Argyll Guide

Argyll, is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western seaboard between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath. Argyll was a county of Scotland until 1975, when Scottish counties were abolished. At the time of abolition the county had boundaries as shown in the map. Argyll's neighbouring counties were Inverness-shire, Perthshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Bute. Renfrewshire and Ayrshire were the other side of the Firth of Clyde. Bute was a county of islands in the firth.

Some facts about Argyll:

• Kenneth McAlpine, the first king of Scotland, was crowned at Dunadd Fort in Kilmartin Glen in 843.

• Argyll's mountain resort of Glencoe was featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and also in Bollywood films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

• Hollywood actress, Deborah Kerr most famed for her shoreside clinch with Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity, was born in Helensburgh.

• Due to its Gulf Stream position, Argyll's climate provides perfect conditions for exotic flowers to flourish in it's world-famous gardens, including rare magnolias and rhododendrons.

• Argyll and Bute Council territory has 3700 miles of coastline. Of its hundreds of islands, only 26 are inhabited.

• Maria Soep, owner of the Roineabhal Country House guesthouse in Kilchrenan, says the secret to her success of 'the world's best porridge' is down to the traditional organically-grown pinhead oatmeal that she uses.

• The Cowal Highland Gathering at Dunoon is held on the last weekend of August. At its finale, where over 150 bands march through the town.

• The island of Tiree boasts some of the best surfing conditions in Europe, earning it the nickname "Hawaii of the North".

• Northern Ireland's Antrim coast is only 12 miles from the southern end of Argyll's Kintre peninsula, and is visible on clear days.

• The Argyll peninsula of Ardnamurchan marks the spot with a 36 mile high granite lighthouse.

Here are just some places to visit in and around Argyll: