Despite regular torrential downpours, this year’s Cowalfest walking festival proved to be a resounding success, according to organisers. Almost all of the 12 scheduled walks over the three-day event were fully booked with visitors from across Argyll and Scotland enjoying hikes across the peninsula including walks and talks covering local history and geology. “There’s clearly still an appetite for a walking festival in our amazing part of the world,” said Cowalfest chair Andy Armstrong: “And the feedback has been universally positive from everyone who took part over the three days.

Work is under way in a £75,000 programme of improvements to Helensburgh’s skating pond. The first phase of the project included removal of the invasive species rhododendron ponticum, replacement of rotten boardwalks and car park improvements, Funded by grants from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund and Crown Estates Scotland, the project was the idea of Cllr Fiona Howard, who hopes that further funding will be secured to move onto phase two in due course.

Officials say they are 13 drivers short of the minimum number required to deliver the full winter maintenance programme in Argyll and Bute. Details have been published of the council’s plans to keep roads useable during winter 2026/27, with the programme set to start later this month and run through to April. But driver availability could prove problematic, with available resources proposed to be prioritised on a risk basis in the event of low numbers or severe weather.

The final event of this year at Geilston Garden is a photography workshop with Kath Polley this Saturday. Places are limited to ensure that there is plenty of individual attention making the workshop suitable for participants of all levels, from experienced to novice photographers. This autumn workshop at the garden near Cardross will concentrate on the wooded areas of the garden around the burn, looking at simplifying the scene, capturing mood and exploring textures and patterns to create intimate landscapes and abstract images.

Members of the Submarine Service have qualified as ocean and sports divers during the first week of a Royal Navy diving expedition in Malta. Exercise Manoel Island brought together submariners from Faslane and Devonport to develop diving skills, resilience and teamwork while exploring some of Malta’s historic underwater sites. The expedition takes its name from Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour, which was used as a Royal Navy base during the Second World War and was associated with the 10th Submarine Flotilla, known as the “Fighting 10th”.

Work costing £1m for Kilcreggan’s ferry terminal is listed for the next financial year – but no details of what is planned are available. In March Argyll and Bute Council officials said £9.6m plans for Kilcreggan Harbour would have to be revised and the project relaunched - potentially with hydrofoils being used. And later this week councillors will be given a report saying that £1m for ‘works to be determined’ in Kilcreggan should be spent in 2027-28.

Planning applications in Arrochar and Balmaha were among those to be validated by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority last week. The full list of applications is below - for details of an individual application, go to the national park's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 2026/0234/DET Community council: Buchanan Proposal: Alterations and extension and change of use of byre to dwellinghouse (for short term holiday let)

Communities and charities across CalMac's network are being encouraged to apply for the popular CalMac Community Fund. The fund will provide grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 to non-profit organisations working to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people in island and coastal communities. Applications opened this week and close on Monday November 16 The total funding is £175,000 and eligible organisations can apply for a grant of between £1,000 and £10,000.

Royal Navy submariners celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Submarine Service were at Windsor Castle last for a gala dinner to mark the occasion. A total of 200 submariners and guests were invited to the special event which was also attended by the Prince of Wales, who is Commodore-in-Chief of the Submarine Service. Also there was the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, Chief of Defence Nuclear Madeline McTernan, and Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse.

Plans for 65 new houses near Loch Lomond have been approved by the national park. Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority has granted approval for a major development on a 6.77-hectare area of land north of Gartness Road, Drymen. The planning and access committee unanimously approved plans by Springfield M&M Homes Limited for 65 new houses, 43 for open market and 22 affordable homes.

Event organisers across Argyll and Bute can apply for a share of funding to develop, strengthen and grow the area's vibrant programme of events and festivals. Applications for the council's strategic events and festivals fund opened today. The fund supports not-for-profit organisations delivering events and festivals of strategic importance across Argyll and Bute. Funding of up to 20% of total event costs is available to help organisers enhance their events, improve long-term sustainability and resilience, and maximise the economic benefits they bring to local communities.

