57-555: Bennane Head is a tapering piece of land formed of hard rock, projecting into the Firth of Clyde , in South Ayrshire , west of Scotland . At the northern end of Ballantrae Bay , 17 kilometres (11 mi) southwest of Girvan . A 200-metre-deep (660 ft) cave in the cliff under the headland is said to be the place where the cannibal Sawney Bean and his family lived in the 16th century. This Scottish location article
114-650: A Scottish Local Government Act ; Kintyre became part of the County of Argyll . Following late 20th century reforms, it is now within the wider region of Argyll and Bute . Information on all forms of public transport is available from Traveline Scotland . No railways remain in use today. From 1876 until 1931 the Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway operated, initially built to transport coal. The Mull of Kintyre test is, according to an urban legend , an unofficial guideline to classify erections in film and TV by
171-707: A base for missionary activity throughout the Pictish regions beyond. Dál Riata was ultimately destroyed when Norse Vikings invaded, and established their own domain, spreading more extensively over the islands north and west of the mainland. Following the unification of Norway , they had become the Norwegian Kingdom of the Isles , locally controlled by Godred Crovan , and known by Norway as Suðreyjar (Old Norse, traditionally anglicised as Sodor ), meaning southern isles . The former territory of Dal Riata acquired
228-529: A few centuries, and formed a springboard for Christianisation of the mainland. Sanda , an island adjacent the south coast of Kintyre, is strongly associated with Ninian , the first known missionary to the Picts, and contains an early 5th century chapel said to have been built by him. In 563, Columba arrived in Kintyre, to pay his respects to the kings of Dal Riata, before continuing to Iona , where he established
285-645: A joint venture between Ineos and Petrochina . A second pipeline brings back refined oil products to the Finart Oil Terminal for export (in smaller oil tankers) mainly to Northern Ireland . On the upper Clyde, at Govan and Scotstoun both in Glasgow , two major shipyards are still in operation. They are owned by BAE Systems , whose major client is the Royal Navy . On the lower Clyde, only one shipyard still operates, Ferguson Marine , which
342-596: A significant presence on the Firth of Clyde, HMNB Clyde is known as Faslane within the navy and is located on Loch Long . HMNB Clydes role is with the servicing and maintenance of the UK submarine defence fleet. The base has other locations around the Firth. Babcock International . are involved in the engineering and operations at the base. On Loch Long , at Glen Mallan, the Northern Ammunition Jetty
399-852: A vital military role during World War II . The Firth is sometimes called the Clyde Waters or Clyde Sea , and is customarily considered to be part of the Irish Sea . At the north of the Firth, Loch Long and the Gare Loch join the Firth; these lochs are separated by the Rosneath Peninsula . Off Greenock , an anchorage, known as the Tail of the Bank narrows the estuary of the River Clyde to 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. ( The "Bank"
456-514: Is Campbeltown (about 5.5 miles or 8.9 km by road from the Mull), which has been a royal burgh since the mid-18th century. The area's economy has long relied on fishing and farming, although Campbeltown has a reputation as a producer of some of the world's finest single malt whisky . Campbeltown single malts include Springbank . Kintyre Pursuivant , one of the officers of arms at the Court of
513-620: Is 1,825 hectares (4,510 acres). (Coordinates: 55°56'32"N 04°36'32"W) In September 2008, Scotland's first No Take Zone (NTZ) was introduced in Lamlash Bay , on the Isle of Arran . The result of a community effort, led by the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (C.O.A.S.T) . The NTZ was introduced to protect delicate marine communities, such as Maerl . Maerl is a slow-growing coral-like calcareous red algae (it grows only 1 mm per year) and
570-528: Is a peninsula in western Scotland , in the southwest of Argyll and Bute . The peninsula stretches about 30 miles (50 kilometres), from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately north of Kintyre is known as Knapdale . Kintyre is long and narrow, at no point more than 11 miles (18 kilometres) from west coast to east coast, and is less than two miles (three kilometres) wide where it connects to Knapdale at
627-653: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Firth of Clyde The Firth of Clyde , is the estuary of the River Clyde , on the west coast of Scotland. The Firth has some of the deepest coastal waters of the British Isles . The Firth is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre Peninsula . The Firth lies between West Dunbartonshire in the north, Argyll and Bute in
