Dunoon

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox UK place Dunoon (Template:IPAc-en;<ref>Template:Cite LPD</ref> Template:Langx Template:IPA) is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As well as forming part of the council area of Argyll and Bute, Dunoon also has its own community council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was a burgh until 1976.<ref name=chronicles/>

The early history of Dunoon often revolves around two feuding clans: the Lamonts and the Campbells. The town was a popular destination when travel by steamships was common around the Firth of Clyde; Glaswegians described this as going doon the watter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This diminished, and many holidaymakers started to go elsewhere as roads and railways improved and the popularity of overseas travel increased.

In 1961, during the height of the Cold War, Dunoon became a garrison town to the United States Navy. In 1992, shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, they closed their Holy Loch base in Sandbank, and neighbouring Dunoon suffered an economic downturn. Since the base's closure, the town and surrounding area are again turning to tourism, marketing to outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, as well as promoting festivals and competitions. The largest annual event held in the town is the Cowal Highland Gathering, which has been held since 1894.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Royal National Mòd has also been held in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Dunoon Pier, looking southeast

East Bay, looking north, including the Argyll Hotel

Dunoon Castle was built on a small, partly artificial, conical hill beside the Firth of Clyde in the 12th century, of which low walls remain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It eventually became a royal castle with the Earls of Argyll (Campbells) as hereditary keepers, paying a nominal rent of a single red rose to the sovereign. Mary, Queen of Scots, visited Dunoon Castle on 26 July 1563 and granted several charters during her visit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1646 the Dunoon massacre of members of Clan Lamont by members of Clan Campbell took place.

In the early 19th century, the town's main street, Argyll Street, stopped at Moir Street. Instead of continuing to Dunoon Pier, it turned right at today's Sinbad's Bar. Before Dunoon Burgh Hall was built, beginning in 1873, the land was an open field, owned by James MacArthur Moir, leading to an area known as the Gallowhill. There were no streets and houses between Argyll Street and Edward Street. Argyll Street, roughly as it is seen today, was completed by 1870. Moir donated some of his land for the building of the Burgh Hall, but he did not get to see its completion; he died by suicide in 1872.<ref name=chronicles>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

The two banks mentioned above were the Union Bank of Scotland and the City of Glasgow Bank.<ref name="ColegateP7">Template:Cite book</ref> The hydropathic spa, meanwhile, was "an elegant new baths building, named Ardvullin, erected a little to the north of the village as a hydropathic establishment, where baths - hot, cold, artificial salt, and Turkish — may be had at moderate charges."<ref name=ColegateP8/>

Many of the town's early villas had their own private bathing ground or boxes.

The population of the united parishes of Dunoon and Kilmun in 1861 was 5,444; in 1866 the estimated population of Dunoon, from Baugie Burn to Hunters Quay, was 3,000.<ref name=ColegateP12>Colegate's Guide to Dunoon, Kirn, and Hunter's Quay (Second edition) - John Colegate (1868), page 12</ref>

Submarine passing Kirn, viewed from Gourock

During the World Wars, as the main part of the Firth of Clyde defences, the Cloch Point-to-Dunoon anti-submarine boom was anchored to the shore in Dunoon below Castle Hill.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A Palmerston Fort and camp at Ardhallow Battery in the south of the town provided one of the coastal defence gun emplacements that covered the anti-submarine boom and Firth of Clyde waters. There also was a gun emplacement atop Castle Hill.

In 1961, as the Cold War intensified, the Holy Loch's importance grew when the U.S. Navy submarine tender USS Proteus brought Polaris ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines to the Firth of Clyde at Sandbank. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament protesters drew this to the public's attention.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Holy Loch was, for thirty years, the home port of U.S. Navy Submarine Squadron 14 and Dunoon, therefore, became a garrison town.

In 1991, the Holy Loch base was deemed unnecessary following the demise of the Soviet Union and was subsequently withdrawn. The last submarine tender to be based there, the USS Simon Lake, left Holy Loch in March 1992, leading to a major and continuing downturn in the local economy.<ref name=merrick>"If you rebuild it, they will come: Unlocking local creativity 'doon the watter' | Jay Merrick"Template:Dead link - The Academy of Urbanism</ref>

In May 2012, Dunoon and Campbeltown were jointly named as the rural places in Scotland most vulnerable to a downturn in a report by the Scottish Agricultural College looking at ninety places.<ref name="BBC vulnerable">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Government and politics

Dunoon is represented in the Scottish Parliament by Jenni Minto, of the Scottish National Party (SNP), who holds the Argyll and Bute seat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dunoon also lies within the Highlands and Islands electoral region, from which a further seven additional members are elected to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

In the House of Commons, Dunoon is represented by the SNP's Brendan O'Hara, who holds a seat also titled Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> although this seat has different boundaries from the one used for the Scottish Parliament.

