KILMODAN, a parish, in the district of Cowal,
county of Argyll, 16 miles (N. W. by N.) from Rothesay;
containing 567 inhabitants. It derives its name
from the dedication of its church to St. Modan soon
after the introduction of Christianity into Britain. The
parish is separated from Loch Fine, with the exception
of about three miles of coast, by the intervening parish
of Kilfinan; it is twelve miles in length, and the arable
lands principally lie in the bottom of a deep glen scarcely
half a mile in breadth. The surface is boldly diversified
with hills of mountainous elevation, chiefly covered with
heath, and affording tolerable pasture for sheep and
cattle. Along the glen flows the river Ruail, which after
a course of a few miles falls into Loch Ridon, and forms
a small bay, affording shelter for a few vessels of from
twelve to thirty tons' burthen, employed in the herringfishery.
The Ruail once abounded with salmon and
trout; but within the last few years, the number has
greatly diminished. The sea-shore of the parish, three
miles in extent, is flat and sandy; and off the coast are
found cod, ling, haddocks, mackerel, and other whitefish.
Of the lands, about 1500 acres are arable, 1000
woodland and plantations, and nearly 20,000 chiefly
moorland pasture and waste. The soil of the arable
ground is deep and fertile, and the system of agriculture
has lately been much improved; the lands have been
drained, and a due rotation of crops is regularly observed.
Large quantities of potatoes are shipped from
the bay of Ruail to the several ports on the Clyde, in
smacks which return laden with manure. The sheep
pastures have been greatly benefited by surface-draining;
and much attention is paid to the management of
the stock, under the inducements held out by a pastoral
association in the district. The annual value of real
property in the parish is £3439.
There is a considerable tract of natural wood, mostly
copse; and very extensive plantations have been formed
at Dunans, Glendaruel, and Ormidale, consisting chiefly
of the various kinds of fir, all of which are in a thriving
state. The principal substrata are limestone and pipeclay;
but the scarcity of fuel renders the former inapplicable
to the purpose of the farmer. The mansionhouses
in the parish are Dunans, Glendaruel, and Ormidale,
which last estate has been greatly improved and
embellished with plantations. Ecclesiastically the parish
is within the bounds of the presbytery of Dunoon, synod
of Argyll. The minister's stipend is £150, of which sum
£6. 8. are paid from the exchequer j with a manse, and
a glebe valued at £20 per annum: patron, the Duke of
Argyll. Kilinodan church, which is conveniently situated,
was built in 1*83. There is a place of worship for
members of the Free Church. The parochial schoolmaster
has a salary of £27. JO., with a house and garden,
and the fees average £10 per annum. In the parish are
several cairns; and some stone coffins have been found,
supposed to have contained the ashes of chieftains slain
in battle with the Danes. Colin Maclaurin, professor
of mathematics in the university of Edinburgh, and the
Rev. John Maclaurin, an eminent divine, were born in
this parish, of which their father, the Rev. John Maclaurin,
was minister in 1698.