Strone, Cowal

This article is about the village in Cowal. For the village near Loch Ness, see Strone (Inverness).

Strone (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Sròn) is a village on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands at the point where the north shore of the Holy Loch becomes the west shore of the Firth of Clyde. The village lies within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.^[1]

Strone Scottish Gaelic: An t-Sròn
Strone Point, including St Columba's Church
Strone Location within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference	NS 19300 80700
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DUNOON, ARGYLL
Postcode district	PA23
Dialling code	01369
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 55.985146°N 4.8981713°W / 55.985146; -4.8981713

Origin of name

The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic for nose,^[2] and applies to the hill above the village as well as to Strone Point. It adjoins the settlement of Kilmun on the loch, and the village of Blairmore on Loch Long. It has a (now disused) pier (built in 1847) and was a regular stop for the Clyde steamer services.^[3]

Village

Until within less than twenty years there was no such thing as a human habitation upon this commanding and picturesque promontory, with the exception of a few straggling huts and cottages. Gradually, however, its capabilities for the erection of villa residences began to be appreciated. The inhabitants now look upon an "old settlement," the entire promontory being girdled round about by villas of great architectural beauty.

— Colegate's Guide to Dunoon, Kirn, and Hunter's Quay (John Colegate, 1868)^[2]

A high road on the side of the hill serves additional houses including Dunselma, a Scottish baronial style house above the point. It was built as a sailing lodge for the wealthy Coats family (proprietors of the eponymous Paisley mills) in 1885–87 by the Paisley firm of Rennison and Scott.^[4][5] It was bought by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association in 1941, and they used it as a hostel until 1965. It still forms a landmark clearly visible from the other side of the Clyde, and is a Category A listed building.^[4] It is on the A880 road.

A Vanguard-class submarine leaving its base on the Clyde. The village of Strone is visible in the background.

Gallery

• 
  St Columba's Church
• 
  Strone Pier
• 
  Strone Hill from the Firth of Clyde
• 
  Strone Terrace