Argyll and Bute Council is the Local Authority for the council area covering Dunoon. It is one of 32 such council areas across Scotland. Dunoon forms a single ward for elections to Argyll and Bute Council, electing three councillors via the single transferable vote system. At the last election, held in May 2017, one independent and one member from each of the SNP and the Conservatives was elected to represent the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dunoon has a community council,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whose primary role is to represent the views of the community to the Local Authority and other public bodies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Religion

The High Kirk, built in 1816

There are a number of churches in Dunoon, including:

Church of Scotland: St John's Church

Roman Catholic: Our Lady and St Mun's Church<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other churches: Template:Columns-list

Historical

There is evidence of an episcopal seat at Dunoon from the latter part of the 15th century. No remains of the Bishop's Palace now exist, the site is now occupied by the playground of Dunoon Primary School, between Hillfoot Street and Kirk Street.<ref>DUNOON CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL and CONSERVATION STRATEGY, 2017 Template:Webarchive - Argyll & Bute Council</ref>

Defunct religious buildings Template:Columns-list

Culture

Architecture

Dunoon Pier

Dunoon Pier, pictured in 2011

Dunoon's Victorian pier was extended to the current structure between 1896 and 1898.<ref name=hes>DUNOON PIER WITH WAITING ROOMS AND PIER MASTER'S OFFICE, SIGNAL TOWER AND ADJOINING TEAROOM, TICKET LODGE, PIER RAILINGS Template:Webarchive – Historic Environment Scotland</ref> It was shortened to allow the building of a breakwater in 2005, just to the south of the pier. As well as protecting the pier and its architecture from storm surges, a new link span was installed alongside the breakwater. This was to allow the berthing and loading of roll-on/roll-off ferries instead of the side-loading ferries that used to serve the pier. A tender to serve the new link-span between two interested parties, Caledonian MacBrayne and Western Ferries, came to nothing. Prior to June 2011, the pier was in daily use by Caledonian MacBrayne, who ran a regular foot passenger and car-ferry service to Gourock. However, after June 2011, a renewed tendering process produced a passenger-only ferry service (Argyll Ferries, owned by Caledonian MacBrayne) using the breakwater for berthing. On 1 September 2004, during the construction of the breakwater, the cargo vessel Jackie Moon (82 metres in length) ran aground on the breakwater, with six people on board. Since the breakwater became operational in June 2011, Argyll Ferries operate from this docking facility. The Waverley struck the breakwater on 26 June 2009, with some 700 people on board. The pier was partially refurbished by Argyll and Bute Council during 2015. Now containing meeting rooms, it is purely a tourist attraction.<ref name=autogenerated6>Template:Cite web</ref>

Burgh Hall

Dunoon Burgh Hall, 2012

Dunoon Burgh Hall opened in 1874, the work of notable Glasgow architect Robert Alexander Bryden, who is buried in Dunoon Cemetery, a mile to the north. It is a Scottish baronial-style building that housed the municipal offices and had a hall accommodating 500 people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Category B listed building re-opened in June 2017, and is a fully accessible venue for exhibitions, performances and gatherings. Alongside a gallery and theatre, the venue offers creative workshop space, a garden and a café.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="theatres">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Historic Environment Scotland</ref>

Other buildings

On 20 August 2021, several Argyll Street buildings were destroyed in an arson attack.<ref>"Two charged after town centre fire" – ArgyllBute24.co.uk</ref>

Landmarks and attractions

Highland Mary statue

Mary Campbell, also known as "Highland Mary" and "Bonny Mary O' Argyll", was born at Auchamore Farm in Dunoon. She had a relationship with the bard Robert Burns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Highland Mary statue was erected in 1896; it is prominently sited on Castle Hill, overlooking the breakwater in Dunoon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite DNB12</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The statue is a scheduled monument (LB26437).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The war memorial of Dunoon is located in the Castle Gardens, overlooking the pier.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Queen's Hall is the town's major multi-function hall complex.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is situated opposite the head of the Victorian pier and built in 1958. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 11 August 1958.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Riverside Swim and Health Centre, including an indoor pool (25m long) and associated facilities, located on Alexandra Parade.

