Glendaruel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glendaruel Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Dà Ruadhail
River at Clachan of Glendaruel.
Glendaruel
OS grid reference	NR 99662 84521
Council area	Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area	Argyll and Bute
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLINTRAIVE
Postcode district	PA22
Dialling code	01369
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament	Argyll and Bute
List of places UK Scotland 56°00′42″N 5°12′55″W / 56.011626°N 5.2152786°W / 56.011626; -5.2152786

Glendaruel (in Gaelic: Gleann Dà Ruadhail) is a beautiful valley, known as a glen, located in the Cowal Peninsula in western Scotland. It's part of Argyll and Bute. The main village in this glen is called the Clachan of Glendaruel.

Exploring Glendaruel's Features

Glendaruel is home to several interesting places and natural spots.

Important Buildings and Clubs

Kilmodan Church, Argyll

The current Kilmodan Church was built in the Clachan of Glendaruel way back in 1783. This village is also where you'll find Kilmodan Primary School, which teaches local children. It's also the home ground for the Col-Glen Shinty Club, a team that plays shinty, a traditional Scottish sport.

You can also see the old, ruined Dunans Castle in Glendaruel. It's a historic site that adds to the area's charm.

Nature and Safety in Glendaruel

Glendaruel has some special natural areas. Glendaruel Wood and Crags, along with the Ruel Estuary, are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are important for their wildlife and natural features.

To help people in emergencies, a disused phone box in the village was turned into a place to keep a special device called a defibrillator. This device can help someone having a heart attack. It shows how the community works together to keep everyone safe.

Changes in the Glendaruel Community

Glendaruel is a small community, with about 188 people living there in 2008. Like many small rural areas, it has seen some changes over the years.

Community Services and Challenges

The Glendaruel Hotel, which was a very old coaching inn and the only local pub, closed down. This was a big loss for the community. Over the last twenty years, other services have also closed, like the local post office, general store, and tearoom. Even Kilmodan Church now holds services only two Sundays a month.

These changes mean that Glendaruel has faced challenges as a small village, like other rural areas in Scotland.

Kilmodan Primary School's Journey

Kilmodan Primary School has faced discussions about its future several times. For example, in 1998 and 2010, there were talks about closing it. In June 2012, the school had two teachers, 19 pupils, and a few support staff. The table below shows how the number of students has changed over the years.

Famous People from Glendaruel

Glendaruel has been home to some notable individuals throughout history.

• The Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin was born in Clachan of Glendaruel in 1698. His father was the minister of the local parish.
• Michael Russell MSP, a Scottish politician, lives in an 18th-century cottage in Glendaruel with his wife. He represented the area in the Scottish Parliament from 2011 to 2021.
• Peter Sinclair was born in Glendaruel. He later moved to Canada and became involved in politics there.
• Kirsty McLuckie is a well-known journalist and broadcaster who also has connections to Glendaruel.

Glendaruel in Stories and Songs

Glendaruel has inspired artists and storytellers, appearing in both ancient myths and modern music.

Glendaruel in Mythology

Glendaruel is believed to be one of the glens mentioned in an old Gaelic poem called "The Lament of Deirdre." This poem talks about a place called Glenndaruadh. The poem is found in the 15th-century Glenmasan manuscript, which might be based on an even older text from 1238. Deirdre is a sad hero from Irish mythology, and in the poem, she is upset about having to leave Scotland and go back to Ireland.

Glendaruel in Music

This glen has also inspired several bagpipe tunes. Some famous ones include The Glendaruel Highlanders, The Sweet Maid of Glendaruel, and The Dream Valley of Glendaruel. The melody of The Glendaruel Highlanders was even used for a popular Scottish comic song called Campbeltown Loch, sung by Andy Stewart.

Glendaruel's Location

Places Near Glendaruel

		Dunans Castle, Strachur, Cairndow
	Loch Fyne, Otter Ferry		Loch Tarsan, Clachaig, Sandbank, Dunoon
		Glendaruel
		Tighnabruaich, Kames	Colintraive, Kyles of Bute

Images for kids

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  Glendaruel Bridge

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  Road to Glendaruel from Loch Fyne

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  Chapel on the Glendaruel Estate