Editing Cowal (section)

{{Short description|Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland}}
{{about|the peninsula in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox landform
| water                 = 
| name                  = Cowal
| native_name           = {{Native name|gd|Comhghall}}
| other_name            = 
| type                  = [[Peninsula]]
<!--      Image       -->
| photo                 = Cowal peninsula landsat.png
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| photo_alt             = 
| photo_caption         = Cowal, taken by Landsat
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| map                   = Scotland
| map_width             = 
| map_caption           = Cowal within Scotland
| map_alt               = Scotland
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| coordinates           = {{coord|56|01|N|5|06|W|region:GB_type:landmark_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref       = 
<!--     Location     -->
| location              = [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Scotland]]
| grid_ref              = 
| grid_ref_UK           = NS 09111 85254
| grid_ref_Ireland      = 
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| highest_point         = [[Beinn an Lochain]]
| highest_elevation     = {{convert|901.7|m}}
| highest_coords        = {{coord|56|13|51|N|4|52|30|W|region:GB_type:mountain|display=inline}}
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'''Cowal''' ({{langx|gd|Comhghall}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/?id=41133 |title=Cowal |work=[[Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba]]: Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland|access-date=2023-09-05}}</ref> is a rugged [[peninsula]] in [[Argyll and Bute]], on the west coast of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland to the north, and is bounded by [[Loch Fyne]] to the west, by [[Loch Long]] and the [[Firth of Clyde]] to the east, and by the [[Kyles of Bute]] to the south.

[[Argyll]] is the historic [[county]] that the Cowal peninsula was within. [[Inveraray]] was the county town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Argyllshire|title=Argyllshire &#124; Scotland's Historic County, UK &#124; Britannica|website=www.britannica.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-community/local-history-and-heritage/history-argyll-and-bute|title=The History of Argyll and Bute &#124; Argyll and Bute Council|first=Argyll and Bute|last=Council|website=www.argyll-bute.gov.uk}}</ref>

The northern part of the peninsula is covered by [[Argyll Forest Park]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/argyll-forest-park |title=Argyll Forest Park |publisher=Forestry Commission Scotland |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329163908/https://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/argyll-forest-park |url-status=dead }}</ref> and also includes the [[Arrochar Alps]]. In the south, the peninsula is divided into three forks by [[Loch Striven]] and [[Loch Riddon]]. Cowal's only [[burgh]] is [[Dunoon]] in the south-east,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stforum.co.uk/wmslib/Pride__Passion/DunoonCowal.pdf |title=50 Fascinating Facts about Bute, Dunoon & Cowal |access-date=2011-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425132526/http://www.stforum.co.uk/wmslib/Pride__Passion/DunoonCowal.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-25 }}</ref> from which [[ferry|ferries]] sail to [[Gourock]] in [[Inverclyde]]. Other ferries run from [[Portavadie]] in the west to [[Tarbert, Kintyre|Tarbert]] in Kintyre, and from [[Colintraive]] in the south to [[Rhubodach]] on Bute.

Much of Cowal was once held by the [[Clan Lamont|Lamont]] clan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clanlamontsociety.com/|title=Clan Lamont Society|website=www.clanlamontsociety.com}}</ref> Later, the [[Clan Campbell|Campbells]] came to be one of the most powerful families in Cowal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Great Scottish Clans - Featured Clans |url=http://www.greatscottishclans.com/clans/campbell.php |website=www.greatscottishclans.com}}</ref>

The highest point on the peninsula is [[Beinn an Lochain]] in the [[Arrochar Alps]], a [[Corbetts|Corbett]] with a height of {{convert|901.7|m}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.munromagic.com/MountainInfo.cfm?Mountain=309|title=Beinn an Lochain (Corbett) - MunroMagic.com|website=www.munromagic.com}}</ref>  The summit overlooks [[Loch Restil]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/scotland/argyll-and-bute/beinn-an-lochain|title=Beinn an Lochain|website=AllTrails.com}}</ref>