Inverchaolain

Inverchaolain parish church

Loch Striven

Inverchaolain is a parish in the south of the Cowal peninsula of Argyllshire. It is nearly split in two by Loch Striven, and contains the villages of Altgaltraig, Ardtarig, Colintraive and Glenstriven as well as the hamlet of Inverchaolain itself.

It is bounded to the east by the united parishes of Dunoon and Kilmun; to the south-west by the Kyles of Bute and Rothesay Bay; to the west by Loch Riddon; and to the north by Kilmodan. The parish also includes the Burnt Islands in the Kyles of Bute. In 2011 it had a population of 180.

The parish church is situated in the hamlet of Inverchaolain, on the east shore of Loch Striven. The present building was built in 1912, replacing one built in 1812 which was destroyed by fire, and on the site of two even earlier buildings. The mediæval church was a couple of hundred yards away, on the hill just above the present church.

Mountains and hills

The hilly and rugged surface includes some small flat fields adjacent to the shore, but generally rises with steep ascent all round the coast. Chief elevations from south to north are:

• Kilmarnock Hill (1,283 feet)
• Bodach Bochd (1,713)
• Bishop's Seat (1,651)*
• Cruach nan Capull (2,005)*
• Carn Ban (1,869)*

to the east of Loch Striven, with:

• Meall an Glaic (1,325),
• Meall an Riabhach (1,587)
• Beinn Bhreac (1,658)
• Cruach nan Cuilean (1,416)

to the west.

Asterisks mark those summits that culminate just on the eastern border of the parish.

Outside links

• Location map: 55°57’50"N, 5°5’35"W

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