Ardrishaig

Ardrishaig /ɑːrˈdrɪʃɪɡ/ (listen) (Scottish Gaelic: Àird Driseig) is a coastal village on Loch Gilp, at the southern (eastern) entrance to the Crinan Canal in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland. It lies immediately to the south of Lochgilphead, with the nearest larger town being Oban.[1]

Ardrishaig

Chalmers Street, the high street through the village
Ardrishaig
Location within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNR 85030 85148
Council area
Lieutenancy area
  • Argyll and Bute
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townArdrishaig
Postcode districtPA30
Dialling code01546
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

History

Àird Driseig or Rubha Àird Driseig, the Scottish Gaelic versions of the name, mean "height of the small bramble" or "promontory of the small bramble".[2]

Ardrishaig harbour's first pier was built in 1873.[3]

In the 1970s, the village was significantly altered when a row of old houses and shops on the lochside of the main street was demolished to make way for a car park. Most trading now takes place in the neighbouring town Lochgilphead.

The village was a filming location for the television series A Mug's Game.

Governance

Ardrishaig historically fell within the South Knapdale parish,[4] and is now served by Ardrishaig Community Council.[5][6] It has been administered since 1996 by Argyll and Bute Council, falling within the Mid Argyll ward, which is represented by three councillors.[7][8][9] The Scottish Parliament constituency is Argyll and Bute,[10] which is represented by Michael Russell.[11] The UK Parliament constituency is Argyll and Bute, which is represented by Brendan O'Hara.[12]

Geography

Ardrishaig lies on the side of a hill (the Cruach nam Bonnach face of Cruach Breacain) bordering the west side of Loch Gilp, just north of where it joins Loch Fyne. The linear settlement stretches southwards along the A83 (Chalmers Street) from around 0.6 kilometres (0.4 miles) south of the junction with the A816, on the southwest side of Lochgilphead. The Crinan Canal runs north–south through Ardrishaig, with locks and a basin at its southern terminus.[13]

Ardrishaig Community Council is part-owner of the wind farm at Allt Dearg on the hill above Inverneill to the south of the town.[14][15]

Demography

Ardrishaig had 1,283 inhabitants in 2001.[16]

Landmarks

Crinan Canal and harbour

There are two piers, a lighthouse, slipway and breakwater along the seafront.[13] Scottish Canals has an office by the canal basin.[3] To the north side of the old pier is the Crinan Canal sea lock and to the south are pontoons and anchorage for boats. About 30,000 tonnes of timber pass through the harbour annually but it has the capacity for 150,000 tonnes.[3]

Other landmarks

Facilities in the village include a hotel, public houses, a church, school, post office[13] and antiques shops. There are two public telephone boxes and a public lavatory.[13]

Education

Ardrishaig Primary School is located in the village, and serves the area between Erins and Millers Bridge. The present building dates from 1986.[17] For secondary education, the village falls within the catchment area of Lochgilphead Joint Campus.[18][19]

Notable people

John Smith, former Labour MP and Leader of the Opposition, was born in Ardrishaig.[20]

James Chalmers, pioneering missionary, was born and lived in Ardrishaig until he was seven years old [21]

See also

References
  1. Western Scotland & the Western Isles, OS Travel Map – Road 2 (B ed.), Ordnance Survey, 2003, ISBN 0-319-23059-7
  2. Ardrishaig: Àird Driseig, Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba, retrieved 15 March 2020
  3. Ardrishaig, ports.org.uk, retrieved 4 June 2014
  4. "History of Ardrishaig in Argyll and Bute: Map and description", A Vision of Britain through Time, University of Portsmouth, retrieved 16 March 2020
  5. Ardrishaig Community Council, Ardrishaig Community Trust, retrieved 15 March 2020
  6. Community Councils, Argyll and Bute Council, retrieved 16 March 2020
  7. Single Transferable Vote – Proportional Representation: Final Recommendations for Argyll and Bute Council area (PDF), Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, retrieved 16 March 2020
  8. Local government, Scottish Government, retrieved 16 March 2020
  9. Councillors [search on PA30], Argyll and Bute Council, retrieved 16 March 2020
  10. Boundary Commission for Scotland First Periodic Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries: Recommended Scottish Parliament constituencies: Argyll and Bute County Constituency (PDF), Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, 2011, retrieved 16 March 2020
  11. Michael Russell MSP, Scottish Parliament, retrieved 16 March 2020
  12. Argyll & Bute Parliamentary constituency, BBC, 13 December 2019, retrieved 16 March 2020
  13. Lochgilphead & Knapdale North: Kilmartin, OS Explorer 358, Ordnance Survey, 2015 – via online
  14. Frequently Asked Questions, Loch Fine Wind Farms, retrieved 4 June 2014
  15. Ardrishaig Community Trust, Ardrishaig Community Trust, retrieved 4 June 2014
  16. Comparative Population Profile: Ardrishaig Locality, Scotland's Census Result OnLine, retrieved 16 November 2008
  17. Ardrishaig Primary School, Argyll and Bute Council, retrieved 15 March 2020
  18. Lochgilphead Joint Campus, Argyll and Bute Council, retrieved 15 March 2020
  19. Schools [search on PA30], Argyll and Bute Council, retrieved 15 March 2020
  20. John Smith, Glasgow University, retrieved 15 March 2020
  21. "Chalmers, James (1841–1901)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
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