Planning applications in Helensburgh and Kilcreggan are among those to be validated by Argyll and Bute Council this week. The full list of applications in the Helensburgh and Lomond area is below - for details of an individual application, go to the council's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 26/01710/PP and 26/01711/LIB Community council: Helensburgh Proposal: Replace existing single-glazed timber sash and case windows and internal timber front door with new hardwood slim double-glazed sash and case windows and front door which will replicate the appearance of the originals…

HMS Agamemnon, the sixth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class hunter-killer submarines, arrived today at her home port of Faslane. The vessel sailed from BAE Systems in Barrow on September 25 “The arrival of HMS Agamemnon at HM Naval Base Clyde is a significant milestone for the Royal Navy,” said Rear Admiral Perks. “Her delivery reflects the dedication, skill and collaboration of thousands of people across our Defence Nuclear Enterprise, who have worked together to build one of the world’s most capable attack submarines and deliver a formidable warfighting capability for the United Kingdom.

Plans for a sound studio and accommodation unit on the Rosneath Peninsula have been given the go-ahead by council officials. Management at Cove Park, on the Peaton Hill, lodged the planning permission application with Argyll and Bute Council earlier this year. A statement submitted with the application at the time said: “Cove Park has attracted many musicians and sound artists, however, without a dedicated purpose designed sound studio the artists are limited in their method of working.

The Waverley paddle steamer is today celebrating the 80th anniversary of first being launched into the River Kelvin in Glasgow. The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer made a spectacular passage through London’s Tower Bridge shortly after 9.30am today, as part of a special anniversary sailing on the River Thames. Waverley was launched at Pointhouse Yard of A&J Inglis in Glasgow on October 2 1946 by Lady Matthews, wife of the chairman of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER).

Plans for £85,000 worth of repairs and refurbishments to Inveraray’s public toilets have been given the go-ahead. Argyll and Bute Council proposed to make the upgrades at the facilities on Front Street, which include a new roof, doors and windows. The planned works have now been confirmed as a permitted development by the authority’s planning officials. An official said in a handling report: “The proposal is for the upgrade of the exterior of the public conveniences located at the entrance to the slipway at the waterfront.

Health and social care chiefs have agreed to redesign day care services in Argyll and Bute. A review into the future of the services found that the preferred option moving forward was “a structured redesign programme that develops a sustainable, outcome-based model”. A meeting of the area’s health and social care partnership’s (HSCP) integration joint board last month asked for a decision to be deferred for two weeks to allow further consideration.

A £1m pilot fund for Scotland’s historic places of worship opened for applications today – and more than 100 faith group representatives have already expressed interest. Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund will help listed places of worship across Scotland meet VAT costs associated with repair and conservation work. The pilot fund has been developed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

Trespass, vandalism and cable theft on railways in Scotland cost almost £2m over the last year, new figures have revealed. A total of 1,231 incidents were recorded across the network, contributing to nearly 1,000 hours of delays for passengers. ScotRail says trespassing is one of the biggest causes of disruption and can have a significant impact on train performance, passengers, freight, railway staff and local communities.

Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the Rest and Be Thankful next month as new fencing is installed. The work will focus on lower slope stabilisation above the A83 trunk road and the installation of stock-proof fencing. Traffic lights will be in place from Monday October 12 until Wednesday December 23, when all temporary traffic management will be removed to allow the A83 to fully reopen over the festive break, subject to weather and hillside conditions.

A Royal Navy robot submarine has successfully fired a torpedo for the first time. The trial was said to be a milestone, pushing the boundaries of undersea warfare off Scotland. XV Excalibur, an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel or XLUUV, was adapted with a specialist management system to successfully fire and control US Navy Mk48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedo at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre  near the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Members of the recently rejuvenated Helensburgh Men’s Shed got together to tidy up ground in preparation for the development of raised beds in Hermitage Park last Saturday. The work was undertaken in collaboration with the New Way charity, which is based in Helensburgh and helps those in difficulty with their own or another person’s use of drugs or alcohol.

Seven candidates have been confirmed for the by-election to be held by Argyll and Bute Council in the Mid Argyll ward next month. The poll will take place on Thursday, October 29, and was arranged after the passing of the area’s late provost, Douglas Philand. The list of candidates, published by the authority and in alphabetical order of surname as they will appear ont he ballot paper, is:

A planning application for a new house in Luss was among those to be validated by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority last week. The full list is of applications is below - for details of an individual application, go to the national park's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 2026/0181/DETCommunity council: CallanderProposal: Change of use of retail unit to one bed residential unit…

Council officials have been asked to apologise over claims that short-term lets are contributing to housing pressures in Argyll and Bute. The Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers (ASSC) has hit out at communication by the authority to short-term let licence holders and applicants as part of a short-term let control area consultation. It is stated in the communication that “up to 42% of housing is unavailable for use as a permanent home”, which the ASSC says does not relate solely to short-term lets.

