Argyll and Bute is a council area on the west coast of Scotland, made up of long sea lochs, peninsulas and 23 inhabited islands. It had a population of 85,970 at the 2022 census and covers 6,907 square kilometres (2,667 sq mi), which makes it the second largest council area in Scotland by land area and one of the most thinly populated.
The council is run from Kilmory in Lochgilphead, but the largest town is Helensburgh on the Firth of Clyde. Oban, Dunoon, Campbeltown and Rothesay are the other main centres. The Gaelic name, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, means the coastland of the Gaels and Bute.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Status | Council area |
| Area | 6,907 km2 (2,667 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 85,970 |
| Population (2011) | 88,166 |
| Density | 12 people per km2 |
| Largest town | Helensburgh |
| Council | Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead |
| Inhabited islands | 23 |
| Postcode areas | PA, G84, part of FK |
Towns and Villages in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute has 447 named towns, villages, hamlets and island townships. They fall into six districts: Helensburgh and Lomond, Cowal, Bute, Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Oban, Lorn and the Isles. The list runs alphabetically, from Acha to Whitehouse.
- Acha
- Achadun
- Achahoish
- Achallader
- Acharonich
- Acharosson
- Achnaba
- Achnacloich
- Achnacroish
- Achnamara
- Aird
- Airds Bay
- Aldochlay
- Ambrismore
- Appin
- Ardanaiseig
- Ardanstur
- Ardbeg
- Ardbrecknish
- Ardchattan
- Ardchiavaig
- Ardchonnell
- Ardentallen
- Ardentinny
- Ardfenaig
- Ardfern
- Ardfernal
- Ardfin
- Ardgartan
- Ardlui
- Ardlussa
- Ardmaddy
- Ardmaleish
- Ardmenish
- Ardminish
- Ardnacross Farm
- Ardnagowan
- Ardnave
- Ardno
- Ardoch
- Ardpeaton
- Ardrishaig
- Ardscalpsie
- Ardtalla
- Ardtarig
- Ardtun
- Arduaine
- Argyll and Bute
- Aridhglas
- Arinagour
- Arnabost
- Arnicle
- Aros
- Arrochar
- Ascog
- Auch
- Auchenbreck
- Auchnacraig
- Auchnangoul
- Baile Boidheach
- Baile Mor
- Balaruminmore
- Balemartine
- Balephetrish
- Balephuil
- Balevullin
- Balinoe
- Balliemore
- Ballimore
- Balliveolan
- Ballochroy
- Ballure
- Ballychatrigan
- Ballygown
- Ballygrant
- Balmeanach
- Balnahard
- Balvicar
- Baravullin
- Barcaldine
- Bardrishaig
- Barnacabber
- Barr
- Barrapoll
- Barravullin
- Barrnacarry
- Baugh
- Beach
- Bearnus
- Bellanoch
- Bellochantuy
- Benderloch
- Benmore
- Black Crofts
- Black Mount
- Blackmill Bay
- Blackrock
- Blairmore
- Bonawe
- Bousd
- Bowmore
- Braevallich
- Bragleenbeg
- Bridge of Awe
- Bridge of Orchy
- Bridgend
- Bruichladdich
- Bullwood
- Bunessan
- Bunnahabhain
- Burg
- Burgh
- Cadderlie
- Caddleton
- Cairnbaan
- Cairndow
- Calgary
- Campbeltown
- Caol Ila
- Caoles
- Cardross
- Carnassarie
- Carradale
- Carrick
- Carsaig
- Carskey
- Castleton
- Clabhach
- Clachaig
- Clachan
- Clachan of Glendaruel
- Clachandhu
- Claddach
- Cladich
- Claonaig
- Claonairi
- Cleongart
- Clynder
- Coillaig
- Coirantee
- Colgrain
- Colintraive
- Conisby
- Connel
- Cornaig
- Cornaigbeg
- Cornaigmore
- Coulport
- Cour
- Cove
- Craighouse
- Craigmore
- Craignure
- Craobh Haven
- Crarae
- Creagan
- Creggans
- Cretshengan
- Crinan
- Croggan
- Croig
- Crossaig
- Crossapol
- Cu’ Dhèis
- Cuan
- Cullipool
- Dail
- Dalavich
- Dalmally
- Dearg Phort
- Dervaig
- Dishig
- Drimfern
- Druimavuic
- Drumlemble
- Drumore
- Dunans
- Dunbeg
- Dunollie
- Dunoon
