Argyll's Bowling Green

Argyll's Bowling Green (Scottish Gaelic: Baile na Grèine meaning "sunny hamlet" or "sunny cattle fold") is an area on the Ardgoil estate in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is also known as the Ardgoil peninsula and is the most southerly part of the Arrochar Alps and lies between Loch Goil and Loch Long. It is part of the Argyll Forest Park and is within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

In the statistical account of 1791-99 for the area, the name “Argyll’s Bowling Green” is not mentioned. In the 1834-45 account by Rev John McDougal, minister of the area, the name gets its first mention. He describes how people going to the low country (south) had to climb the “Duke of Argyle’s bowling green”. This was part of a route called the “Duke's Path” which started on the shore of Loch Goil and ended at a place called Mark on the shore of Loch Long where you crossed the loch by boat.

The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic, which may be consciously humorous, as there is very little flat land. The name originally referred to a small grazing ground on the south east side of the peninsula above Mark (grid reference NS229951) but is sometimes used to describe the peninsula.

The mountains of the peninsula include:

• Ben Donich 847m
• The Brack 787m
• Cnoc Coinnich 761m
• Beinn Reithe 653m
• The Saddle 521m
• Clach Bheinn 437m
• Tom Molach 370m
• Càrn Glas 502m
• Tom nan Gamhna 389m
• The Steeple 390m

References

• Murray, W.H. (1977) The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London. Collins.
• Statistical Account of the United Parishes of Lochgoilhead & Kilmorich (1791–99) by Rev. Dugal McDougal
• Statistical Account of the United Parishes of Lochgoilhead & Kilmorich (1834–45) by Rev. John McDougal