Places of historical interest

Interactive map

 
			A road-side cairn in Glen Fruin marks the site of the clan battle of 1603 
			involving the forces of the Colquhouns and the McGregors. 140 of the Colquhouns 
			side were killed, and soon after the name McGregor was proscribed by royal 
			decree for many years. 

Garelochhead 
				Pier and the nearby hotel have gone, but there is a plaque commemorating the 
				pier and the Battle of Garelochhead Pier which took place in 1853. On this 
				occasion, a force of Sabbath-abiding locals tried to prevent the Sunday excursion 
				steamer, The Emperor, from disembarking its passengers.

 
					HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane is the home of Britain's nuclear deterrent. A Submarine Heritage Museum is planned here. 

In the centre of the village of Garelochhead is Garelochhead Parish Church. A listed building, this is the oldest (1838) church building in the area still in use.

A signpost indicates the site of the Isabella Campbell Memorial. Though she died in 1827 at the early age of 20 years, Isabella is remembered for her piety and devotion. Another member of the family, her sister Mary, was said to possess the gift of tongues, and came to be associated with the Irvingites and the Catholic Apostolic church.

The hamlet of Rahane was a farming and fishing settlement and there was also a ferry to Carnban on the other side of the Gareloch.

A ferry from Rosneath across the narrow passage of the Gareloch to Rhu has probably existed since the days of the pilgrims, when people journeyed from the south and east to the Holy Island of Iona. There is still a Ferry Road, and at its top end is the old part of the village called The Clachan. Some of the old cottages date back to the 18th Century. Near the church is Heather Cottage built in 1610. It was a manse until 1770 and is the oldest house on the Peninsula. 
I has associations with Sir Walter Scott's famous story "The Heart of Midlothian". 

A minor road leads off the main shore road to the hamlet of Portkil. Some fortifications were built here before the first World War to help safeguard the Clyde against a sea-borne invasion. There were corresponding defences on the Greenock side. Fortunately, they were never needed.

Kilcreggan boasts many fine Victorian houses, some of which were owned by the rich and famous, for example, the Donaldson brothers of the Donaldson Shipping Line.

The architectural splendour of Cove shows examples of many different styles including the Italianate designs of architects such as 'Greek' Thomson and William Motherwell, Old English, Scots Gothic, and predominantly, Scottish baronial. 

The steamship pier, built at Kilcreggan in 1850, was an important factor in its development. Regular ferry services plus summer steamer excursions still run. 

The superb views from Barbour Cemetery extend far down the Clyde while to the west and north, the rugged Cowal hills stand out. Here is buried James Ballantyne Hannay, an eccentric genius who did pioneering work in the artificial production of diamonds. He lived at Cove Castle.

From Coulport a Royal Ferry used to run across Loch Long to Ardentinny. Being a Royal Ferry, the traveller could demand passage at any time of the day or night.Coulport once boasted a number of impressive Victorian mansions (the Kibble Palace came from one of them) but all have gone as the Royal Navy Armaments Depot has expanded its operations.

 At the start of this century Clynder boasted a number of gracious villas, a hotel, two piers one of which was frequented by paddle steamers, and an iron church for a breakaway group from the Free Church at Millbrae. The church was later used as the works canteen for the boat building firm of McGruers, established in Clynder in 1911. Around 1980 the firm moved to Rosneath, and its former site became a housing development.

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	Places of historical interest Interactive map A road-side cairn in Glen Fruin marks the site of the clan battle of 1603 involving the forces of the Colquhouns and the McGregors. 140 of the Colquhouns side were killed, and soon after the name McGregor was proscribed by royal decree for many years. Garelochhead Pier and the nearby hotel have gone, but there is a plaque commemorating the pier and the Battle of Garelochhead Pier which took place in 1853. On this occasion, a force of Sabbath-abiding locals tried to prevent the Sunday excursion steamer, The Emperor, from disembarking its passengers. HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane is the home of Britain's nuclear deterrent. A Submarine Heritage Museum is planned here. In the centre of the village of Garelochhead is Garelochhead Parish Church. A listed building, this is the oldest (1838) church building in the area still in use. A signpost indicates the site of the Isabella Campbell Memorial. Though she died in 1827 at the early age of 20 years, Isabella is remembered for her piety and devotion. Another member of the family, her sister Mary, was said to possess the gift of tongues, and came to be associated with the Irvingites and the Catholic Apostolic church. The hamlet of Rahane was a farming and fishing settlement and there was also a ferry to Carnban on the other side of the Gareloch. A ferry from Rosneath across the narrow passage of the Gareloch to Rhu has probably existed since the days of the pilgrims, when people journeyed from the south and east to the Holy Island of Iona. There is still a Ferry Road, and at its top end is the old part of the village called The Clachan. Some of the old cottages date back to the 18th Century. Near the church is Heather Cottage built in 1610. It was a manse until 1770 and is the oldest house on the Peninsula. I has associations with Sir Walter Scott's famous story "The Heart of Midlothian". A minor road leads off the main shore road to the hamlet of Portkil. Some fortifications were built here before the first World War to help safeguard the Clyde against a sea-borne invasion. There were corresponding defences on the Greenock side. Fortunately, they were never needed. Kilcreggan boasts many fine Victorian houses, some of which were owned by the rich and famous, for example, the Donaldson brothers of the Donaldson Shipping Line. The architectural splendour of Cove shows examples of many different styles including the Italianate designs of architects such as 'Greek' Thomson and William Motherwell, Old English, Scots Gothic, and predominantly, Scottish baronial. The steamship pier, built at Kilcreggan in 1850, was an important factor in its development. Regular ferry services plus summer steamer excursions still run. The superb views from Barbour Cemetery extend far down the Clyde while to the west and north, the rugged Cowal hills stand out. Here is buried James Ballantyne Hannay, an eccentric genius who did pioneering work in the artificial production of diamonds. He lived at Cove Castle. From Coulport a Royal Ferry used to run across Loch Long to Ardentinny. Being a Royal Ferry, the traveller could demand passage at any time of the day or night.Coulport once boasted a number of impressive Victorian mansions (the Kibble Palace came from one of them) but all have gone as the Royal Navy Armaments Depot has expanded its operations. At the start of this century Clynder boasted a number of gracious villas, a hotel, two piers one of which was frequented by paddle steamers, and an iron church for a breakaway group from the Free Church at Millbrae. The church was later used as the works canteen for the boat building firm of McGruers, established in Clynder in 1911. Around 1980 the firm moved to Rosneath, and its former site became a housing development.