LOCHGOILHEAD-AND-KILMORICH, a parish, in
the district of Cowal, county of Argyll, IO5 miles
(S. E. by E.) from Inverary; containing 1018 inhabitants,
of whom 445 are in Kilmorich. This place, whose original
name of Kil-nam-Bruthairank'tll, signifying in the
Gaelic language "the church of the brotherhood", was
probably taken from some religious establishment here
of which there are no authentic records, derives its present
appellation of Lochgoilhead from the position of its
church at the head of Loch Goil. The parish anciently
included not only Kilmorich, which is still comprised in
it, but also the greater portion of the parish of Kilmaglass,
now Strachur; and prior to the Reformation it
was an archdeanery, the revenues of which were very
considerable. It is bounded on the cast by Loch Long,
and on the west by Loch Fine, and is about thirty-five
miles in length, varying from six to twenty miles in
breadth, and comprising a vast tract of which the exact
extent has not been ascertained, but of which it is certain
that little more than the fiftieth part is arable.
The surface is boldly diversified with hills or mountains
of various elevation, forming the western extremity of
the Grampian range. These mountains, the height of
which has not been precisely comi)uted, tho\igh few are
sup]iosed to be less, and some are prol)ably more, than
2000 feet, are interspersed with rugged rocks and lofty
precipices of dreary aspect; but as they have been
grazed by sheep, some of them are clothed with verdure
almost to their summit. The rocks are perforated with
numerous natural caverns of singular appearance, in one
of which a laird of Ardkingjass, who had been defeated
by a powerful neighbour, concealed himself with some
of his followers for a whole year, during which time he
was supplied with provisions by his vassals. Among
the hills are some small valleys under cultivation; and
along the coasts are also tracts of arable land, where the
soil is tolerably fertile. There are two inland lakes containing
trout of excellent flavour; in the rivers Goil,
Fine, and Long, also, are found trout of various kinds,
and, near the coast, sea-trout and salmon. The three
lochs contain fish of different descriptions, of which the
most common are haddock, whiting, cod of small size,
and, during the season, herrings. The herring-fishery
is the only fishery of any importance.
In the hills the soil is generally hght and thin; in
the high glens, wet and spongy; and in some other
parts, a deep moss. The crops are oats, bear, and potatoes;
but the parish is principally adapted to the pasture
of sheep and black-cattle, particularly the former,
which are of the black-faced breed. The black-cattle
are the Argyllshire; but, from the mountainous character
of the country, only a few are reared: they are usually
disposed of when three or four years old. The greater
part of the wool is sent to the Liverpool market. The
district appears to have formerly abounded with wood,
and in the mosses are found numerous trunks of trees
of various kinds: the remainder of the woods that flourished
here consist chiefly of ash, alder, hazel, birch, and
oak, and are preserved with due care and attention. The
plantations, which on the lands of Ardkinglass are extensive,
are principally elm, beech, plane, lime, larch, and
Scotch and silver firs. Limestone is obtained, but, from
the scarcity of fuel for burning it, is little used; it is
found more advantageous to import Irish lime, and a
good deal has been imported of late years with very
satisfactory results. Near the head of Loch Fine is a
mine of lead, the ore of which was found to contain a
larger proportion of silver than any other in the Western
Highlands; but it has not been wrought. The annual
value of real property in the parish is £5602. The seats
are Ardgartain House, a modern structure; and Drimsynie
House, also a modern mansion: Ardkinglass
Lodge, a handsome edifice on the site of the ancient
castle, the remains of which were converted into offices
for the mansion, was destroyed by fire a few years ago,
as the tradesmen'were just finishing some extensive repairs.
In this parish are, the village of Lochgoilhead,
in which the parish church is situated, and that of
Cairndow, in which is the church of Kilmorich, and
where a post-office has been established, as well as an
excellent inn for the accommodation of travellers. Facility
of communication is afforded by the great military
road from Dumbarton to the West Highlands, which
passes for sixteen miles through the parish; by the
Loch Goil steamer, in summer plying daily, and in winter
three times a week, between Glasgow and the head
of Loch Goil; and by the ferry from St. Catherine's,
across Loch Fine, to Inverary, on which is a steam-boat
for the conveyance of passengers.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposes the parish is within the
limits of the presbytery of Dunoon, synod of Argyll.
The minister's stipend is £167. 9. 9., of which one-fourth
is paid from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £37. 10. per. annum: patron, Jas. H. Callendar,
Esq., of Craigforth and Ardkinglass. The church,
situated at the head of Loch Goil, is an ancient structure
in good repair, containing 305 sittings; the church of
Kilmorich, on the shore of Loch Fine, is a modem
structure, having been erected in I8I6, and contains
258 sittings. The minister officiates two Sundays at
Lochgoilhead, and on the third Sunday at Kilmorich.
The parochial school, at Lochgoilhead, is well attended;
the master has a salary of £30, with a house and garden,
and the fees average £5 per annum. A school at
Kilmorich is supported by the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge; and other schools for the instruction
of poor children are maintained during the winter
by benevolent associations. There are some remains of
the ancient castle of Dunduramh, a strong but irregular
fortress in a low situation, accessible chiefly by sea; also
of the castle of Carrick, a fortress of great strength,
built upon a rock entirely surrounded by the sea, and
accessible from the land only by a drawbridge. The
time of the foundation of this castle is not known; but
during the feud between the houses of Argyll and Atholl,
it was burnt by the vassals of the latter: it was a
royal fortress, and the Duke of Argyll is still hereditary
keeper.