Rosneath Peninsula

Rosneath Peninsula is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland, formerly in the historic county of Dunbartonshire. The peninsula is formed by the Gare Loch in the east, and Loch Long in the west, both merge with the upper Firth of Clyde.

Geography
It is approximately 7 mi long (as measured from the head of the Gare Loch) and 3.5 mi across at its widest point. The 56th parallel north cuts through the southern end of the peninsula.

Naming
The peninsula is thought to be named after the word, Rosneath, derived from the Gaelic. "Rosneveth", meaning "headland of the sanctuary".

Rosneath Castle
Rosneath Castle had stood since the medievil period, at least the 12th century. It was built on a rock outcrop overlooking Castle Bay. The building was attacked by William Wallace while under English control. The castle was destroyed by a fire on 30 May 1802 and the site was cleared. The site is now occupied by the Rosneath Castle Park.

Rosneath House
Rosneath House built 1803–06, was for a time the residence of Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, the daughter of Queen Victoria. The house was a military base during World War II and was where Operation Torch was planned As with many castles and grand houses in the area, the house has been demolished.

Knockderry Castle
Knockderry Castle, is located in Cove. Designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson in the 1850s.

Education
Kilcreggan Primary School is non-denominational and co-educational.

Rosneath Primary School, the majority of the school was built 1967.

Religion
There has been a Christian presence on the peninsula from an early date.

St.Modan's Parish Church In Rosneath opened for public worship on 11 September 1853. It was named after Saint Modan on 14 June 1982.

Craigrownie Parish Church, which was completed in 1853, serves the communities of Ardpeaton, Cove and Kilcreggan.

St. Gildas R.C. church is in Rosneath and opened in 1968. Named after Gildas the Albanian

Barbour Cemetery a 20th-century cemetery in Ardpeaton, where the families in the Rosneath peninsula that had no right of burial in Rosneath churchyard could be interred.

Settlements
The peninsulas settlements traveling round the coast from the top of the east coast to the top of the west coast are:-
 * Mambeg
 * Rahane, overlooks His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.
 * Clynder
 * Rosneath
 * Kilcreggan, location of the passenger ferry connection to Gourock, Inverclyde.
 * Cove
 * Ardpeaton
 * Coulport, is home to a Royal Navy Armaments Depot.

Historical
During the Victorian era, from 1850 onwards, the large contiguous villages of Cove and Kilcreggan were developed, with luxurious summer villas developed in attractive coastal settings for the wealthy of the greater Glasgow area, so that businessmen and their families could enjoy the fresh air. Piers built at Cove and Kilcreggan had Clyde steamer services taking business and leisure commuters to railway terminals such as at Greenock Princes Pier railway station, or on more leisurely steamer trips down the Firth of Clyde and up river into Glasgow.

Road
The B833 road which runs from Garelochhead to Coulport. The B833 follows the shoreline but two roads cross the peninsula: both un-numbered, one for local traffic from Ardpeaton to Rahane, the other considerably larger and mainly designed for military traffic between Coulport and Faslane.

Ferry
The Caledonian MacBrayne service from Gourock in Inverclyde to Kilcreggan on the peninsula. This service is for foot passengers only.

Travel connections

For foot passengers at Gourock Pier, a ScotRail train service provides access to the National Rail network at Glasgow Central, via the local service Inverclyde Line.

Sport and recreation
The PS Waverley calls at Kilcreggan pier during its summer season on the Firth of Clyde coast.

More recently the area has become a popular destination for cyclists as it is possible to do a circular tour of the peninsula using the military road.