Argyll and Bute
§ This page gives an overview of the Argyll and Bute local authority district, bringing together key facts, maps, and data to help you quickly understand the area. This is one of 361 LAD profiles on Baseview.
Overview ⁞ Argyll and Bute covers a vast area of mainland west coast and many islands, including Mull, Islay, and Bute. It is celebrated for its rugged landscapes, whisky production, and maritime heritage, with tourism playing a central role in the economy.
Argyll and Bute Boundary Map
This map shows the official boundary of the Argyll and Bute local authority district, based on the latest geographic data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It provides a clear view of the district’s extent and helps you understand how the area fits within the wider regional and national landscape.
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The administrative boundary of Argyll and Bute can also be viewed on OpenStreetMap: District Boundary of Argyll and Bute.
Key Facts about Argyll and Bute
What region are Argyll and Bute in? Argyll and Bute are in Scotland, a statistical region and also a country in United Kingdom.
Is Argyll and Bute a city? No, Argyll and Bute is not a city. (Note: the UK has 76 officially designated cities.)
Who governs Argyll and Bute? The local government for this district is: Argyll and Bute Council (Scotland Council Area).
▶ Official website of Argyll and Bute Council 🔗 argyll-bute.gov.uk
Which police force covers Argyll and Bute? Policing in Argyll and Bute is provided by Police Scotland 🔗 scotland.police.uk, which covers the whole of Scotland.
Constituencies in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is divided into 1 parliamentary constituencies, listed below in alphabetical order.
A constituency is a specific geographical area that elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, 57 of them are in Scotland. We have this list page for easy browsing of all UK parliamentary constituencies: List of Constituencies.
Wards in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is divided into 11 wards, listed below in alphabetical order.
- Cowal
- Dunoon
- Helensburgh and Lomond South
- Helensburgh Central
- Isle of Bute
- Kintyre and the Islands
- Lomond North
- Mid Argyll
- Oban North and Lorn
- Oban South and the Isles
- South Kintyre
In the UK, a ward is a subdivision of a local authority area, used mainly for electoral and statistical purposes. Defined by the ONS, wards represent the primary unit for local elections, each returning one or more councillors to the local council. Wards are also used as a key geography for presenting population and census data. We have this list page for easy browsing of all electoral wards: List of all Electoral Wards in the UK.
Post Towns in Argyll and Bute
Below is a list of post towns in Argyll and Bute, grouped by postcode area:
- G ▸ Helensburgh (G84)
- PA ▸ Appin (PA38) ⁞ Bridge of Orchy (PA36) ⁞ Cairndow (PA24 / PA25 / PA26 / PA27) ⁞ Campbeltown (PA28) ⁞ Colintraive (PA22) ⁞ Dalmally (PA33) ⁞ Dunoon (PA23) ⁞ Inveraray (PA32) ⁞ Isle of Bute (PA20) ⁞ Isle of Coll (PA78) ⁞ Isle of Colonsay (PA61) ⁞ Isle of Gigha (PA41) ⁞ Isle of Iona (PA76) ⁞ Isle of Islay (PA42 / PA43 / PA44 / PA45 / PA46 / PA47 / PA48 / PA49) ⁞ Isle of Jura (PA60) ⁞ Isle of Mull (PA62 / PA63 / PA64 / PA65 / PA66 / PA67 / PA68 / PA69 / PA70 / PA71 / PA72 / PA73 / PA74 / PA75) ⁞ Isle of Tiree (PA77) ⁞ Lochgilphead (PA30 / PA31) ⁞ Oban (PA34 / PA37 / PA80) ⁞ Tarbert (PA29) ⁞ Taynuilt (PA35) ⁞ Tighnabruaich (PA21)
The UK postal hierarchy begins with broad postcode areas (such as “CB” or “M”), which are divided into smaller postcode districts (such as “CB8” or “M1”) to support accurate mail routing. Each postal address is anchored by a designated post town, the official locality name used in the UK postcode system, which operates independently from Local Authority Districts —the administrative boundaries used for council tax and local government services. Because they serve different purposes, a property’s postal address and its local authority district do not always align exactly.
Built-up Areas in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute covers 43 built-up areas, listed below in alphabetical order.
- Ardfern
- Ardrishaig
- Arrochar
- Benderloch
- Bowmore
- Campbeltown
- Cardross
- Carradale
- Connel
- Craigmore
- Crossapol
- Dervaig
- Dumbarton *
- Dunbeg
- Dunoon
- Garelochhead
- Glenegedale
- Helensburgh
- Innellan
- Kames
- Kilcreggan
- Lochgilphead
- Lochgoilhead
- North Connel
- Oban
- Port Bannatyne
- Port Ellen
- Rhu
- Rosneath and Clynder
- Rothesay
- Salen
- Sandbank
- Shandon
- Strachur
- Strone
- Tarbert (Argyll and Bute)
- Tarbet
- Taynuilt
- Tayvallich
- Tighnabruaich
- Tobermory
- Toward
- West Darlochan
In the UK, a Built-up Area (BUA) is a continuous urban area of at least 20 hectares (0.2 km²), defined by the ONS as land where buildings are generally no more than 200 metres apart, such as towns, cities, or large villages. (Note: A BUA name marked with an asterisk (*) indicates that the area is situated partly in the district of Argyll and Bute.)
We have this list page for easy browsing of all built-up areas: List of all Built-up Areas in GB.
Railway Stations in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is served by a number of National Rail stations, providing rail connections to nearby towns, cities, and destinations across Great Britain. The railway stations listed below are located within the Argyll and Bute Local Authority District and are grouped by train operating company for clarity.
- ScotRail ▸ Helensburgh Central (G84 7QF) ⁞ Oban (PA34 4LW) ⁞ Craigendoran (G84 7BQ) ⁞ Cardross (G82 5NL) ⁞ Taynuilt (PA35 1JH) ⁞ Arrochar and Tarbet (G83 7DB) ⁞ Connel Ferry (PA37 1PA) ⁞ Garelochhead (G84 0EG) ⁞ Dalmally (PA33 1AY) ⁞ Helensburgh Upper (G84 9LG) ⁞ Bridge Of Orchy (PA36 4AD) ⁞ Loch Awe (PA33 1AQ) ⁞ Ardlui (G83 7DT) ⁞ Falls Of Cruachan (PA33 1AN)
This is a district-level view only. For a complete list of all National Rail stations across Great Britain, see the UK National Rail Stations Directory.