Argyll and Bute 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. 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.
Cowal is a rugged peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the west coast of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland to the north, and is bounded by Loch Fyne to the west, by Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde to the east, and by the Kyles of Bute to the south.
The Arrochar Alps are a group of mountains located around the heads of Loch Long, Loch Fyne, and Loch Goil. They are part of the Grampian mountains range, which stretch across Scotland. The villages of Arrochar and Lochgoilhead are the nearest settlements. Many of the mountains are located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland.
Kilmun 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. The ruin of a 12th-century church still stands beside the Kilmun Parish Church and Argyll Mausoleum.
Beinn an Lochain is a mountain in the Arrochar Alps on the Cowal Peninsula, in western Scotland and is a Corbett at 901.7 metres (2,958 ft). Beinn an Lochain is situated within the Argyll Forest Park which is itself within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Benmore Botanic Garden is a large botanical garden situated in Strath Eachaig at the foot of Beinn Mhòr, on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. The gardens are on the west side of the A815 road from Dunoon, between the Holy Loch and Loch Eck, and include footbridges across the River Eachaig. It is one of the sites of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Whistlefield is a hamlet on the east shore of Loch Eck on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. It is home to the Category C listed building, the Whistlefield Inn, which was established around 1801–1804. The hamlet is within the Argyll Forest Park, which is itself part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Strachur and Strathlachlan are united parishes located on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Strachur is a small village on the eastern coast of Loch Fyne.
Ardgartan is a hamlet, on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It is located on the shores of Loch Long, at the bottom of Glen Croe.
Loch Eck is a freshwater loch located on the Cowal Peninsula, north of Dunoon, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It is seven miles long. It is oriented in a north-south direction. Its main inflow, at the northern end, is the River Cur, and its main outflow, at the southern end, is the River Eachaig, which meanders somewhat within the confines of the broad strath before flowing into the head of Holy Loch, about 5 km further south.
The A815 is a major road located on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs for about 35.7 miles (57.5 km) from the A83, near Cairndow, in the north to Toward in the south. It passes beside three lochs, while its final stretch is along the Firth of Clyde.
Beinn Mhòr is the highest mountain on the Cowal Peninsula, west of Loch Eck in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It has a high topographic prominence to height ratio and consequently commands a good all round view.
Inveruglas is a hamlet on the west shore of Loch Lomond, fairly near the north end of the loch and is within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It is situated on the A82 trunk road, connecting Glasgow to Inverness. It is within the historic county of Dunbartonshire, and since 1996 it has been part of the Argyll and Bute council area.
Argyll Forest Park is a forest park located on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Established in 1935, it was the first forest park to be created in the United Kingdom. The park is managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, and covers 211 km2 in total.
Coylet is a hamlet on Loch Eck, on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland.
Rashfield is a hamlet on the Cowal Peninsula, situated between Loch Eck and the head of Holy Loch, in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. The hamlet is on the A815 road and the River Eachaig flows pass from Loch Eck to the Holy Loch. Rashfield is within the Argyll Forest Park which is itself within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Puck's Glen is a river-formed ravine on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland, with a popular scenic walking trail beside the Eas Mòr stream. In 2020 the glen and adjoining trails were closed temporarily due to COVID-19 restrictions, issues of stability of the gorge, and felling of trees infected by larch disease.
Strachur Bay is a coastal embayment, on a 114° orientation, on the eastern coast of the longest sea loch in Scotland, Loch Fyne located in Argyll and Bute, on the west coast of Scotland. Strachur Bay provides good anchorage, for small vessels, when the wind is from the northeast and southeast.
The River Cur is a river on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. The position of its source is uncertain, as it is formed from a large number of small burns; for example, one of these rises on the slopes of Cruach nam Mult, at grid reference NN165056 and an elevation of about 2,000 feet (600 m). The river flows south-west until it reaches the head of a glacial valley near Strachur, Loch Fyne. The river does not enter Loch Fyne, but instead turns south-east. At that point it has reached an elevation of only about 160 feet (50 m), and it continues along the valley, losing altitude much more slowly, until it reaches the head of Loch Eck. Before reaching Loch Eck, it passes near the tiny settlements of Balliemore and Invernoaden and Glenbranter.