Dunoon Library is situated in the rebuilt Queens Hall at the Castle Gardens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A small group of rocks, known as the Gantocks, lie off the coast at Dunoon. The navigation beacon on the Gantocks in the Firth of Clyde is close to the coast at Dunoon. It was built in 1886.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Clan Lamont Memorial, also known as the Dunoon Massacre Memorial, is on Tom-A-Mhoid Road close to Castle Hill. It was dedicated in 1906 and commemorates the Dunoon massacre of 1646, when the Campbell Clan attacked the Lamont Clan, killing over 200 people.<ref>Template:Historic Environment Scotland</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Includes several photographs</ref>

Local wildlife includes seals, otters, dolphins, basking sharks, roe deer, red deer, red squirrels, and many species of birds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Castle House Museum opens during the summer season. It holds historical information and displays for Dunoon and the Cowal peninsula.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Festivals

Panoramic view of the 2014 Cowal Highland Gathering

The Cowal Highland Gathering, established in 1894, attracts contestants and spectators from all over the world.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is held annually over the final weekend in August at Dunoon Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Cowal Open Studios, held over a fortnight in September, gives the opportunity to visit the studios of artists around Dunoon and Cowal.

Cowalfest celebrates the outdoors activities like rambling around Dunoon for ten days in October.

Since the 1930s Dunoon has hosted the Royal National Mòd a number of times – 1930, 1950, 1968, 1994, 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018.<ref name=SMO>List of Mod's places for each year on Sabhal Mòr Ostaig website</ref>

In 2013, the first Dunoon Film Festival was held over three days and opened with first public screening of Your Cheatin' Heart, a series made by the BBC that had last been shown on television in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Transport

Dunoon is accessible by direct land and sea routes and indirectly by rail at Gourock.

Road

Dunoon lies towards the southern end of the A815 road. At its northernmost point, near Cairndow, this road joins the A83 and provides access to the town by road from Loch Lomond / Glasgow in the east, from Inveraray / Oban in the north and from Campbeltown in the west.

Ferry

Two ferry operators provide services to Dunoon from Gourock:

Caledonian MacBrayne Template:Main article

Template:MV in the current CalMac livery, approaching Dunoon Pier

The public service route provided by the Scottish Government owned Caledonian MacBrayne, which is a foot-passenger-only service between Dunoon Breakwater and Gourock pier, giving easy access to the National Rail Network.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Western Ferries Template:Main article

One of Western Ferries current fleet MV Sound of Soay

Local company Western Ferries (Clyde) LTD, carries motor vehicles and foot passengers between Hunters Quay near Dunoon and McInroy's Point on the A770, (Cloch Road).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Travel connections

For foot passengers at Gourock Pier, a ScotRail train service provides access to the National Rail network at Glasgow Central, via the local service Inverclyde Line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bus

Public transport within Dunoon and the surrounding area is provided under government subsidy by bus and coach operator West Coast Motors.

West Coast Motors' route 486 provides a regular return journey from Dunoon town centre to Inveraray, where it connects with a Scottish Citylink service 926 and 976 onward to Campbeltown, Oban, Glasgow and points in-between.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Route 478 runs from Dunoon Pier to Portavadie six days a week.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Historical

The steamboat Caledonia departing Dunoon Pier in 1967

The paddle steamer Waverley arriving at Dunoon Pier

Modern Dunoon owes its existence to steam power; as late as 1822 there were only three or four slated houses, the rest of the residences being traditional Highland cottages.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the New Statistical Account, the MP James Ewing from Glasgow is named as beginning the expansion of the village when he built Castle House close to Dunoon Castle.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The growth of the village increased from that time, paralleling the engineering-led growth of the steamers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other infrastructural advances also helped like the construction of a Template:Convert jetty in 1835.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> From 1812 to the late 1960s, thousands of holiday-makers travelled doon the watter from Glasgow and industrial Lanarkshire to Dunoon and to numerous other town piers on the Firth of Clyde.

