2017 MV Hebridean Isles docked at Kennacraig Oban Ferry Terminal 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 between Rhubodach and Colintraive in Cowal, as well as a route between Rothesay to Wemyss Bay in Inverclyde. Both routes are operated by CalMac. Coll and Tiree are each served from Oban, via a CalMac service that also provides links between the two islands, and a once-weekly link to Barra. Gigha is served by a CalMac route from Tayinloan in Kintyre. Islay is served by a CalMac route from Kennacraig in Kintyre. The service is timetabled to utilise either one of two ports on the island, with both Port Askaig and Port Ellen having a service to the mainland. Feolin 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, and Tayvallich on the mainland that is operated by Islay Sea Safaris. Kerrera is linked to Gallanach (about 3 km (1.9 mi) 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 that is operated by ASP Ship Management on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council. Mull is served by a route between Oban and Craignure on the island's east coast, as well as routes across the Sound of Mull (between Lochaline and Fishnish, and Tobermory and Kilchoan). All three routes are operated by CalMac. Iona is linked to Mull via a CalMac service from Fionnphort 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. 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 in Cowal and Tarbert in Kintyre. The Cowal peninsula route is a passenger-only service from the Dunoon Breakwater to Gourock pier, giving easy access to ScotRail services at Gourock railway station with onward transport to Glasgow Central station. This route was for a period run by a CalMac subsidiary company, Argyll Ferries, but has since January 2019 been operated directly by CalMac. CalMac provide a limited (3 ferry each way per week) service between Campbeltown in Kintyre and Ardrosssan in North Ayrshire during the summer months. Western Ferries, a commercial operator, runs a vehicle and passenger service between Hunters Quay 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 runs between Kilcreggan 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 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, Northern Ireland, running seasonally from April to September, operated by West Coast Tours as the Kintyre Express.

Demographics

[edit] Languages[edit] The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 84,096 residents aged three and over, 20,434 (24.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read the Scots language. The 2022 Scottish Census reported that out of 84,098 residents aged three and over, 3,637 (4.3%) considered themselves able to speak or read Gaelic. This puts Argyll and Bute as the council area with the third highest proficiency in Gaelic, below the Highlands and the Western Isles.

Cultural references

[edit] The later scenes of the 1963 James Bond 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" by then-Kintyre resident Paul McCartney's band of the time, Wings.

Communities

[edit] The area is divided into 56 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023. Appin Ardchattan Ardentinny Ardrishaig Arrochar, Tarbet and Ardlui Avich and Kilchrenan Bute Cairndow Campbeltown Cardross Colintraive and Glendaruel Coll Colonsay Connel Cove and Kilcreggan Craignish Dunadd Dunbeg Dunoon East Kintyre Furnace Garelochhead Gigha Glenorchy and Innishail Helensburgh Hunters Quay Inveraray Iona Islay Jura Kilfinan Kilmun Kilninver and Kilmelford Kilmore and Kilbride North Knapdale The Laggan Lismore Lochgilphead Lochgoilhead Luing Luss and Arden Mull Oban Rhu and Shandon Rosneath and Clynder Sandbank Seil and Easdale Southend South Cowal South Knapdale Strachur and District Tarbert and Skipness Taynuilt Tiree West Kintyre West Lochfyne

Settlements

[edit] HelensburghObanDunoonCampbeltownRothesayGarelochheadLochgilpheadCardrossRhuSandbankKilcreg.Highland P.and K.StirlingInv.North Ayrshire The largest settlements in Argyll and Bute. Largest settlements by population: Settlement Population (2020) Helensburgh 13,230 Oban 8,140 Dunoon 7,660 Campbeltown 4,500 Rothesay 4,310 Garelochhead 3,650 Lochgilphead 2,280 Cardross 2,070 Rhu 1,930 Sandbank 1,320 Kilcreggan 1,280 Achahoish; Airdeny; Appin; Ardbeg (Islay); Ardbeg (Bute); Arden; Ardfern; Aldochlay; Ardlui; Ardmay; Ardgartan; Ardpeaton; Ardrishaig; Arduaine; Arrochar; Ardentinny; Ardnadam Barcaldine; Bellochantuy; Benderloch; Blairglas; Blairmore; Bonawe; Bowmore; Bridge of Orchy Cairndow; Cardross; Carradale; Clachan; Cairnbaan; Campbeltown; Clachan of Glendaruel; Cladich; Clynder; Colgrain; Colintraive; Connel; Coulport; Cove; Coylet; Craigendoran; Craighouse; Craignure; Craobh Haven; Crarae; Crinan; Clachaig; Carrick Castle; Dunoon; Dalavich; Dalmally; Druimdrishaig; Drumlemble; Duchlage; Dunbeg; Edentaggart; Faslane Port; Ford; Furnace; Glenbranter; Garelochhead; Geilston; Glenbarr; Glencoe; Glenmallan; Grogport; Helensburgh; Hunters Quay; Innellan; Inveraray; Inverbeg; Inveruglas Isle; Inverchaolain Kames; Keillmore; Kilberry; Kilchattan Bay; Kilchenzie; Kilcreggan; Kilmadan; Kilmartin; Kilmore; Kilmun; Kilninver; Kilmelford; Kilfinan; Kirn; Lagavulin; Lochawe; Lochgair; Lochgilphead; Lochgoilhead; Luss; Machrihanish; Millhouse; Minard; Muasdale; Oban; Ormsary; Otter Ferry; Peninver; Portavadie; Port Askaig; Port Bannatyne; Port Charlotte; Port Ellen; Portincaple; Portnahaven; Portkil; Rahane; Rhu; Rosneath; Rothesay; Saddell; Salen; Sandbank; Scalasaig; Shandon; Skipness; Southend; Stewarton; Strachur; Succoth; Strone; St Catherines; Tarbert (Kintyre); Tarbet (Lomond); Tayinloan; Taynuilt; Tayvallich; Tighnabruaich; Tobermory; Torinturk; Toward; Whistlefield; Whitehouse;

