Still Heading South

JB, Claire & Sooty

We went into the canal on Sunday afternoon and tagged along with a yacht with four gentlemen on board who had known each other since university, two GP’s , one gynaecologist, one ophthalmologist! As you can see from the photos a good time was had by all. The Crinan Canal starts at Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne, and ends nine miles away at Crinan on the Sound of Jura. It was designed to provide a quick link between the west coast and islands at one end and the Clyde Estuary at the other, and so avoid the long voyage around the south end of the Kintyre peninsula. Work started on the canal in 1794 under John Rennie and it was opened in 1801: two years late, significantly over-budget. (Nothing new there then!) In the nine miles from Ardrishaig to Crinan there are 15 locks and the canal reaches a height of 65 feet above sea level. The summit reach of the canal is relatively short and every time a boat goes through the locks about 300,000 litres of water are used. No fewer than seven reservoirs feed the summit reach to try to ensure that the Crinan Canal does not run dry. Every year two to three thousand vessels, mostly pleasure craft, use the canal. This is a far cry from the early days when the canal formed a vital link in Scotland's transport system. Until the coming of the railways the fastest way to travel between Glasgow and Inverness was by steamer using the Crinan Canal and the Caledonian Canal, usually calling at Oban en route. The Crinan Canal's starting point is at Ardrishaig, a little under two miles south of Lochgilphead. After a basin and several locks the canal parallels the shore of Loch Gilp and the A83. It then skirts the western side of Lochgilphead before striking inland to cross the peninsula . We spent the night in the canal and continued our passage at 9.30 and left the canal at 15.00. It was chucking it down and we motored for two hours to get to Portavadie in the pouring rain. The marina has a swimming pool and a spa and with an awful forecast it looks like we will be here for two or three days. Claire is very 😃