Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Saturday 4th July 2009

Crinan Canal

Revelling in the title of 'Britain's most beautiful shortcut' you'd be hard pressed to find a more picturesque stretch of water than the Crinan Canal.

At just nine miles long it links Loch Fyne at Ardrishaig with the Sound of Jura, creating a pathway for ships through the Kintyre peninsula on their way to the Western Isles.

The Crinan Canal is both an engineering marvel and an idyllic part of Argyll & Bute. Every year, two to three thousand vessels, mostly pleasure craft, pass through this canal. But you don't need a boat to appreciate what it has to offer. Visitors can watch boats negotiating the 15 locks along the canal, or perhaps walk or cycle along the towpath and enjoy the tranquillity and breathtaking scenery to be found in this part of the west coast.

Photograph Competition 2009

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