Places of interest

[edit] Main articles: Scheduled monuments in Argyll and Bute and List of Category A listed buildings in Argyll and Bute Kilchurn Castle reflected on Loch Awe Inveraray Castle, Argyll and Bute, Scotland Beinn Ìme from the butterbridge Clachan Bridge Ardbeg distillery Ardencraig Gardens (Isle of Bute) Arduaine Garden Argyll Forest Park (Including Loch Eck) Arrochar Alps (Including Beinn Ìme) Auchindrain Township Open Air Museum Avinagillan standing stone Beinn Dorain Ben Cruachan (Highest mountain in Argyll and Bute) Ballochroy (Standing stones) Ben Donich Benmore Botanic Garden Bridge over the Atlantic (Clachan Bridge) Crarae Garden Carnasserie Castle, Kilmartin Carrick Castle Castle Stalker Castle Sween Crinan Canal Cruachan Power Station (Pumped storage) Dunadd (Capital of the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata) Dun Na Cuaiche, Tower (Inveraray) Dunollie Castle Dun Skeig (Iron Age forts) Dunstaffnage Castle Dunstaffnage Chapel Easdale Island (Former slate quarry) Falls of Lora, Loch Etive Fincharn Castle Fingal's Cave (Staffa) Gare Loch and Faslane Naval Base Glen Croe (Rest and be thankful) Glen Scotia distillery (Campbelltown) Gulf of Corryvreckan Gylen Castle Hill House, Helensburgh Inveraray Castle (Clan Campbell main residence) Inveraray Jail Iona Abbey Isle Of Bute Distillery Jura distillery Kilchurn Castle Kilmartin Glen (Including Kilmartin Stones) Kilmodan Carved Stones Kyles of Bute Lagavulin distillery Laphroaig distillery Loch Goil Loch Lomond and Cowal Way Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Melfort McCaig's Tower, Oban Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute Mull of Kintyre Oban distillery Old Castle Lachlan Puck's Glen Rannoch Moor River Orchy Rothesay Castle Rothesay's Victorian Toilets Saddell Abbey Saddell Castle Skipness Castle Springbank Distillery, Campbelltown St Blane's Chapel (Isle of Bute) St Columba's Cathedral, Oban St Conan's Kirk, Loch Awe Tarbert Castle West Highland Line West Highland Way

Islands

[edit] This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2024) Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha - geograph.org.uk - 6164907 Tiree from ferry pier - geograph.org.uk - 5465755 Inveruglas Isle Am Fraoch Eilean, Sound of Jura Bernera (Tidal island) Bute, Firth of Clyde Burnt Islands, located in the Kyles of Bute Calve Island Cara Coll Colonsay Creag Danna (Tidal island) Davaar, Campbeltown Loch Eilean dà Mhèinn, Loch Crinan Eilean Dubh Mòr, Firth of Lorn Eilean Loain Eorsa west of Mull Eriska Erraid (Tidal island) west of Mull Fraoch Eilean, Loch Awe Garvellachs Islands including Garbh Eileach; Dùn Chonnuill and Eileach an Naoimh. Gigalum Gigha Glunimore Gometra Gunna (lies between Coll and Tiree) Holy Isle, off Arran Inchconnachan, Loch Lomond Inchgalbraith, Loch Lomond Inch Kenneth off Mull Inchlonaig, Loch Lomond Inchmarnock, Sound of Bute Inchmoan Loch Lomond Inchtavannach, Loch Lomond Innis Chonain, Loch Awe Inishail (alternate Inchald), Loch Awe Inveruglas Isle, Loch Lomond Iona Islay Jura Kerrera MacCormaig Isles including Carraig an Daimh; Corr Eilean; Eilean Ghamhna; Liath Eilean; Eilean Mòr; Sgeir Bun an Locha; Sgeir Dhonncha and Dubh Sgeir. Maiden Lismore Little Colonsay west of Mull Mull Oronsay (Tidal island) Orsay west of Islay Pladda, south of Arran Ross Isles Loch Lomond Sanda off Kintyre Scarba Sheep Island Shuna, near Appin Slate Islands including Easdale, Fladda, Seil, Luing, Lunga, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua. Skerryvore Staffa Tarbet Isle, Loch Lomond Texa (South of Islay) Tiree Treshnish Islands including Lunga, Fladda Ulva (West of Mull) Wallace's Isle Loch Lomond

Parliament constituencies

[edit] Main articles: Argyll and Bute (UK Parliament constituency) and Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency)