In early May, Jacobite sympathisers took control of northern Kintyre, and when government troops arrived to retake the peninsula, they ran into an ambush on the slopes of Loup Hill.

In February 1685, the Catholic James II & VII came to power with widespread support; the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms meant many in both England and Scotland feared the consequences of bypassing the 'natural heir'.

[2] The 1681 Scottish Test Act required holders of public office to be members of the kirk; James' attempts to repeal it undermined his own supporters, while rewarding the extreme Presbyterians who backed Argyll in 1685.

[8] Close links between Scottish MacDonalds and Antrim MacDonnells, as well as between Presbyterians in Ulster and Argyllshire meant conflicts in one country often spilt into the other.

Kintyre was strategically important since it allowed Dundee to be resupplied from Ireland using small boats, which was essential as all major Scottish ports were held by the new government.

[11] The dangers of losing control of Kintyre were obvious to the government but they were short of troops; commissions for raising new regiments were only issued in April and many were still forming.

Unwilling to trust his inexperienced troops with a night attack, he decided not to pursue, and continued on his way to Clachan, where he was joined by local government supporters.