The Crinan Canal

We left Craobh Haven on Wednesday for the Crinan Canal and entered the first sea lock in the afternoon, which was operated for us by friendly Scottish Canals staff.

Lunar Sea going into the first sea lock.



After the sea lock there were twelve that we had to operate ourselves. First open or close the sluice using the small white handle seen hanging on the beam and winding furiously in the winch. Then physically walk the beam open or closed, using the cobbles as leverage for your feet.

 

The bike on it's holiday in the canal, see how narrow it is! The blur is a drop of Scottish rain!!


It is a very pretty, small canal and I highly recommend it. The locks were hard work but we had a routine going and we were pretty slick in the end, despite the men being easily distracted by smiling waving girls on passing yachts. I would say the best way to describe the canal is by photographs, so please enjoy the following. It took us two days to get through the canal so my next blog will continue our journey around NW Scotland.

 

A pretty cottage nestling in the reeds with a church behind.

The small Cairnbaan Hotel where we had dinner

Another pretty cottage on the canal

Typical stone houses on the canal. Everything is so green because of the high rainfall. No shortage of water on the canal this year!

 

   

 

 


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