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#1732790505782684-421: Is a reference to a sandbank and shoal ) The River Clyde estuary has an upper tidal limit located at the tidal weir next to Glasgow Green . The geographical (and popular) distinction between the Firth and the River Clyde is vague. Some refer to Dumbarton as being "on the Firth of Clyde "; while at the same time, the residents of Port Glasgow and Greenock often refer to the part of the Firth that lies to
741-607: Is an important Scottish species. Maerl beds are locations of high biodiversity and are crucial nursery grounds for both young scallops and young fish. Studies show that both scallop dredging and organic waste from fish farms, significantly impact Maerl. Scallop dredging on a Maerl bed has been found to kill over 70% of the Maerl. Monitoring the dredged bed over the next four years found no discernible recovery, suggesting that Maerl beds would require many years free of disturbance in order to recover. In 2014, 71,200 hectares (712 km ) at
798-577: Is located next to Newark Castle, Port Glasgow . The Scottish Government now own the yard. The Garvel Dry Dock in Greenock continues in operation for ship repair. The large Inchgreen Dry Dock in Greenock is in occasional use. The remains of former sites of shipyards on the Clyde are being redeveloped into areas that contain residential housing, leisure facilities, and commercial buildings. On
855-548: Is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne , the Public Service provider. This service carries only foot passengers and connects directly with the ScotRail service to Glasgow . Western Ferries , is a Private Limited Company , it operates the service between Hunters Quay and McInroy's Point near to Gourock. This service carries all types of vehicular transport, as well as foot passengers. The Kintyre peninsula forms
912-549: Is the most visited attraction owned by the National Trust for Scotland . Ocean liners frequently call at Greenock, and Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport are nearby. There is frequent rail service to and from the Clyde coast, including links to Oban and Fort William , with city terminals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also daily ferry service between the area and Belfast. The Firth hosted
969-583: Is unclear, but following a family dispute, Donald , Somerled's grandson, acquired Kintyre, together with Knapdale, Islay , and Jura . Donald's father, Reginald , established Saddell Abbey , in 1207. In the mid 13th century, increased tension between Norway and Scotland led to a series of Battles, culminating in the Battle of Largs , shortly after which the Norwegian king died. In 1266, his more peaceable successor ceded his nominal authority over Suðreyjar to
1026-527: The Battle of Largs , which was fought on the Firth, in 1263, was a geopolitical turning point: It marked the end of Norse ambitions in Britain. Beginning in the 16th century, the Firth increasingly became a conduit for commercial and industrial products, including: herring; timber; wine; sugar; tobacco; textiles; iron and steel; coal; oil; industrial chemicals; distillation and brewing; ships, locomotives, and other vehicles; and other manufactured products. In
1083-548: The Ferguson Marine shipbuilding yard, adjacent to Newark Castle, Port Glasgow , is the last merchant shipbuilder on the Clyde, and it is owned by the Scottish Government. In Greenock, the large dry dock and ship-repair facilities at Inchgreen opened in 1964, and were subsequently taken over by Scott Lithgow . The dry dock there is 305 metres (1,001 ft) long and 44 metres (144 ft) wide. With
1140-608: The Scottish Reformation , the MacDonalds (opponents) and Campbells (supporters) came into more direct dispute. In 1607, after a series of hostile actions by the MacDonalds, King James VI ordered their lands in Kintyre to be transferred to Archibald Campbell, heir of the earlier Archibald . Under pressure from the Campbells , the sheriff court moved to Inveraray at the extreme northeast of Tarbertshire, near
1197-579: The 16 December 2015, an area to the south of Arran received a Marine Protected Area designation. The water quality of the Firth is monitored by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). SEPA have had a monitoring buoy located off the coast of Dunoon since 2009, with data collected every 15 minutes. The Firth of Clyde has some of the deepest sea channels in Northern Europe. It can accommodate
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#17327905057821254-568: The 1908 summer olympics, with the 12 metres (39 ft) sailing yacht races. The Firth of Clyde, like the River Clyde , has historically been an important centre of shipbuilding and shipping. Upriver, there have been shipbuilding and engineering centres at Glasgow , Govan , Clydebank , Dumbarton , and Renfrew . Downriver, there have been major yards at Greenock and Port Glasgow ; smaller yards at Irvine , Ardrossan, Troon , and Campbeltown ; and various other boatyards, including those at Hunters Quay , Port Bannatyne , and Fairlie . Today,
