Knapdale, South, a parish in Knapdale territorial district, and in Argyll -political district, Argyllshire. It contains the post-town and harbour of ardrishaig, the post-office hamlet of Achahoish, and part of the post-town of Tarbert; and it enjoys from these places regular steamboat communication. Formed out of the large old parish of Knapdale in 1734, it is bounded N by North Knapdale and the Crinan Canal, and S by Kilcalmonell and Kilberry. Its utmost length, from N to S, is 17 miles; its utmost breadth is 7 miles; and its land area is 52,560 acres. Several islets lie off the W coast; and, though uninhabited, afford good pasturage. The E coast, with an extent of 12 miles, presents a slightly undulated shore-line, and a pleasantly-diversified, hilly seaboard. The W coast is distinguished chiefly by the ascent from it of Loch Caolisport up the boundary with North Knapdale; has several fine bays, which afford safe anchorage; and presents shores and seaboard, partly bold and partly gradual. The interior, for the most part, is rough upland. A range, called Sliabach-Goail, extends right across it; contains the highest ground, with mountain elevation above sea-level; and commands one of the most extensive, varied, and grandly picturesque views in Great Britain, from Islay to the Perthshire Grampians, and from Mull and Ben Cruachan to the North of Ireland, with everywhere a crowded intervening space of lofty heights and belts of sea. Other hills, less lofty and interesting, extend parallel to this principal range, and are separated from one another by deep, well-sheltered vales. Burns and torrents are numerous, and the larger ones are subject to such winter floods as render them in many parts impassable. Five or six fresh-water lakes lie in hollows; but, with one or two exceptions, they can be seen only from the summits of the highest hills; and they add very little to the beauty or interest of the landscape. The extent of arable land bears but a small proportion to that of waste and pasture lands, and is very much intersected by hills and marshes. The soil, on some of the low grounds, is loamy; on most of the other arable grounds, is of a mossy nature, incumbent upon sand. Wood, both natural and planted, covers a considerable area. A lead mine was for some time worked on Inverneill estate. Antiquities are remains of three, and the sites of four, pre-Reformation chapels. Mansions, noticed separately, are Auchendarroch, Barmore, Erins, Inverneill, Ormsary, and Stonefield; and 7 proprietors hold each an annual value of £500 and upwards, 9 of between £100 and £500, 5 of from £50 to £100, and 30 of from £20 to £50. Giving off the whole of Ardrishaig quoad sacra parish and portions of those of Tarbert and Lochgilphead, South Knapdale is in the presbytery of Inveraray and synod of Argyll; the living is worth £234. There are two parish churches, the one at Achahoish, near the manse; the other at Inverneill, 6 miles distant. Both were built in 1775, and each contains 250 sittings. Free churches are in Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead, and Tarbert; and two public schools, Inverneill and Ormsary, with respective accommodation for 34 and 69 children, had (1881) an average attendance of 17 and 18, and grants of £29, 2s. and £25, 13s. Valuation (1860) £7357, (1883) £13,111, 3s. 11d. Pop. (1801) 1716, (1831) 2137, (1861) 2519, (1871) 2695, (1881) 2536, of whom 1447 were Gaelic-speaking, and 453 were in South Knapdale ecclesiastical parish.
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