Overview of Crinan Canal

The Crinan Canal cuts a swath across Mid-Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland, isolating Knapdale and the Kintyre Peninsula and allowing passage from Loch Fyne to the Sound of Jura. This permitted the herring boats and other coastal shipping heading north to the Hebrides from the Firth of Clyde to avoid sailing round the dangerous Mull of Kintyre and saving a distance of some 100 miles (160 km). Both James Watt (1736 - 1819) and John Rennie (1761 - 1821) undertook separate surveys of the route and the merits of the Crinan scheme over an alternative scheme between East and West Loch Tarbert, further to the south. In 1793, John Campbell, the 5th Duke of Argyll (1723 - 1806) was elected to run the Canal Company and appointed Rennie as chief engineer, but progress was slow. The engineering problems were difficult; because the canal was open to the sea at both ends, the effects of tides had to be taken into account and the water-loss was considerable and therefore a good supply had to be assured. Further the depth was not as great as intended and there were considerable problems raising the necessary funds. The canal eventually opened, with 15 locks and rising to a maximum height of 21m (68 feet), in 1801, but was not properly completed until 1817. Linking Loch Crinan to Ardrishaig, it is some 9 miles (14 km) in length. The canal was successful with, for example, Henry Bell's steamship Comet running regular service between Glasgow and Fort William until it was wrecked at Craignish Point. The opening of the Caledonian Canal encouraged further trade, with service extended through to Inverness, as did Queen Victoria's passage through the canal in 1847. Schemes of 1857 and 1907 to enlarge the waterway to a ship canal were not funded and this has restricted its utility subsequently.

The canal remains in use today and is run by the British Waterways, although the vast majority of its traffic is now recreational.