In 1868, the following summer excursions by water could be had from Dunoon (going and returning the same day):<ref name=ColegateP13>Template:Cite book</ref>

• Ardentinny, Chancellor, 11 A.M.
• Ardrishaig, Iona, 9.30 A.M.
• Arran, Hero, 10.30 A.M.
• Arrochar, Chancellor, 11 A.M.
• Ayr, Vale of Clyde, 9.15 A.M.
• Blairmore, Chancellor, 11 A.M.
• Brodick, Hero, 10.30 A.M.
• Campbeltown, Gael, 9.15 A.M.
• Carradale, Gael, 9.15 A.M.
• Fairlie, Vale of Clyde, 9.15 A.M.
• Gareloch, early steamer to Greenock, thence per Garelochhead steamer
• Innellan, various during the day
• Kyles of Bute, to Tighnabruaich or Colintraive, Iona; Kilchattan Bay, Bute, Hero
• Lamlash, Hero, 10.30 A.M.
• Largs, Vale of Clyde, or early steamer to Innellan, thence cross by Wemyss Bay Railway Steamer to Wemyss Bay
• Lochgoil, Chancellor and Lochlong; change at Blairmore
• Loch Lomond, Chancellor or early steamer to Bowling, thence by rail to Balloch, thence by steamer to Tarbert, where cross to Arrochar, and catch Chancellor returning, or vice-versa
• Loch Long, Chancellor
• Millport, Vale of Clyde, 9.15 A.M.
• Rothesay, various during the day
• Tarbert, Iona
• Troon, Vale of Clyde
• Wemyss Bay, steamer to Innellan, thence cross by Wemyss Bay Railway Steamer to Wemyss Bay

Only one Clyde steamer, the Waverley, satisfies demand for this business today. It berths at the breakwater when visiting Dunoon during its summer season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Dunoon is served by three primary schools. Dunoon Primary School is on Hillfoot Street; this building was the original 1641 location of Dunoon Grammar School. St Muns Primary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is on Pilot Street and Kirn Primary School is on Park Road.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dunoon Grammar School is located on Ardenslate Road in Kirn.

The University of the Highlands and Islands' Argyll College has a campus in Dunoon, located in the West Bay, near the breakwater and Castle Hill.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sport and recreation

National Cycle Route 75

Dunoon is on the NCR75 a route from Edinburgh to Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The National Cycle Network is maintained by sustrans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Dunoon Stadium

Dunoon Stadium, pictured in 2019, looking southeast towards the town

The town's sporting arena is Dunoon Stadium, which is located in the north of the town on Argyll Street. When it hosted football matches, it had the largest capacity of any amateur ground in Scotland.Template:Citation needed It later became the focal point of the Cowal Highland Gathering. Motorcycle dirt track racing (or speedway) was staged at the stadium on 18 June 1932 as part of the annual Dunoon and Cowal Agricultural Show. A demonstration event had been staged in May 1932.

The Dunoon Youth Football League (DYFL), founded in 1981, is a voluntary organisation that teaches football skills to all interested children with ages between 4 and 17. The DYFL have their own clubhouse and changing facilities at Dunoon Stadium. All coaches are parents who have received coaching certification through the Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA), and the club has a PGA officer and coaches with Sports Injuries First Aid certification.

Cowal Rugby Club was formed in 1976. In 2008 it scored its first league victory in the Scottish Hydro Electric Western Regional League West Division 2.

Dunoon Amateurs F.C. was founded in 1975 and play football at Dunoon Stadium and Dunoon Grammar School.

Dunoon Camanachd was established in 2015; the shinty team started competing in South Division 2, in 2016.

Cowal Golf Club is situated on the hillside above Kirn. Founded in October 1891, initially as a nine-hole course designed by Willie Campbell from Bridge of Weir.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was formerly an eighteen-hole course, reconstructed by James Braid between 1924 and 1928.Template:Cn The current clubhouse was built in 1996. Due to financial issues, club assets were sold off in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The golf club is still trading, although as a result of a land sale the course is now only a twelve-hole course. The club is now owned by "Cowal Golf and Lodge Resort Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The two bowling clubs in Dunoon are Dunoon–Argyll Bowling Club, on Mary Street, and Bogleha' Bowling Club, on Argyll Street. They are two of the 21 members of Bowls Scotland's District 26.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2006 and 2007, the town hosted a six-a-side swamp football tournament that attracted around 500 players and 1,000 spectators.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Castle Tennis Club is situated in the town's Castle Garden. The club has two concrete and two all-weather courts, all lighted.

Every year in June, the town hosts the Argyll Rally, a motorsport event that takes place on closed public roads around the local area. The rally counts as a round of the Scottish Rally Championship and brings competitors from all over United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Walks

Tom Odhar summit, Bishop's Glen track

Trails (walks, running and mountain biking) thread through the hills surrounding Dunoon. Corlarach Hill has waymarked routes for walkers, mountain biking and horse riders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These trails are located next to the Bishop's Glen.

