argyll-1971/01-046

Transcription

INTRODUCTION : GENERAL
contrast, the figure rises to over 1778 mm (70 in.) in the mountainous area of the interior
dominated by Beinn an Tuirc. A zone receiving between 1778 mm (70 in.) and 1524 mm
(60 in.) occupies most of the rest of the body of the peninsula, together with isolated blocks of
high ground north of the Mull, south and south-west of Campbeltown, and between Tarbert
and Skipness. At Tarbert (1480 mm or 58.27 in.) the wettest month is again October (178 mm
or 6.99 in.) and the driest May (84 mm or 3.32 in.),

Records of temperature and sunshine are only available for Campbeltown, and they give the
following estimated long-term averages (1931-60). Temperature, 9.5° C or 49.1° F, with
warmest month August (14.7° C or 58.1° F) and coldest January and February (4.9° C or
40.8° F); sunshine duration 1430 hours, with maximum in May (224 hours) and minimum in
December (33 hours). These figures are reasonably representative of the drier coastal strips,
but both temperature and sunshine duration must decrease away from the coast and particu-
larly over higher ground.

The road-system has grown up in accordance with the pattern of settlement, itself deter-
mined by the topography. The fact that farms are strung out along the sea-shore has brought
into being a coastwise road on either side of the peninsula; these are linked on the north by a
transverse road, running over the neck from the West Loch to Skipness, while in the south the
west-coast road itself turns off to avoid Aros Moss and crosses the peninsula to Campbeltown.
South of Campbeltown, where the coasts become inhospitable and the arable land is in
the centre, the road to Southend follows a central line, with branches to outlying settlements.
These roads no doubt perpetuate the lines of earlier customary tracks, such as are marked on
Roy's map of Scotland (1747-55) and Langlands' map of Argyll (1801). For example, the
cross-road to Skipness is marked by Roy, but his version of its final 5 km, from which the
modern road has departed, approximates to a hill-track still in use; while in 1801 what is now
the secondary road from A83 to Loch Lussa ran on, again as a track, some 16 km north of the
loch. Langlands also marks three tracks, from coast to coast, which have not been perpetuated
as roads; and unmade tracks can be seen on the ground in great numbers, leading to abandoned
settlements, shielings and peat-hags. The west-coast road possessed more than local im-
portance, as it was already improved as the through route to Campbeltown by 1776;1 the
portage between East and West Tarbert must also for centuries have served others than the
natives of the district.

This is not the place for a discussion of social and economic history, but it is necessary, in
considering communications both internal and external, to recall the important part played by
small ports and landings, in times when the district carried a large population and boats were
commonly available. External communications were very largely by sea, as indeed they still
were until after the first World War. Contact with the Ayrshire coast is a commonplace of
local tradition, and in times when the district carried a large population, and plenty of boats
were available, many small ports an unimproved landings must have been in regular use.

Transcribe other information

Footnote:
1 Taylor, G. and Skinner, A. Survey and Maps of the Roads of North Britain (1776), pl. 17.