1311-509: The Firth itself, Ardmaleish Boatbuilding are based at Ardmaleish , near to Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute . The Greenock Cruise Terminal , operated by Clydeport part of The Peel Group. A new terminal was opened on 25 August 2023. Shipwreck diving is a popular activity on the Firth, with many wreck sites to explore. Military wrecks have protection under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 . The Royal Navy has
1368-535: The Firth. Harbour porpoises are also common. While dolphins are much less common, some were spotted in the upper reaches of the Firth in the summer of 2005. Very uncommon are humpback whales , as are the minke whales . Even rarer are Killer Whales . Also, in 2005, the Firth had the second-highest number of basking shark sightings in Scotland (after the Minch ). These huge sharks seem to particularly favour
1425-511: The Lord Lyon , is named after this peninsula. Kintyre, like Knapdale, contains several Stone Age sites; at Ballochroy is a trio of megaliths aligned with land features on the island of Jura , while a number of burial cairns still stand at Blasthill (near Southend, Argyll ). Remains from the Iron Age are no less present, with the imposing Dun Skeig , a Celtic hillfort , located at
1482-645: The MacDonalds. The head of the MacDonald family married the heir of the MacRory family , thereby acquiring the remaining share of Somerled's realm, and transforming it into the Lordship of the Isles , which lasted for over a century. After 4 years and 3 children, however, he divorced Amy, and married Margaret, the daughter of Robert II, the Scottish king , who gave him the remaining parts of Kintyre, along with
1539-467: The Scottish king ( Alexander III ) by the Treaty of Perth , in return for a very large sum of money. Although Alexander III generally acknowledged the semi-independent authority of Somerled's heirs, he did not give them back control of the mainland territory which Scottish forces had taken during the strife, including parts of Kintyre. In 1293, king John Balliol established shrieval authority by creating
1596-553: The demise of Scott Lithgow and Cammell Laird , their facilities came under the management of Clydeport . The Hunterston Ore Terminal was constructed to facilitate the transport of bulk ore, but later mainly dealt with coal imports, and closed in 2016. The ExxonMobil (ESSO) Fuel Oil Terminal site at Bowling . There was a jetty built as part of Inverkip Power Station , for oil deliveries by oil tanker . Kintyre Kintyre ( Scottish Gaelic : Cinn Tìre , Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [kʲʰiɲˈtʲʰiːɾʲə] )
1653-668: The early first millennium, an Irish invasion led to Gaelic colonisation of an area centred on the Kintyre peninsula, establishing the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata . The latter was divided into a handful of regions, controlled by particular kin groups, of which the most powerful, the Cenél nGabráin , ruled over Kintyre, along with Knapdale , the region between Loch Awe and Loch Fyne ( Craignish , Ardscotnish , Glassary , and Glenary ), Arran , and Moyle (in Ulster ). The kingdom thrived for
1710-481: The geographic description Argyle (now Argyll ): the Gaelic coast . In 1093, Magnus, the Norwegian king , launched a military campaign to assert his authority over the isles. Malcolm, the king of Scotland , responded with a written agreement, accepting that Magnus' had sovereign authority of over all the western lands that Magnus could encircle by boat. The unspecific wording led Magnus to have his boat dragged across
1767-399: The heart of Campbell power; somewhat inevitably, in 1633 shrieval authority was annexed by the sheriff of Argyll . Archibald's son , a dedicated supporter of the religious reformers , developed a plan to establish a large settlement, around the village of Kinlochkilkerran, at the south of Kintyre, composed of loyal Presbyterians from Lowland Scotland , in order to outnumber and undermine
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1824-459: The highest point being Beinn an Tuirc at 454 metres (1,490 feet). The coastal areas and hinterland, however, are rich and fertile. Kintyre has long been a prized area for settlers , including the early Scots who migrated from Ulster to western Scotland and the Vikings or Norsemen who conquered and settled the area just before the start of the second millennium. The principal town of the area
1881-486: The isles, and the whole of Kintyre and Knapdale. In the mid 12th century, Somerled , the husband of Godred Crovan's granddaughter, led a successful revolt against Norway, transforming Suðreyjar (including Kintyre) into an independent kingdom. After his death, nominal Norwegian authority was re-established, but de facto authority was split between Somerled's sons and the Crovan dynasty . The exact allocation to Somerled's sons
1938-638: The largest Capesize vessels afloat today. As a result, the Clyde has one of the UK's leading ports, at Clydeport , part of The Peel Group. The facility handles cargo from container ships at the Greenock Ocean Terminal . Supertankers visit the Firth to deliver crude oil to Finnart Oil Terminal in Loch Long , which is connected by pipeline to the Grangemouth Refinery on the Firth of Forth . Both owned by Petroineos ,