The last of this season's Friends of Geilston's Sunday events will see a celebration of autumn this weekend. The volunteers have linked up with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to organise the event at the garden near Cardross, which will see the winners of next year’s calendar unveiled. Helensburgh’s Ginger Breadman has kindly donated soup and bread which will be served from 12 noon until it’s finished, while the Friends of Geilston Tea and homemade cake stall will be open again.

New floating docks at Faslane will be built in the UK, John Healey is expected to confirm today. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce that foreign firms will be blocked from bidding for contracts to build the docks over national security concerns. Earlier this year the GMB union said the contract for the docks would be worth £1.9bn and had to go to Scottish firms.

Concerns have been expressed about how much time children in Argyll and Bute’s primary schools are spending brushing their teeth. A councillor responded after a report revealed that little more than half of primary schools in the areas covered by NHS Highland were registered with the Childsmile programme. Gary Mulvaney raised the statistic during a presentation by NHS Highland’s deputy director of public health, and called for more schools to become involved.

In the latest of our monthly features written by antiques expert and television presenter Roo Irvine, she looks at an autumn tradition which dates back for centuries. As we approach my favourite time of the year, we transition from flip-flops to boots, salads to stews, and from late night barbecues, to early evening log-fires. There truly is a magical, mystical haze that colours October and the inevitability of All Hallows Eve.

Businesses across Argyll and Bute are being encouraged to find out about grant funding to support their development and growth. The council offers a range of grants for eligible businesses based in Argyll and Bute. To make it easier for businesses to access the right support, they now only need to complete one business funding enquiry form to register their interest.

Housing, hydro schemes and tourism developments are all potential proposals for Scotland’s first national park over the next ten years. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority issued a call for sites as part of its new Local Development and Land Use Plan. And sites which were put forward have now been revealed by planners, who say these are early suggestions for potential future development and there will be local drop-in sessions to discuss them.

A new ‘community play’ theatre and film project is being planned for Garelochhead. The project, led by Bafta-winning director Kenny Glennan, aims to involve everyone in the village – all ages, any ability, everyone is welcome. The project is part of Cove Park's Collective Home initiative which seeks to find out what ‘collective home’ means for people in Argyll.

The Peninsula Choir is inviting young singers and pianists to join its autumn term, with places fully sponsored by the choir. The Cove and Kilcreggan-based community choir is looking for people aged 16 and over who want to develop their musical skills and gain experience performing as part of an ensemble. Young singers can experience singing soprano, alto, tenor and bass together in a four-part choir, with help to find the voice part which suits them.

Only one planning application in the Helensburgh and Lomond area was validated by Argyll and Bute Council this week. For details of an individual application, go to the council's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 26/01719/TPO Community council: Rhu and Shandon Proposal: Proposed crown reduction/pollarding of 1 x Hornbeam Tree Location: 7 Gareloch Brae, Shandon, Argyll and Bute G84 8PJ Applicant: Mr A Hughes Agent: Jackie McBurney National grid co-ordinates: NA

Social care budgets in Argyll and Bute will be hit by the need for agency staff to cover care at home hours, it was warned this week. Dougie McFadzean said in a report that a total of 1,019.75 hours of care per week, for 102 people, needed alternative arrangements made after Carers Direct went out of business and Oban Community Carers withdrew.

The Royal Navy’s latest hunter-killer submarine, HMS Agamemnon has sailed from the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The newest Royal Navy conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, HMS Agamemnon will now begin sea trials - a period of testing ahead of joining active service with the Royal Navy. The Astute Class are the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy.

Acclaimed folk singer Ainsley Hammill and her band will be performing in Rhu next month. With appearances at Glastonbury, Celtic Connections and the Cambridge Folk Festival , this is a rare local gig for Ainsley, who is from Cardross. Performing with her trio line-up, she promises an intimate afternoon of song, where Gaelic, Scots, and original music weave together stories of Scotland’s people, places, and folklore.

Letters of claim have been submitted against parties involved in the design, supervision and construction of Helensburgh’s £23m leisure centre, a councillor has reported. Cllr Ross Moreland had already reported that internal works at the leisure centre were set to continue until spring 2027. In an update to councillors, he then said that Argyll and Bute Council’s insurers had lodged claims against unnamed parties involved in the construction while exploring “every appropriate avenue” to recover costs.

