THE former county of Argyll is characterised by a deeply-indented coastline and numerous islands.
Best-known of the islands are Islay, Jura, Mull, Iona, Tiree, Coll and Colonsay, part of the Inner Hebrides.
The long sea-lochs – Loch Long, Loch Fyne, Loch Sween, Loch Etive – split up the mainland in a manner which makes road communication difficult, and ferries are needed to reach the islands.