1995-501: The local Catholic population, and reduce resistance to the state's religious reforms. Under his son, Archibald , this became Campbeltown . Their actions also had the effect of diluting Gaelic culture, gradually replacing it with a Lowlands one. Comital powers were abolished by the Heritable Jurisdictions Act , leaving only the shrieval unit. In 1899, counties were formally created, on shrieval boundaries, by
2052-472: The main west coastline of the lower Firth. The Rosneath peninsula is formed by the Gare Loch in the east, and Loch Long in the west, both merge with the upper Firth of Clyde. There is a Caledonian MacBrayne passenger only service across the Firth to Gourock from Kilcreggan . There are many islands in the Firth. The largest three all have thriving communities and regular ferry services connecting them to
2109-491: The mainland. They are: The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for some of the navigation aids around Scotlands coast. With others being the responsibility of the local Competent Harbour Authority . There are lighthouses at: There are navigation beacons at: The Field Studies Council has a marine research station, based in Millport , on the island of Great Cumbrae . Common seals and grey seals abound in
2166-564: The middle of the 19th century, the sport of yachting became popular on the Firth. The area became famous worldwide for its significant contribution to yachting and yachtbuilding with notable designers including: William Fife III; Alfred Mylne ; G L Watson; David Boyd. It was also the location of many famous yacht yards. Clyde-built wooden yachts are still known for quality and style today. The "lower Clyde" shipyards of Greenock and Port Glasgow , most notably Scott Lithgow , played an important historical role in shipbuilding. The PS Comet
2223-422: The narrow isthmus at Tarbert , while he rode within it, so that he would thereby acquire Kintyre, in addition to the more natural islands of Arran and Bute. Supposedly, Magnus's campaign had been part of a conspiracy against Malcolm, by Donalbain , Malcolm's younger brother. When Malcolm was killed in battle a short time later, Donalbain invaded, seized the Scottish kingdom, and displaced Malcolm's sons from
2280-600: The north of the Irish Sea. The deepest part of the channel is the Beaufort's Dyke , at 312 metres (1,024 ft). The Highland Boundary Fault enters the Firth off the east coast of Kintyre Peninsula in the south. The fault crosses the south eastern tip of the Cowal Peninsula at Toward Point , where it can be seen on the surface by the presence of Old Red Sandstone . The fault continues to Helensburgh in
2337-440: The north of those areas as "the river". The Firth encompasses many islands and peninsulas. Twelve ferry routes connect them to each other and the mainland. The majority of the ferry services are run by Caledonian MacBrayne and one by Western Ferries , and many of the routes are lifeline services for communities living in remote areas. The Firth has no fixed link transport infrastructure connections (bridge or tunnel), linking
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2394-413: The north, then continues past the east coast of Scotland. The fault can be followed across Scotland for at least 240 km (150 miles), the fault is of great age and its remains are broken by more recent geological movement of the earths crust. Fourteen sea lochs join the Firth, the largest being Loch Fyne. The Cowal Peninsula extends into the Firth of Clyde and forms the main western shoreline of
2451-609: The north. Kintyre is the lower Firth of Clyde western coast and protects the Firth from the Atlantic Ocean . The southerly tip of Kintyre is on the North Channel that separates southwestern Scotland from Northern Ireland . The east side of the Kintyre Peninsula is bounded by Kilbrannan Sound , with a number of coastal peaks such as Torr Mor . The central spine of the peninsula is mostly hilly moorland,
2508-475: The northern edge of Kintyre. The history of the presumed Pictish inhabitants of Kintyre is not recorded, but a 2nd-century BC stone fort survives at Kildonan (near Saddell ), and it is not implausible that they continued to use Dun Skeig. The tip of Kintyre is just 12 miles (19 kilometres) from Ulster , and there has long been interaction across the straits of Moyle , as evidenced by Neolithic finds in Kintyre, such as flint tools characteristic of Antrim . In
2565-482: The picturesque seaside towns and villages that line the Firth, with the more wealthy building substantial holiday homes along its coasts. Many towns, such as Gourock , Largs , Ayr , Dunoon , Rothesay , flourished during this period and became fully fledged resorts with well-appointed hotels and attractions. Golf courses, including major championship courses, proliferated. Today, tourism, sport and recreation, and heritage history continue to attract visitors from across
2622-709: The post of sheriff of Kintyre . Shortly after, Robert de Bruys launched a civil war challenging John for the throne. By this point, Somerled's descendants had formed into three families - the MacRory , the MacDougalls , and the MacDonalds ; the MacDougalls took John's side, while the MacDonalds and MacRory backed de Bruys. When de Bruys defeated John, he declared the MacDougall lands forfeit, and gave them to
