Editing Cowal (section)

==Geography and geology==
The peninsula is connected to the mainland and bounded to the north by the [[Arrochar Alps]], a group of mountains located around the head of [[Loch Fyne]], [[Loch Long]], and [[Loch Goil]]. The [[Kyles of Bute]], a narrow sea channel, separates it from the [[Isle of Bute]] to the south, and it borders the [[Firth of Clyde]] to the south-east. Several deeply incised [[sea loch]]s form a major factor in its geography, with Loch Fyne providing its western boundary, Loch Long providing its north-eastern boundary, and Loch Goil, the [[Holy Loch]], [[Loch Striven]] and [[Loch Riddon]] cutting into the peninsular and dividing it into several forks.<ref name=osex362>{{cite map |title=Explorer 362 - Cowal West & Isle of Bute |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |scale=1:25000 |isbn=9780319246139 |date=16 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=osol37>{{cite map |title=Explorer OL37 - Cowal East |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |scale=1:25000 |isbn=9780319242766 |date=10 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=osol39>{{cite map |title=Explorer OL39 - Loch Lomond North |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] |scale=1:25000 |isbn=9780319242780 |date=14 June 2018}}</ref>

At its longest, from the [[Rest and be Thankful pass]] to [[Ardlamont Point]], the peninsular is some {{convert|32|mi}} long. At its broadest, from [[Dunoon]] to [[Otter Ferry]], it is some {{convert|17|mi}} wide. Its highest point, on [[Beinn Ìme]] in the Arrochar Alps, is {{convert|1011|m}} above sea level.<ref name=osex362/><ref name=osol37/><ref name=osol39/>

[[File:Loch Goil and Loch Long from Portincaple.jpg|thumb|View of northern Cowal from the far side of Loch Long, showing the mouth of [[Loch Goil]]]]
Cowal's underlying geology is made up largely of resistant [[metamorphic rock]]s, but south of the [[Highland Boundary Fault]] part of the [[Toward]] peninsula is composed of [[sedimentary rock]]s. The landscape is mountainous, the high ground dominated by [[moorland]], [[peat]] mosses and the forest that often extends down the sides of the sea lochs to the water's edge. The acreage of improved farmland is small. Most land is owned by estates or the [[Forestry and Land Scotland]] except in the more settled areas.{{sfn|Ritchie|2001|p=17}}

The coast is mostly rocky and the few beaches are mostly shingle and gravel, with the principal exceptions of [[Ostel Bay]] on Loch Fyne in the far south-west of Cowal, and [[Ardentinny]] on Loch Long in the east, where sandy beaches are to be found.{{sfn|Ritchie|2001|p=17}}<ref name="Forestry Commission Ardentinny">{{cite web |title=Ardentinny |website=Forestry Commission Scotland |url=http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/argyll-forest-park/ardentinny |access-date=6 March 2017 |archive-date=7 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307124913/http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/forest-parks/argyll-forest-park/ardentinny}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk/blogs/10-argyll-beaches-to-discover-in-winter/ |title=10 Argyll beaches you'll want to walk along |publisher=Argyll & the Isles Tourism Cooperative |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> The only lowland areas are around the coast where most of the settlement is found, particularly around Cowal's largest settlement, [[Dunoon]], on the Firth of Clyde.{{sfn|Ritchie|2001|p=17}}

Settlements in Cowal include:

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Ardentinny]]
* [[Ardgartan]]
* [[Ardnadam]]
* [[Ardtaraig]]
* [[Arrochar, Argyll|Arrochar]]
* [[Blairmore, Argyll|Blairmore]]
* [[Cairndow]]
* [[Carrick Castle (village)|Carrick Castle]]
* [[Clachaig]]
* [[Clachan of Glendaruel]]
* [[Colintraive]]
* [[Coylet]]
* [[Dunoon]]
* [[Glenbranter]]
* [[Hunters Quay]]
* [[Innellan]]
* [[Inverchaolain]]
* [[Kames, Argyll|Kames]]
* [[Kilfinan]]
* [[Kilmun]]
* [[Kirn, Dunoon|Kirn]]
* [[Lochgoilhead]]
* [[Millhouse, Argyll|Millhouse]]
* [[Otter Ferry]]
* [[Portavadie]]
* [[Rashfield]]
* [[Sandbank, Argyll|Sandbank]]
* [[St Catherines, Argyll|St Catherines]]
* [[Strachur]]
* [[Strone, Cowal|Strone]]
* [[Succoth, Argyll|Succoth]]
* [[Tighnabruaich]]
* [[Toward]]
* [[Whistlefield, Argyll|Whistlefield]]
}}