Welcome to Dunoon

Dunoon is located on the Cowal peninsula in the west of Scotland overlooking the Firth of Clyde, in the county of Argyllshire, approximately 415 miles north-north-west of London and 39 miles south of Inveraray.

The town has a population of around 8,000. Administratively it is within the unitary council region of Argyll and Bute which covers an area of approximately 6,900 sq kms and which has a population of around 91,000.

Set against mountain scenery and sited around two bays, it is the largest town in Argyll and a popular resort and sailing centre. There are some notable historic buildings, including the remains of the 11th-century Dunoon Castle which stand on top of a hill affording superb views over the town. It is a good base from which to explore the Cowal, the Clyde, and the Highlands to the north.

The town's history dates from the 11th century. Dunoon Castle was built on land which sticks out into the estuary, but  was abandoned in the 17th century. By the early 19th century the town had become popular with wealthy Glaswegians who came here to built riverside villas and for others to spend their holidays. A pier was built, and ferry and paddle steamer services began; the last one,'The Waverley', still calls at Dunoon's pier. The railway arrived in the 1880s, making the town even more accessible. Dunoon stands by Holy Loch, which was famous during the Cold War as a USA navy base and home to the Polaris nuclear fleet. Up to a quarter of the town's population was American until the closure of the base in 1992. The loch was also used by the Royal Navy as a submarine base during World War II. The annual Cowal Highland Games attract visitors and contestants from all over the world.

The service industry, including tourism, is the largest sector of the local economy, employing around 69% of all workers.

The name Dunoon derives from the Gaelic "Dun-Abhainn" which means "the fort by the river".