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Argyll and Bute

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This article is about the council area. For the UK Parliament constituency, see Argyll and Bute (UK Parliament constituency). For the Scottish Parliament constituency, see Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency).

Argyll and Bute (Scots: Argyll an Buit; Scottish Gaelic: Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, pronounced [ɛrˠəˈɣɛːəlˠ̪ 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).[3] The administrative centre for the council area is in Lochgilphead at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate. The current council leader is Councillor Jim Lynch.[4]

Argyll and Bute
Council area
Coat of arms of Argyll and Bute
Coat of arms
Argyll and Bute shown within Scotland
Argyll and Bute shown within Scotland
Coordinates: 56°06′N 5°30′W / 56.1°N 5.5°W / 56.1; -5.5
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Lieutenancy area
Unitary authority1 April 1996
Administrative HQKilmory Castle
Government
[1]
 • TypeCouncil
 • BodyArgyll and Bute Council
 • ControlNo overall control
 • MPsBrendan O'Hara (SNP)
 • MSPs
2 MSPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
2,667 sq mi (6,907 km2)
 • Rank2nd
Population
 (2022)[2]
 • Total
87,920
 • Rank27th
 • Density30/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ISO 3166 codeGB-AGB
GSS codeS12000035
Websiteargyll-bute.gov.uk

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.

History

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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.[5]

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.[6]

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:[7][8]

From the County of Argyll:

From the County of Bute:

The two County of Bute districts together corresponded to the whole Isle of Bute. The rest 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.[7] The new district was made a single Argyll and Bute lieutenancy area.[9]

Local government was reformed again in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which abolished the regions and districts which had been 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.[10][11]

Council

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Main article: Argyll and Bute Council

Transport

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Railways

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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.[12][13]

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.[14]

Roads

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The A82, looking north

The main trunk roads in Argyll and Bute are:[12][15][16]

Ferry services

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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.[19][20]
  • 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.[21]
  • Gigha is served by a CalMac route from Tayinloan in Kintyre.[22]
  • 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.[23]
  • 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.[24][25] 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.[26]
  • Kerrera is linked to Gallanach (about 3 km (1.9 mi) southwest of Oban) by a passenger-only service operated by CalMac.[27]
  • Lismore is served by two ferries, a vehicle and passenger service operated by CalMac that runs from Oban,[28] and a passenger-only service from Port Appin that is operated by ASP Ship Management on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council.[24][29]
  • Mull is served by a route between Oban and Craignure on the island's east coast,[30] as well as routes across the Sound of Mull (between Lochaline and Fishnish, and Tobermory and Kilchoan). All three routes are operated by CalMac.[31][32]
  • 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.[24][34][35]

There are also routes connecting some mainland locations in Argyll and Bute to other parts of the mainland:

Argyll and Bute also has ferry services linking it to islands in neighbouring council areas:

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.[45]

Cultural references

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The later scenes of the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love were filmed around the lochs and hills of Argyll and Bute.[46]

The area has also been indirectly immortalised in popular culture by the 1977 hit song "Mull of Kintyre" by Kintyre resident Paul McCartney's band of the time, Wings.

Communities

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The area is divided into 56 community council areas, all of which have community councils as at 2023.[47]

Settlements

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class=notpageimage|
The largest settlements in Argyll and Bute.

Largest settlements by population:

Settlement Population (2020)[48]
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

Places of interest

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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 ime from the butterbridge
 
Clachan Bridge

Islands

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Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha - geograph.org.uk - 6164907
 
Tiree from ferry pier - geograph.org.uk - 5465755
 
Inveruglas Isle

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "My Council". Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Lord-Lieutenant for Argyll and Bute: 14 July 2020". GOV.UK.
  4. ^ "Scots council leader decided by cutting cards after split vote". news.stv.tv. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 50)
  6. ^ "Historical information from 1973 onwards". Boundary-Line support. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 26 February 2023
  8. ^ "No. 14911". The Edinburgh Gazette. 8 November 1932. p. 920.
  9. ^ "The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1975/428, retrieved 26 February 2023
  10. ^ "Was Argyll and Bute move right decision?". Helensburgh Advertiser. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 39, retrieved 21 February 2023
  12. ^ a b "OS Maps: online mapping and walking, running and cycling routes". osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Timetable: Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig" (PDF). Abellio ScotRail. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Dunbartonshire - Glasgow, Cumbernauld & Falkirk Grahamston Timetable" (PDF). Abellio ScotRail. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Scottish trunk road network map". Transport Scotland. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  16. ^ "Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, List and description of roads which are the responsibility of the Scottish Ministers" (PDF). Transport Scotland.
  17. ^ "A815 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki". www.sabre-roads.org.uk.
  18. ^ "A886 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki". www.sabre-roads.org.uk.
  19. ^ "Bute: Colintraive - Rhubodach". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Bute: Wemyss Bay – Rothesay". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Coll & Tiree: Oban – Coll – Tiree". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Gigha: Tayinloan – Gigha". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  23. ^ "Islay: Kennacraig – Port Ellen/Port Askaig". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  24. ^ a b c "Home". www.aspships.com.
  25. ^ "Port Askaig – Feolin". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Jura Passenger Ferry". Jura Passenger Ferry. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Kerrera: Gallanach – Kerrera". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Lismore: Oban – Lismore". Caledonian MacBrayne. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Port Appin – Lismore". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Mull: Oban – Craignure". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  31. ^ "Ardnamurchan and Mull: Tobermory – Kilchoan". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Mull: Lochaline – Fishnish". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Iona: Fionnphort–Iona". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  34. ^ "Cuan – Luing". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Ellenabeich - Easdale". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Cowal & Kintyre: Tarbert Loch Fyne – Portavadie". Caledonian MacBrayne. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Dunoon: Gourock – Dunoon". Caledonian MacBrayne. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  38. ^ a b "Gourock – Kilcreggan". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  39. ^ "CalMac to take over Dunoon to Gourock ferry next month". The Lochside Press. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Kintyre: Ardrossan – Campbeltown". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Kilcreggan Ferry". Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Barra: Oban – Castlebay". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  43. ^ "Arran: Claonaig – Lochranza". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  44. ^ "Arran: Claonaig/Tarbert – Lochranza". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  45. ^ "Kintyre Express | Ferry Service to Ireland". West Coast Tours. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  46. ^ "From Russia with Love (1963) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  47. ^ "Community Councils". Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
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