About our area

Argyll and the Islands is a large, geographically diverse area situated in the south-west of the Scottish Highlands. Although predominantly rural the mainland communities are for the most part within a two hour drive of central Scotland and the majority of the area's 27 inhabited islands are easily accessible by ferry. In addition, the remoter communities of South Kintyre, Islay and Tiree have a regular air service to Glasgow. The area has a population of around 70,000 and the principal population centres are Campbeltown, Dunoon, Lochgilphead, Oban and Rothesay.

The main industries are tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and telecom-related activities, while the traditional activities of whisky distilling and fishing have localised importance in areas such as Islay, Jura and Kintyre. Recently the area has gained a reputation for innovation in the renewable energy sector, particularly with regard to a major inward investment at Machrihanish near Campbeltown for the construction of wind turbines and the pioneering research into wave power which has taken place on the island of Islay.

The broad range of leisure pursuits which are on offer, from sport to cultural, help to make the area a wonderful place to live and work.

Argyll and Islands communities

• Tiree and Coll
• Mull and Iona
• Islay, Jura and Colonsay
• Mid Argyll, Cowal and Bute
• Kintyre
• Arran and Cumbrae
• North Argyll

Primary and secondary education

With the exception of the islands of Arran and Cumbrae all primary and secondary education is provided by Argyll and Bute Council. Education on Arran and Cumbrae is provided by  North Ayrshire Council . To find out more about education provision in a particular location, please click on the area links above.

Further education

In partnership with Argyll and Bute Council, HIE Argyll and the Islands has created Argyll College to provide access to a range of further and higher education opportunities through a network of learning centres in Argyll and the Islands. The college aims to provide accessible education and training to the highest standard to support the development of people, businesses and communities in the area. Open learning centres are located at:

• Crossapol (Tiree)
• Fionnphort (Mull)
• Tobermory (Mull)
• Campeltown
• Rothesay (Isle of Bute)
• Dunoon
• Dunstaffnage (Oban)
• Bowmore (Islay)
• Lamlash (Arran)
• Lochgilphead

Healthcare

A network of community services and local health care co-operatives meets the area's routine health care requirements. Most of the area is serviced by a major new acute hospital - Lorn and Islands District General Hospital - situated in Oban and there is a network of smaller hospitals in Lochgilphead, Campbeltown, Bowmore on Islay, Rothesay on Bute and Dunoon. Islanders on Arran and Cumbrae come within the area of Ayrshire and Arran Health Board. 

The remoter communities are also served by air ambulance for emergency transfer to hospital in Glasgow and routine patient transfer from Glasgow is available from Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown to Glasgow on board scheduled flights.