CANTIRE, or KINTYRE (Gaelic, headland), a long narrow peninsula of Argyleshire, running n. and s. between Arran isle and the Atlantic, and united at the n. end with z? the mainland of Scotland, by the isthmus of Tarbet, a mile broad between e. loch Tar bet, a small loch or bay of loch Fyne, and w. loch Tarbet. It is 40 in. long, and, on an average, 61 broad. The surface is much diversified by low, undulating, moorish hills, with many lochs. The highest point is Beunear, 1515 feet. It contains much cultivated land. The n. four fifths of C., and the s.w. corner round the Mull,or promon tory, of Kintyre, consist chiefly of mica slate. Old red sandstone occurs on the s.e. shore. Coal is found between Campbelton and the w. coast. A light-house, 297 ft. above the sea, stands on the 3Iu11 of Kintyre. C. includes 10 parishes. Pop. about 18,000. Campbelton (q.v.) is the chief seat of population. C. was in ancient times peo
pled by Picts and Celts more densely than the rest of Scotland. The Scots from Ireland subdued it in 210 A.D., were expelled from it in 446, but returned in 503 under Fergus, the first Scottish king, who fixed his seat at Campbelton. Kenneth II. (MacAlpine), on defeating the Picts in 843, removed to Forteviot. From the 8th to the 12th e., C. was occupied by Northmen from Scandinavia, and afterwards by the Macdonalds of the isles, and more lately by the Campbells. Many burying-grounds and small ruined chapels or monasteries in C., show its former populousness. Near these chapels, and in the villages, are many high, -upright slate crosses, with rude figures and inscriptions on them. C. contains many ancient watch or ward forts often vitrified.