Dunoon
| |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Harbour at Dunoon, looking north over Dunoon Pier to the Firth of Clyde and Dunoon Harbour from Castle Hill (1997) | |
  Dunoon Location within Argyll and Bute | |
| Population | 7,660 (2022)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NS173769 |
| • Edinburgh | 67 mi (108 km) |
| • London | 364 mi (586 km) |
| Council area |
|
| Lieutenancy area |
|
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNOON |
| Postcode district | PA23 |
| Dialling code | 01369 |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Dunoon (/duˈnuːn/; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Omhain [t̪un ˈo.ɪɲ]) is the main town on the Cowal Peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, west of 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.[2] As well as forming part of the council area of Argyll and Bute, Dunoon also has its own community council.[3] Dunoon was a burgh until 1976.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] The Royal National Mòd has also been held in the town.[7]
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "OS 25-inch map 1892–1949, with Bing opacity slider". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "Dunoon Community Council | Home & Latest News". www.community-council.org.uk.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
chronicleswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Scottish phrase of the week: Doon the watter". www.scotsman.com. 21 October 2014.
- ^ www.samteq.co.uk, SAMTEQ. "Cowal Highland Gathering – World's Biggest Highland Games". Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- ^ [email protected]. "An Comunn Gàidhealach – Royal National Mod : Mod News". Retrieved 21 February 2017.