Crinan

A bright morning so we decided this was the day to walk from the holiday house the 4 miles along the canal towpath to Crinan. The towpath is easy walking on a good surface. Maeve the Deerhound came trundling along and seemed to enjoy being out and about with us for most of the day. We had good clear views all along the way and once we had reached Dunardry we could see across to Crinan Ferry over Loch Crinan. Further on and looking back inland Dunadd is visible and can be placed in context in the landscape with its ancient access from the sea being by the river Add along through the marshy land to the stronghold on the rock. Next comes the Marina with the yachts all lined up in the sunshine, and not far after that the 'Print Wagon' which we last saw in May in the new greens of spring and now within the woods with the Autumn leaves all around. Not too far then to the basin at Crinan and the Sea Lock. There were the usual boats we often see, 'Vic 32' (a traditional puffer) and the tug 'Duke of Normandy'. There were large and small fishing vessels too waiting to make their passage out to sea to the West or along the canal to Ardrishaig and the waters of Loch Gilp and Loch Fyne.

We wandered around the area of the basin and the pier where the Victorian tourists made the onwards steamer journeys to Oban and beyond after their trips from Glasgow by steamer and along the canal on small steam boats such as 'Linnet' and 'Cygnet' (MacBraynes). We had lunch at the coffee shop (owned by the Crinan Hotel) at the side of the basin and Maeve got some of the bacon from my roll before we walked back the same way we had come.

After getting out of the walking boots we got in the car and drove up to Kilmartin and had tea and lemon drizzle cake in the conservatory of the museum cafe looking down the length of the Glen and enjoying the view with the glorious colours on the trees and the line of burial cairns that extends towards the Ballymeanoch standing stones which are just beyond sight. Maeve stayed in the car and had a snooze :-)