Crinan Continued

Hi All, in my last post about Scotland, I left you in Lochgilphead, so today we will continue on the journey along the beautiful Crinan Canal to equally beautiful Loch Sween.
The photo above shows where the Crinan Canal meets the sea
However, before we embark on that journey, a few facts about the Crinan Canal might be of interest.
The Crinan Canal is only nine miles long and was built to save ships from Loch Fyne, (which included those leaving the Clyde) from having to make a long and sometimes hazardous journey around the Mull of Kintyre.
Although the Canal is pretty short, by canal standards, it took about seven years to complete. Work started in 1794 and, due to one difficulty after another, it wasn't opened until 1801. The Canal begins on Loch Fyne in a little town called Ardrishaig and carries on to the small port of Crinan, which is wonderfully situated on the Atlantic coast.
Anyway, having filled our car with groceries we left lochgilphead and turned onto the A83 going North. However, we wouldn't be on it for long because a couple of miles later we turned left at Cainbaan and picked up the Crinan Canal. There are a couple of lovely locks to explore here and it is interesting to watch ocean going yatches going through them instead of barges.
We followed the canal for a few miles until we reached our turning for Loch Sween. Just before Bellanoch basin, we took a small road to the left and proceeded towards Achnamara. This part of Scotland is rugged and remote, but hell, it's beautiful(Sorry about the oxymoron). For several miles we followed the single track road which clung to the banks of Loch Sween and then swooped through valleys of trees by turn. Eventually we found the cabin we had rented for the week and we were pleased to find that the view over the Loch from it was just as described in the brochure. Every evening of that holiday we spent looking through the window and watching otters playing in the water
Talk about heaven; I think this was it. If you would like to see more photos of Scotland or even some of Staffordshire Please click here. You will also be able to see my efforts regarding my new hobby of Pyrography
If you would like to find out more about me or my books Please click here.
PS Peter Silvester suggested adding more photos to my blog. Thanks Pete, I hope you enjoy this week's batch.