Argyll and Bute

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 Earra-Ghaidheal agus Bòd'
Coat of arms Logo
Admin HQ	Lochgilphead
Government
• Body	Argyll & Bute Council
• Control	Con + LD + Ind
• MPs	Brendan O'Hara (SNP)
• MSPs	Michael Russell (SNP) Jackie Baillie (Labour)
Area
• Total	2,667 sq mi (6,908 km2)
Area rank	Ranked 2nd
Population (mid-2016 est.)
• Total	87,100
• Rank	Ranked 27th
• Density	30/sq mi (12/km2)
ONS code	S12000035
ISO 3166 code	GB-AGB
Website	http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/

Topographic map of Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute (Scottish Gaelic: Earra-Ghaidheal agus Bòd, pronounced [ɛrˠəˈɣɛːəlˠ̪ akəs̪ pɔːtʲ]) is both one of 32 unitary authority council areas and a lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is in 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. Its border runs through Loch Lomond.

The present council area was created in 1996, when it was carved out of the Strathclyde region, which was a two-tier local government region of 19 districts, created in 1975. Argyll and Bute merged the existing Argyll and Bute district and one ward of the Dumbarton district. The Dumbarton ward, called 'Helensburgh and Lomond', included the burgh of Helensburgh and consisted of an area to the west of Loch Lomond, north of the Firth of Clyde and mostly east of Loch Long.

The council area can also be described by reference to divisions of the counties which were abolished in 1975. The council area includes most of the county of Argyll (Argyll minus the Morvern area, north of Mull, which became part of the Highland region in 1975), part of the county of Bute (the Isle of Bute) and part of the county of Dunbartonshire (the Helensburgh and Lomond ward).

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

Towns and villages

• Achahoish; Airdeny; Appin; Ardbeg (Islay); Ardbeg (Bute); Arden; Ardfern; Aldochlay; Ardlui; Ardmay; Ardgartan; Ardpeaton; Ardrishaig; Arduaine; Arrochar; Ardentinny;
• Barcaldine; Bellochantuy; Benderloch; Blairglas; Bonawe; Bowmore; Blairmore;
• Cairndow; Cardross; Carradale; Clachan; Cairnbaan; Campbeltown; Clachan of Glendaruel; Cladich; Clynder; Colgrain; Colintraive; Connel; Coulport; Cove; 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;
• Kames; Keillmore; Kilberry; 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; Shandon; Skipness; Southend; Stewarton; Strachur; Succoth; Strone; St Catherines;
• Tarbert (Kintyre); Tarbet (Dunbartonshire); Tayinloan; Taynuilt; Tayvallich; Tighnabruaich; Tobermory; Torinturk; Toward;
• Whistlefield; Whitehouse;

Places of interest

• Ardbeg distillery
• Argyll Forest Park
• Argyll Mountains
• Arrochar Alps
• Avinagillan standing stone
• Beinn Dorain
• Ben Cruachan
• Ben Cruachan, Pump Storage Hydroelectric plant
• Ballochroy standing stones
• Ben Donich
• Benmore Botanic Garden
• Carrick Castle
• Castle Stalker
• Castle Sween
• Crinan Canal
• Dun Skeig - Iron Age forts near Clachan
• Fincharn Castle
• Fingal's Cave
• Forestry Commission
• Gare Loch and Faslane Naval Base
• Gulf of Corryvreckan
• Iona Abbey
• Kilchurn Castle
• Kilmartin Glen
• Loch Goil Mountains
• Loch Goil
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
• Loch Melfort
• Mull of Kintyre
• Old Castle Lachlan
• River Orchy
• Saddell Abbey
• Saddell Castle
• Skipness Castle
• Tarbert Castle
• West Highland Way

Islands

• Bute
• Cara
• Coll
• Colonsay
• Davaar Island
• Fladda
• Gigha
• Glunimore Island
• Gometra
• Gunna
• Inchconnachan
• Inchmarnock
• Inchtavannach
• Iona
• Islay
• Jura
• Kerrera
• Lismore
• Luing
• Lunga, Treshnish Isles
• Lunga, Firth of Lorn
• Mull
• Sanda
• Scarba
• Seil (not always regarded as an island)
• Sheep Island
• Shuna, Firth of Lorn
• Shuna, near Appin
• Staffa
• Texa
• Tiree
• Ulva

Ferry services

The funnel of MV Juno

The main ferry operator in Argyll & Bute is Caledonian MacBrayne, including services from the mainland to these islands:

• Bute
• Coll
• Gigha
• Islay
• Mull
• Tiree

Cowal Peninsula Routes

MV-Argyll-Flyer-110709

The Cowal Peninsula route by Caledonian MacBrayne subsidiary, Argyll Ferries operates the Public Service Route, which is a passenger-only service, from Dunoon Breakwater to Gourock pier, giving easy access to the National Rail Network, in direct competition with private service provider Western Ferries Clyde LTD who ply the Hunters Quay to McInroy's Point route.

The Colintraive in Cowal to Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute route, across the Kyles of Bute, is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

The Portavadie in Cowal to Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula route, across Loch Fyne, is also a Caledonian MacBrayne service.

ASP Ship Management

ASP Ship Management Ltd has a UK office based in Newcastle that operates/technically manages the Jura Ferry and technically manage ferries on the following routes, all on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council:

• Seil - Luing
• Seil - Easdale
• Port Appin - Lismore

Controversies

Social media spying

In February 2012, the council was criticised for allegedly setting up "spy" accounts on social media. As a result of the investigation, a council employee was suspended for setting up "fake social media accounts to monitor what was being said about the council".

The council's own investigation later confirmed it had "found no evidence of any form of spying or covert surveillance having been carried out by any employee within the council's communication team."

NeverSeconds

Main article: NeverSeconds

In June 2012, the council was heavily criticised for banning a local primary student, Martha Payne (aged 9), from taking photographs of her school dinners for her online blog. The blog, NeverSeconds, had been praised by the celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, had attracted over two million visits, and at the time of the ban had raised nearly £2,000 for a food charity. On the day the story broke, the blog had raised over £40,000. After an initial statement from the council defending the decision, the ban was subsequently overturned by council leader, Roddy McCuish. In November 2012 a book written by David Payne, father of Neverseconds blogger Martha Payne, revealed the background to the council's attempt to censor and bully a 9-year-old girl. The book states about the council: "My anger and frustration at Argyll and Bute Council was not being soothed by time. Thinly veiled attacks on our parenting on national radio and an abusive phonecall stood out as examples of a public body sick to the very top. Complaints via the proper procedures and through elected councillors had brought no visible changes. Far from being contrite they seemed to take a pride in being untouchable."

See also

• Argyll and Bute Council election, 2012
• Censorship in the United Kingdom
• List of places in Argyll and Bute

External links

• Gaelic place names of Scotland
• Argyll and Bute Council
• Argyll and Bute at DMOZ