Puck's Glen is a popular short walk set in the hills close to Benmore Botanic Garden. (The arboretum at Benmore Botanic Garden, formerly a private garden for the Younger family,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is now open to the public. It comprises Template:Convert and features some of the tallest trees in Britain, including the avenue of Giant Redwoods (Sequoia), some of which are over Template:Convert high.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of Dunoon's listed buildings is the Grade 2 Victorian fernery, which was reopened in 2009 after an 18-month restoration.)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Garden is Template:Convert north of the town, just before Loch Eck. A tumbling burn, criss-crossed by bridges, is enclosed by rocky walls heavily hung with mosses and overshadowed by dense trees. The walk has clear, waymarked paths. The glen is named after Puck, from A Midsummer Night's Dream.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Morag's Fairy Glen is a short gorge walk, with trails alongside the Berry Burn, located on the hill behind the West Bay area of Dunoon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Bishop's Glen Reservoir trail follows the shore of the remaining one of three reservoirs in the glen, that used to supply fresh water to Dunoon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The reservoir is damming the Balgaidgh Burn (Balgie) and is now a freshwater fly fishing location.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Access to the hills behind Dunoon, including Corlarach Hill, is available from the Bishop's Glen Reservoir trail.

Media

Dunoon's local weekly newspaper is the Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard, which was founded in 1871 in Sandbank by editor and proprietor William Inglis Sr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> (The town once had three other newspapers, namely the Cowal Watchman (1876),<ref name=ord>Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland (1901) - p. 1330</ref> Dunoon Herald and Cowal Advertiser<ref>The Dunoon Herald and Cowal Advertiser at WorldCat.org</ref> and the Dunoon Telegraph.)<ref>The Dunoon telegraph at WorldCat.org</ref>

Dunoon Community Radio was launched in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Broadcasting on 97.4 FM from the Dunoon Observer building, it is an independent social business entirely staffed by volunteers.

Notable people

• Virginia Bottomley, politician<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Robert Alexander Bryden, architect, educated in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Mary Campbell, love interest of Robert Burns<ref name=ord/>
• MT Carney, businesswoman<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Donald Caskie, minister, educated in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Peter Dorschel, spy, tried for espionage in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Subscription required</ref>
• William Fraser, architect, lived in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Stewart Houston, footballer, born in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Sir Harry Lauder (1870–1950), whose Laudervale mansion stood just south of Dunoon on Bullwood Road<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Neil MacFarlane, footballer, born in Dunoon<ref>Template:Soccerbase</ref>
• Mackintosh MacKay, minister in Dunoon and Gaelic scholar<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:PD-notice</ref>
• Sylvester McCoy, actor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Alexander Robertson, boatbuilder operating from boatyard near Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• George Robertson, politician, educated in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Arabella Scott, suffragette, born in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Muriel Scott, suffragette, family home was in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• John Smith, politician, educated in Dunoon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Neil Warnock, football manager<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Brian Wilson, politician<ref name="InghamHassan2003">Template:Cite book</ref>

Gallery

• 
  Dunoon Grammar School Hostel
• 
  Entrance to Dunoon Grammar School
• 
  Pipe band at the Cowal Highland Gathering
• 
  Dunoon from above the Firth of Clyde, looking west
• 
  The eastern side of Dunoon Pier
• 
  Highland Mary statue
• 
  Castle House Gardens and war memorial, looking northeast to East Bay
• 
  The Gantocks from Dunoon, with Inverkip in the background to the east
• 
  Castle Hill, looking west
• 
  Firth of Clyde, from West Bay, Dunoon, Cowal, Argyll and Bute

Geography

Dunoon is on the west coast of the upper Firth of Clyde,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on the east coast of the claw-shaped Cowal peninsula.

Much of the Cowal peninsula is covered with forest, particularly in the northern stretches and to the west and south with small patches in the south-east and east. To the north and north-west is the Argyll Forest Park that was established in 1935.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

As with the rest of the British Isles, Dunoon has a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. It is an exceptionally wet part of the country, particularly so for a place near sea-level, with annual average rainfall totals nearing Template:Convert.

Recorded temperature extremes since 1960 range from Template:Convert during July 1983<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to as low as Template:Convert during January 1982.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of places in Argyll and Bute

External links

• Visit Scotland, Dunoon page