2679-598: The sheriffdom of Kintyre became Tarbertshire , based at Tarbert at the northern end of Kintyre; in that year, Tarbertshire was expanded to include Knapdale. However, comital authority remained absent following the quitclaim from the Lord of the Isles; following a law and order crisis in the region, king James IV of Scotland appointed Archibald Campbell, the Earl of Argyll as governor of Tarbert Castle , with implied authority over nearby castles such as Skipness . Following
2736-535: The shores or islands. The lowest fixed crossing over the Clyde is the Erskine Bridge , opened on 2 July 1971. The Irish Sea and the Firth of Clyde's southerly boundary, as defined by the Scottish Government, is between the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula and Corsewall Point on the Rhins of Galloway . The Firth joins the strait between Scotland and Northern Ireland, called the North Channel , at
2793-708: The south of the Firth between Kintyre Peninsula and the Rhins of Galloway , on the North Channel boundary. Designated a Marine Protected Area, the (Clyde Sill MPA) , the NatureScot Site Code is 10414, the EU Site Code is 555560461. The MPA covers a distinctive sill where fresher water of the Firth mixes with the cooler, more saline water of the North Channel. This is a rich environment for plankton, which provide food for fish, that are in turn eaten by higher marine predators and seabirds. On
2850-479: The throne; on becoming king, Donalbain confirmed Magnus' gains. Donalbain's apparent keenness to do this, however, weakened his support among the nobility, and Malcolm's son, Duncan , was able to depose him. A few years later, following a rebellion against Magnus' authority in the Isles, he launched another, fiercer, expedition. In 1098, aware of Magnus' actions, the new Scottish king, Edgar (another son of Malcolm), quitclaimed to Magnus all sovereign authority over
2907-764: The upper Firth. The main town on the Cowal Peninsula is Dunoon . Ardlamont Point on the Ardlamont Peninsula , that extends off of the Cowal Peninsula, is the southern tip of the Ardlamont and Cowal Peninsulas. The ferries across the Firth save time compared to traveling "round by road", via Loch Eck side ( A815 road ), the Rest and Be Thankful ( A83 road ) and Loch Lomond side ( A82 road ).The service between Dunoon and Gourock in Inverclyde
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#17327905057822964-491: The warm, shallow waters surrounding Pladda , south of Arran . However, although commercial fishing was at one time intensive in the Firth's many fishing towns, today the only catches of commercial interest remaining in the Clyde waters are prawns , lobsters , herring , mussels, and crayfish. On 5 September 2000, the Inner Clyde Estuary received a RAMSAR designation. Site number: 1036. The area covered
3021-400: The west and Inverclyde , North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire in the east. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran . The Kyles of Bute separates the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula . The Sound of Bute separates the islands of Bute and Arran. The Highland Boundary Fault crosses the Firth. The Firth also played
3078-544: The whole of Knapdale, as a dowry. In 1462, however, John, the then Lord of the Isles , plotted with the English king to conquer Scotland; civil war in England delayed the discovery of this for a decade. Upon the discovery, in 1475, there was a call for forfeiture, but a year later John calmed the matter, by quitclaiming Ross (Easter, Wester, and Skye), Kintyre, and Knapdale, to Scotland. At an uncertain date before 1481,
3135-485: The world. The steam-powered PS Waverley —in addition to its regular service—still makes cruising trips to the coastal towns that have been popular tourist destinations since the 19th century. The Firth is ringed by many castles and buildings of historical importance that are open to the public, including Inveraray Castle , Brodick Castle , the opulent Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute, and Culzean Castle , which
3192-597: Was refurbished, to accommodate the navy’s new Aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09) , with work completed in January 2022. The jetty is part of the DM Glen Douglas military munitions depot. Plans have been announced in February 2024 to demolish an undisclosed part of the site. The Firth of Clyde has always been an important sea route from the earliest times. For example,
3249-404: Was the first successful steamboat in Europe . Well into the 20th century, a large proportion of the world's ship construction took place around the upper Firth and River Clyde . With the advent of tourism in Victorian times, the Firth became popular with Glaswegians and residents of neighbouring towns and counties who travelled "doon the watter" (the Firth) on Clyde steamers to holiday in
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