Colintraive
Colintraive
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 Colintraive sunset | |
  Colintraive Location within Argyll and Bute | |
| OS grid reference | NS 03500 74300 |
| • Edinburgh | 75[1] mi (121 km) |
| • London | 367[2] mi (591 km) |
| Council area |
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| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COLINTRAIVE |
| Postcode district | PA22 |
| Dialling code | 01700 |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Colintraive (Scottish Gaelic: Caol an t-Snàimh) is a village on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Once the site where cattle were swum across the narrows to the Isle of Bute, a ferry - operated by Calmac - now provides a link to the island.
Geography and amenities
Colintraive is located on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula. Its area includes Ardtaraig / Loch Striven in the north west, the head and the shores of Loch Riddon in the north east, while the village itself faces the Kyles of Bute.[3] The Colintraive area extends further south to Couston and around this hill back into Loch Striven again.
The name Colintraive derives from Gaelic and means "swimming strait" or "swimming narrows". In the past, cattle were swum over from the Isle of Bute to Colintraive on their way to the markets of lowland Scotland.[4]
The village hosts a few facilities, primarily the hotel/pub-restaurant,[5] and its small adjoining post office. The Colintraive Hotel was once owned and run by jazz guitarist and BBC radio personality Ken Sykora for five years during the 1970s.[6][7] A Heritage Centre opened in 2009.[8]
The nearest town of notable size on the mainland is Dunoon.
Sports and recreation
Colintraive and its nearest neighbouring village of Glendaruel share a shinty team named Col-Glen (which is the combined first segments of both names). An active bowling club meets regularly during the summer and winter season.
Colintraive and Glendaruel are located on the Cowal Way - "Scotland in 57 Miles"
Depopulation and regeneration
The name Col-Glen is also used by the local development trust which was set up to combat the declining population and economy in the two villages.[9] Glendaruel local Michael Russell MSP and current Scottish Minister for 'Brexit affairs', said of the project: "A small and fragile community like Colintraive and Glendaruel must go forward or it will inexorably decline – in population, in services and in viability." Falling rapidly in recent years, the total adult population of the 2 villages combined was estimated at 250 in 2009.[10]
For over 60 years until the late 1990s Caol Ruadh, one of Colintraive's Victorian mansions set in a 20-acre estate, was used as a residential school for children from Glasgow with special educational needs. (As a guest at Caol Ruadh in the 602', I have nothing but praise for the staff school. As an 'On Waterfont' city kid, I learned much more about life, people and a love for nature that I hold dear even in now in my sixties. I also feel it most important in light of those who had much less pleasant experiences in such establishments. No wolves lurking there my friends. Financial concerns caused the City of Glasgow council first to reduce subsidies and later to sell the property after it use reduced when user charges were introduced.[11][12][13] In 2012 the grounds were opened as a sculpture park for contemporary sculpture and art works.[14]
The village no longer has its own primary school, and pupils are instead bussed to Kilmodan Primary School in Glendaruel. Secondary school pupils attend Dunoon Grammar School, the only secondary school in Cowal.
Transport
Colintraive lies on the A886 road, which links to the Isle of Bute. A ferry crosses the 400-yard gap to Rhubodach on Bute, giving access to the tourist town of Rothesay. West Coast Motors provides a bus service, see its timetables here.
| Preceding station | Ferry | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry |
Rhubodach |
Community Council
The Colintraive & Glendaruel Community Council consists of six members, and meets every third Monday of the month (except July and December).
Gallery
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The Colintraive-to-Rhubobach Caledonian MacBrayne ferry -
The same ferry, from Dundarrach -
Colintraive bowling green -
Cloud signals over Colintraive
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References
- ^ "Distance from Colintraive, UK to Edinburgh, UK or how far is Colintraive, UK from Edinburgh, UK?". Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Distance from Colintraive, UK to London, UK or how far is Colintraive, UK from London, UK?". Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Colintraive". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "The island of Bute". BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Colintraive Hotel". Colintraive Hotel. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ French, Phillip (20 May 2012). "The Man with the Jazz Guitar – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Ken Sykora - The Man with the Jazz Guitar". Five Feet Films. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Colintraive Heritage Centre". Colintraive Heritage Centre. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "ColGlen is getting warmer! - CGDT".
- ^ "For Argyll and the Islands - News and Comment About Argyll and its Communities". Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "'Death knell' for residential centres". 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Surviving in a harsh climate". 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Schools saved from the worst as council cutbacks continue". 6 September 2015.
- ^ Jan Patience, "Going back to nature", Herald Scotland, retrieved 23 April 2014.
External links
- Map sources for Colintraive