- Easdale
- East Darlochan
- Edendonich
- Ellary
- Ellenabeich
- Ellister
- Ensay
- Eorabus
- Eredine
- Erines
- Eriska Village
- Fanmore
- Faslane Port
- Fasnacloich
- Fearnoch
- Feolin Ferry
- Feorlean
- Fidden
- Fionnphort
- Ford
- Forest Lodge
- Frachadil
- Frackersaig
- Friesland
- Furnace
- Ganavan
- Garelochhead
- Gartnagrenach
- Glen Forsa
- Glen Sluain
- Glenbarr
- Glenbranter
- Glencraigs
- Glenegedale
- Glengorm
- Glenmallan
- Glenreasdell
- Gometra
- Gometra House
- Gortinanane
- Gott
- Greenhill
- Gribun
- Grishipoll
- Grogport
- Gruinart
- Gruline
- Hayfield
- Hazelbank
- Heanish
- Helensburgh
- Heylipol
- High Keil
- High Smerby
- Hough
- Hunters Quay
- Hynish
- Innellan
- Inveraray
- Inverbeg
- Inverchaolain
- Inverchapel
- Inveresragan
- Inverinan Beag
- Inverlussa
- Invernoaden
- Inveruglas
- Kames
- Keillmore
- Keills
- Keils
- Kelklan
- Kenmore
- Kennacraig
- Kenovay
- Kerrycroy
- Kilbrandon
- Kilbrennan
- Kilbride
- Kilchattan
- Kilchattan Bay
- Kilchenzie
- Kilcheran
- Kilchiaran
- Kilchoan
- Kilchoman
- Kilchrenan
- Kilcreggan
- Kildalloig
- Kildavanan
- Kilfinan
- Kilfinchen
- Kilkenneth
- Killean
- Killichronan
- Killiemor
- Killinallan
- Killunaig
- Kilmaluaig
- Kilmartin
- Kilmelford
- Kilmeny
- Kilmichael
- Kilmichael Glassary
- Kilmichael of Inverlussa
- Kilmoluag
- Kilmore
- Kilmory
- Kilmun
- Kilnave
- Kilninian
- Kilninver
- Kilpatrick
- Kingarth
- Kintour
- Kintra
- Kintraw
- Kinuachdrachd
- Kirkapol
- Kirn
- Knipoch
- Knock
- Knockrome
- Lagavulin
- Lagg
- Lagganulva
- Laglingarten
- Langamull
- Laphroaig
- Largiemore
- Leargybreck
- Ledaig
- Lee
- Leob
- Lephinmore
- Lerags
- Lochawe
- Lochbuie
- Lochdon
- Lochead
- Lochgair
- Lochgilphead
- Lochgoilhead
- Lochhead
- Low Ballevain
- Lower Kilchattan
- Lunga
- Luss
- Lussagiven
- Machrihanish
- Mambeg
- Mannal
- Melfort
- Melldalloch
- Middle Kames
- Middleton
- Millhouse
- Milton
- Minard
- Moss
- Mountstuart
- Muasdale
- Mulindry
- Nerabus
- Newton
- Newton of Kilmeny
- Newyork
- Normann’s Ruh
- North Crossaig
- North Shian
- North Tullich
- Oban
- Oban Seil
- Oragaig
- Otter Ferry
- Peninver
- Pennycross
- Pennyghael
- Pennygown
- Pennymore
- Pollphail Village
- Poltalloch
- Port Ann
- Port Appin
- Port Askaig
- Port Bannatyne
- Port Charlotte
- Port Ellen
- Port Ramsay
- Port Wemyss
- Portachoillan
- Portavadie
- Portincaple
- Portinnisherrich
- Portnacroish
- Portnahaven
- Portsonachan
- Rahane
- Rhu
- Rhunahaorine
- Ronachan
- Rosneath
- Rothesay
- Ruaig
- Ruanaich
- Saddell
- Saint Catherines
- Salen
- Salum
- Sanaigmore
- Sandaig
- Sandbank
- Scalasaig
- Scarinish
- Shandon
- Skeroblingarry
- Skipness
- Slockavullin
- Sorisdale
- South Crossaig
- South Cuan
- South Tullich
- Southend
- Stewarton
- Stonefield
- Straad
- Strachur
- Strathan
- Strathcoil
- Strone
- Stronmilchan
- Succoth
- Sunadale
- Sunipol
- Tarbert
- Tarbet
- Tayinloan
- Taynish
- Taynuilt
- Tayvallich
- The Green
- Tighnabruaich
- Tobermory
- Toberonochy
- Tom nan Ragh
- Torinturk
- Torloisk House
- Tormisdale
- Torran
- Torrastan
- Torrisdale
- Tostarie
- Toward
- Treshnish
- Ugadale
- Uig
- Upper Kilchattan
- Urugaig
- Vaul
- Waterfoot
- West Darlochan
- West Hynish
- West Kames
- West Tarbert
- Westport
- Whistlefield
- Whitehouse
Geography
Argyll and Bute borders Highland to the north, Perth and Kinross and Stirling to the east, and West Dunbartonshire to the south-east. Across the water it faces Inverclyde and North Ayrshire on the Firth of Clyde.