Only one planning application was validated by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority last week. Details are below – to comment, go to the national park's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 2026/0232/HAE Community council: Drymen Proposal: Erection of single storey side extension Location: 25 Muirpark Way Drymen Stirling Applicant: Mrs Karen McKechnie Agent: Scott Brown, Thomas Robinson Architects National grid co-ordinates: 247255 E 688896 N

The Holy Loch Nature Reserve was referenced in a debate at the Scottish Parliament this week. Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto led a members' business debate last week stressing  the importance of Scotland’s rainforest and associated natural habitats. “There are 30,000 hectares of Scottish rainforest,” she said. “And we can’t forget the real engine room of the rainforest which lies with its insect diversity which the Holy Loch Nature Reserve is now mapping.”

A total of 68 artists and makers from across the peninsula will be showcasing their creative skills in many genres in the biggest Cowal Open Studios weekend yet. The well-established and ever popular four-day event takes place at 46 separate studios and venues from tomorrow to Monday September 28. The event is organised along four distinct geographical routes around the Cowal peninsula.

A former Kilcreggan man met the King at an event highlighting transformation of the energy sector yesterday. King Charles III flew into Peterhead on a Chinook helicopter to learn about latest updates at the port. And among those he met was Andrew Walker, who was brought up in Kilcreggan, attending the village primary and Hermitage Academy. Andrew is now director and head of marine infrastructure UK for engineering consultancy firm…

The SNP’s Jan Brown is the new provost of Argyll and Bute, with a bid to appoint a Conservative from Helensburgh to the role being defeated. Cllr Brown, who covers the Mid-Argyll ward, had been depute provost of the area since April 2024. Douglas Philand, who passed away last month, had been provost A roll call vote at a full council meeting today saw a motion moved by administration councillors prevail with 18 votes.

Health and social care staff in Argyll and Bute have faced “unprecedented pressure” in delivering day care recently, a councillor has said. Carers Direct suddenly closed in June, while Oban Community Carers (OCC) made a planned withdrawal in August, leaving alternative arrangements needing to be identified for over 100 people. But Cllr Dougie McFadzean has highlighted the work done by the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) to ensure continuity of care services.

The A82 near Loch Lomond will be closed overnight when work to remove diseased trees starts on Monday. The larch trees at Arnburn, south of Luss, are being tackled following the issue of a statutory plant health notice for phytophthora ramorum by Scottish Forestry. Contractors BEAR Scotland will carry out the work on behalf of Transport Scotland and it is due to run  until the morning of Saturday October 17.

Forces families in Helensburgh and Lomond who are balancing military life with caring responsibilities will have access to dedicated support through a new project. Helensburgh & Lomond Carers SCIO has been awarded £28,700 by Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity to deliver its Forces Family Resilience project. This is a preventative programme designed to support serving and ex-serving forces families who are also caring for a loved one.

Plans for the decades-overdue Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path have made “good progress” in recent times, a councillor has reported. The project first received official backing in the early 2000s from the Labour-led Scottish Executive, when Sarah Boyack was the country’s transport minister. Now it is expected that it will not be complete until 2032. with the route recently planned to be changed to run directly alongside the A814 road between Helensburgh and Cardross.

A new local development and land use plan, the first of its kind in Scotland, is being piloted in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The ne document aims to set out not just where development should and shouldn't happen, but also how land across the national park could be used, managed and protected. As a statutory planning authority, the national park authority has a legal duty to prepare a development plan guiding what happens where, including housing, business and tourism, while working to build and strengthen nature connections.

A community park on the Rosneath Peninsula and a carers service covering Hlensburgh and Lomond are among groups across Argyll and Bute sharing £500,000 in funding. The Scottish Government's Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) fund has awarded a total of £504,000 to 19 groups in the area. £35,000 was awarded to Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust for detailed design of the Craigrownie Park community recreation hub in Cove.

A review of day care services in Argyll and Bute is set to return to the agenda in two weeks’ time after councillors and officials agreed to defer a decision. A report by the area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) to its integration joint board (IJB) recommended a programme to make day services more sustainable. The deputy leader of Argyll and Bute Council then moved a motion asking the IJB to call on the Scottish Government to work with the HSCP and council on public sector reform.