Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Cowal

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Population
  
15,560 (2013 Est)

Council area
  
Argyll and Bute

Country
  
Scotland

OS grid reference
  
NS 09111 85254

Lieutenancy area
  
Argyll and Bute

Sovereign state
  
United Kingdom

Cowal httpswwwwalkhighlandscoukargyll85856lJPG

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Cowal; (Scottish Gaelic: Còmhghall) is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland that extends into the Firth of Clyde.

Contents

Cowal Dunoon Community Radio Dunoon Cowal Argyll Scotland radio

The northern part of the peninsula is covered by the Argyll Forest Park managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. The Arrochar Alps and Ardgoil peninsula in the north fringe the edges of the sea lochs whilst the forest park spreads out across the hillsides and mountain passes, making Cowal one of the remotest areas in the west of Scotland. The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park extends into Cowal. The peninsula is separated from Kintyre by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to the east by the Firth of Clyde. Loch Long and its arm, Loch Goil are to the north-east. The south of the peninsula is split into three forks by Loch Striven and Loch Riddon (Loch Ruel). The Isle of Bute lies to the south separated by the narrow Kyles of Bute which connect the Firth of Clyde to Loch Riddon.

Cowal Cowal Trout Fishing

Cowal's only burgh is Dunoon in the south-east, from which ferries sail to Gourock in Inverclyde. Other ferries run from Portavadie in the west to Tarbert in Kintyre, and from Colintraive in the south to Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute.

Much of Cowal appears to have been once held by the Lamonts. By the thirteenth century, the Stewarts were the most dominant rulers of the region. Later, the Campbells came to be one of the most powerful families in Cowal.

Cowal Cowal Bute and Loch Lomond Accommodation Hotels Guest Houses

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Geography and geology

Cowal Cowal Trout Fishing

The Cowal peninsula is bounded by Loch Fyne on the west and Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde and Holy Loch on the east. It is separated from the Isle of Bute by the deep narrow straits of the Kyles of Bute. The coastline is incised by deep sea lochs such as Loch Riddon and Loch Striven. Its underlying geology is largely comprised of resistant metamorphic rocks, but south of the Highland Boundary Fault part of the Toward peninsula is comprised sedimentary rocks. The landscape is mountainous, the high ground dominated by moorland, peat mosses and the forest that often extends down the sides of the sea lochs to the water's edge. The acreage of improved farmland is small. Most land is owned by estates or the Forestry Commission Scotland except in the more settled areas.

Cowal A nice ride around Isle Of Bute and the Cowal Peninsula

The coast is mostly rocky and the few beaches are mostly shingle and gravel except on Loch Fyne : the longest sandy beach is at Ardentinny on Loch Long. The only lowland areas are around the coast where most of the settlement is found, particularly around Dunoon Cowal's largest settlement on the Firth of Clyde. Other settlements include Innellan, Sandbank, Kilmun, Strone, Arrochar, Lochgoilhead, Tighnabruaich, Kames and Strachur.

Cowal Way

Cowal Stirling Surveys Footprint Maps The Cowal Peninsula

The Cowal Way stretches for over 57 miles through Cowal, from Portavadie on the southeastern shore of Loch Fyne leading to Inveruglas on Loch Lomond, in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Layout of Cowal

  • The main town on the Cowal Peninsula is Dunoon. There are ferry transportation links from Dunoon to Inverclyde at Gourock, which lies across the Firth of Clyde, providing an entry point to Cowal from the Central Lowlands and Glasgow.
  • In the south-east of Cowal facing the Lowlands at Inverclyde: Is Dunoon, to the south of Dunoon lies, Innellan, Toward, Castle Toward, Knockdow then Inverchaolain and Glenstriven on Loch Striven. To the north of Dunoon is Kirn, Hunters Quay then Ardnadam, Sandbank, Kilmun, Strone on Holy Loch, then Blairmore, Ardentinny on Loch Long, going inland from Ardentinny through Glen Finart takes you to Loch Eck.
  • Leaving the Holy Loch westwards, brings one to Clachaig, Glen Lean, and the Tarsan Dam leading down to Ardtaraig at the head of Loch Striven.
  • Continuing westwards from Ardtaraig, brings you to Kilmodan, Glendaruel, Ormidale, then on to the Kyles of Bute, where lies Tighnabruaich, Kames, then inland to Millhouse leading to Portavadie on Loch Fyne (ferry service to Tarbert, on Kintyre). South of Ormidale is Colintraive again on the Kyles of Bute (ferry service to Isle of Bute).
  • Leaving Holy Loch Northwards, brings one to Cot House, Rashfield, Beinn Mhòr then on Loch Eck, Coylet, Whistlefield at the North end of Loch Eck is Glenbranter leading to Strachur on Loch Fyne.
  • On the eastern shore of Loch Fyne facing Mid-Argyll and Kintyre: is Strachur North of Strachur is Creggans, St Catherines leading to Cairndow at the end of Loch Fyne. To the South of Strachur is Old Castle Lachlan, Otter Ferry, Kilfinan then Portavadie (ferry service to Tarbert on Kintyre).
  • In the north of Cowal at Cairndow heading East over the Rest and be thankful, past Ardgartan then Succoth, leads to the Arrochar Alps, around Arrochar itself, located at the head of Loch Long.
  • Heading South-East from the Rest and be thankful along Hell's Glen, takes you to Lochgoilhead at the head of Loch Goil. Further South is Carrick Castle.

    • List of settlements

    Not a full list.

    Glens of Cowal

    Not a full list.

    Castles on Cowal

    Not a full list.

    Church buildings of Cowal

    Not a full list.

    References

    Cowal Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA