Appin () is a coastal district of the Scottish West Highlands bounded to the west by Loch Linnhe, to the south by Loch Creran, to the east by the districts of Benderloch and Lorne, and to the north by Loch Leven. It lies northeast to southwest, and measures . The name, meaning "abbey land", in reference to Lismore Abbey, is derived from the Middle Irish apdaine.
The district is mainly in Argyll and Bute, with a coastal strip to the north, along Loch Leven, within the Highland council area.
The scenery of the district is a combination of seascapes with rugged and mountainous country inland. Appin forms part of the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland."National Scenic Areas" . SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011. The principal hills are double peaks of Beinn a' Bheithir – , respectively – and Creag Ghorm – – in the north, and Fraochaidh , Meall Bàn and Beinn Mhic na Cèisich near the western flank of Glen Creran. The chief rivers are the Coe and Laroch, flowing into Loch Leven, the Duror and Salachan flowing into Loch Linnhe, and the Iola and Creran flowing into Loch Creran.
The leading industries are forestry and tourism, with lead mining and slate quarrying being of former importance, but the Glensanda superquarry, in Morvern on the opposite bank of Loch Linnhe also provides local employment. Ballachulish, Duror, Portnacroish, Appin Village and Port Appin are the principal villages.
The A828 road runs along the coast of Appin. A passenger-only ferry to the island of Lismore runs from Port Appin. The district formerly had a railway, but the Caledonian Railway company's branch line from Connel to Ballachulish was closed in 1966.
Appin was the country of a distinct local branch of Clan Stewart.Stewart, John (1954), The Stewarts, Johnston's Clan Histories, W. & A.K. Johnston & G.W. Bacon Ltd. It is where the Appin Murder took place in 1752.
Coastal rowing In 2015, a group of local people came together to form Appin Community Skiff, subsequently leasing the Port Appin boathouse where they built a St. Ayles skiff from a kit. The boat was launched in February 2022. The community now has a thriving coastal rowing club which has acquired a second boat.Parkin, Charlotte, "Row, row, row your boat", in Brodie, Sonja (ed.), Reforesting Scotland Issue 74: Autumn/Winter 2026, pp. 23 - 25,
Notable residents Elizabeth Macquarie (née Campbell), wife of the fifth governor of New South Wales, was born in the area. During his term the governor named the towns of Appin and Airds after his wife's birthplace and her family's estate respectively. The Female Orphan School in Parramatta is said to have been modelled on the estate's main house.
References
External links Further information on the history of Appin Castle Stalker