Loch Fyne and Crinan - part one

After our brief stay in Edinburgh we picked up our youngest daughter from the train and headed west. While so many tourists in Scotland are heading off round the North Coast 500 route, or tracking down Outlander locations, we headed off the beaten track, to Argyll, specifically the narrow strip of land where the Crinan Canal cuts through the Kintyre peninsula to provide an easy passage from Loch Fyne to the open sea of the west coast.

Find the Mull of Kintyre on a map and head north where the land looks ripped to ribbons, with long fingers of sea reaching between - that's where we were.

We stayed in a cottage next to Loch Fyne, waking each morning to views out across the water - sometimes cloudy, sometimes gloriously blue.






The shoreline was pebbly, so I gave up on the idea of paddling there, but on our last evening my daughter persuaded me to swim! After a day of sunshine, the water was lovely and warm, and I realised how much I've missed swimming.










It's a quiet area, with lots to do outside. There are strenuous walks and cycle routes through Knapdale Forest but we settled for short gentle strolls, looking for dragonflies and beavers near Loch Barnluasgan, along the Crinan canal, through the Taynish nature reserve, and (the most strenuous) in Crarae gardens.

I seem to have taken a tremendous amount of photos - as usual - so I think it's best to split this post into two - Loch Barnluasgan and Crinan now, the others to follow.




Loch Barnluasgan - This is a place where the air is so clean lichen grows freely on trees, giving a fairy-tale feel to the woodlands around the loch, and also the site of a beaver re-introduction project.

We didn't spot the beavers, though they have a den not far from the place below, but did see signs of their tree-felling activities. 

There used to be a dragonfly trail here, with boards explaining which types you might see etc.

Although the boards have gone, we still spotted dragonflies in the dappled sunlight under the trees. They just wouldn't stay still long enough for a photograph.

Crinan Canal - I could spend days, maybe even weeks, pottering around Crinan, watching the boats coming through the locks, walking along the canal, gazing out to sea and the islands - oh, yes, and eating at the conveniently situated Coffee Shop with a view of all the comings and goings.

I'm a bit of a lazy walker, so canals always appeal because of their reliable flatness. Crinan is special though as the canal path also affords a view out to sea in one direction, or across the tidal expanse of Loch Crinan in the other.










































One day I might decide to walk the full distance from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne through to Crinan - or cycle as that would be quicker - but I'd need to be fitter! Time to get started on my exercise plan ready for next summer!!