ARGYLL and Bute, Clyde Puffers, Coast, CRINAN, CRINAN CANAL, Environmental, Everyday Life, Historical, KINTYRE, Photography, Scotland

NOT the Mediterranean…..

The North West Coast of Scotland is a long way from the Mediterranean and the climate definitely wild and northerly….yet on a good day in the summer it can be just as hot and sunny with a warm breeze and glow in the air.  When it is like that Crinan is one of the places to be and just like the Med!……

SCOTLAND ARGYLL

Crinan Basin and the Old Lock Keepers House

I suppose you could say that until the early 1800’s Crinan was just a croft overlooking the Sound of Jura but then progress and importance as a port came with the building of a the Crinan Canal.  Canals are more commonly associated with the industrial heartland of England ….so why build a canal here.  Very simply in the days when most vessels were commercial sailing ships and dependant upon weather the stormy seas of the Hebrides and the North of Scotland could be hazardous and the route to the north and outer Isles demanded a long route from the commercial centre of Glasgow, down and arround the Mull of Kintyre, several days of sailing even in good weather.

So the solution was to build a canal to create a shortcut fro Loch Gilp across to the Sound of Jura. 9 miles in length and 10ft deep the canal has 15 locks to climb and descend the Kintyre peninsula. 

SCOTLAND ARGYLL

 

 

The Commercial Sailing fleets were soon replaced by Steam and the legendary Clyde Puffers and local Fishing Boats benefited from this ‘safe passage’ and very economical short cut. The Crinan Canal is still used by commercial fishing boats but are now joined by an increasing number of Leisure going Sea Yachts. Locks and the height of the tide govern access and departure for vessels from canal to sea.

A Yacht entering the canal at Crinan from the Sound of Jura.

Map picture

24th July

6 thoughts on “NOT the Mediterranean…..”

  2. I would prefer to be there instead of Med right now because it is more than 40C degrees now! This is amazing post, I loved your photographs, Thank you dear David, love, nia

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  4. How much do you have to pay and how far in advance do you have to put in your order for a sunny day with a light breeze in northwestern Scotland? Great stuff, David! I hope you’ve offered your second shot to the local tourist bureau for a (sorry and shudder) postcard?!

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    1. As with all these weather matters…A good deal of Luck. Don’t shudder about Postcards! I made a great deal of money as a Postcard Photographer for a major publisher in my early years. I still get a thrill when I see some of my Lake District shots still being reprinted and still selling well. It was fun and frankly many of to-days tourist guides could take a few tips from those Post Card boys. And talking of luck summer does seem to have arrived at last (but don’t tell anyone)

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