The coastline runs to roughly 3,000 miles once the islands are counted, more than any other UK council area. Loch Fyne, Loch Long, Loch Etive and Loch Awe cut deep inland, and the Kintyre peninsula runs 40 miles south to the Mull of Kintyre, within sight of Northern Ireland.
The main islands are Mull, Islay, Jura, Bute, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay, Gigha, Iona, Lismore, Luing, Seil and Kerrera. Ben Cruachan above Loch Awe, at 1,126 metres, is the highest hill. The eastern edge takes in the west side of Loch Lomond and part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Demographics
The 2022 census counted 85,970 residents, down 2,196 on 2011. Argyll and Bute has lost population in every census since 1991, and has one of the oldest age profiles of any Scottish council area.
Density is about 12 people per square kilometre, the third lowest in Scotland after Highland and Eilean Siar. Helensburgh holds roughly 13,200 people, Dunoon 8,200 and Oban 8,100; no other settlement passes 5,000.
Gaelic survives strongest on Islay, Tiree and parts of Mull, though the share of speakers across the area as a whole is now in single figures. Island communities depend heavily on ferry links, and depopulation of the smaller isles is a standing policy problem for the council.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism, whisky, fish farming and defence are the four pillars. His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde at Faslane on the Gare Loch, with the armaments depot at Coulport, is the largest single employer in the area and the home port of the Royal Navy submarine fleet.
Islay has more working distilleries than any other Scottish island, among them Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Bruichladdich, and its peated malts are exported worldwide. Campbeltown is one of Scotland’s five recognised whisky regions, and Oban has a distillery on its main street. Salmon farms operate in most of the sea lochs, and Loch Fyne is known for its oysters and kippers.
Oban is the main ferry port, styled the gateway to the isles, with Caledonian MacBrayne sailings to Mull, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, Barra and South Uist. Forestry covers much of Cowal and Kintyre, and the Cruachan pumped-storage power station is built inside the mountain above Loch Awe.
History
Argyll was the heart of Dál Riata, the Gaelic kingdom that linked western Scotland with Ireland from around AD 500. Dunadd, a rock fort in Kilmartin Glen, was its royal centre. Kilmartin Glen itself holds more than 350 prehistoric monuments within a six-mile radius.
Iona, settled by Columba in 563, became the base for the Christianising of northern Britain and the burial place of early Scottish kings. From the twelfth century the Lords of the Isles ruled the seaboard from Islay, until the title was forfeited to the Crown in 1493. The Campbell earls and dukes of Argyll then dominated the mainland from Inveraray.
Clearance and emigration emptied much of Kintyre, Mull and the smaller islands in the nineteenth century. Rothesay and Dunoon boomed instead as Clyde steamer resorts for Glasgow holidaymakers, a trade that faded after the 1960s.
Getting There
The A82 runs up Loch Lomondside from Glasgow. The A83 branches west over the Rest and Be Thankful to Inveraray, Lochgilphead and Kintyre; the A85 continues to Oban, and the A816 links Oban to Lochgilphead. Roads are single carriageway almost everywhere, and journey times are long: Campbeltown is a three-hour drive from Glasgow.
The West Highland Line serves Helensburgh Upper, Arrochar and Tarbet, and Oban on the branch through Connel. Helensburgh Central is the western end of the North Clyde electric line to Glasgow. Caledonian MacBrayne ferries connect the islands, and Loganair flies from Glasgow to Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Argyll and Bute?
85,970 at the 2022 census, a fall of 2,196 since 2011.
What is the largest town in Argyll and Bute?
Helensburgh, with about 13,200 residents. Dunoon and Oban follow, each with just over 8,000.
How many islands are in Argyll and Bute?
Twenty-three are inhabited, among them Mull, Islay, Jura, Bute, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay, Gigha, Iona, Lismore and Seil. Many more are uninhabited.
How many villages are in Argyll and Bute?
There are 447 named settlements across the mainland and the islands.
Which council covers Oban and Campbeltown?
Argyll and Bute Council, based at Kilmory in Lochgilphead, covers both.
What postcodes does Argyll and Bute use?
Mostly PA, from PA20 on Bute through PA34 at Oban to PA80 on Mull. Helensburgh uses G84, and the Loch Lomond edge uses FK.