Photographs of Crinan
Basin and Harbour
in the West of
Scotland
Crinan
Village at the western end
of the Canal
TheCrinan
Canalis
between the
villages of CrinanandArdrishaig inArgyll
and Butein
the west of Scotland.
Thecanal
opened in 1801 taking its name from Crinan Village.
It is approximately nine miles (14km ) long
and connects Loch
Gilp at Ardrishaig with theSound
of Jura at Crinan,
to provide a navigable route
between theInner
Hebrides and the River Clyde,
Lock
14 at Crinan Village
Crinan
Village
at the western end
of the Canal
Sea
Lock
at western end of the
Crinan Canal
Boats
( Puffers ) at Crinan
TheClyde
pufferis a type of small coal-fired
and single-masted cargo ship,
( Note:
Click here
or on above for large format copy )
Map of
Crinan Canal
( Note:
Click here
or on above for large format copy )
Route
Map of Dounie Castle Walk
CASTLE DOUNIE
WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-
Location: Castle Dounie, Argyll
Grade: Moderate forest walk
Distance: 4 miles / 7km
Time: 2-3 hours
This fine walk
begins at Crinan
Harbour, one of those places that
makes most Scots think “never been
there but perhaps one day". It should
be on your wish-list because the
whole area of Crinan and Knapdale
is fascinating — geologically unusual
and littered with ancient artefacts,
standing stones, forts and duns.
Castle Dounie, the focus of this walk,
is an Iron Age fort that straddles
a high ridge with sumptuous sea
views across to ]ura and Scarba, two
islands separated by the notorious
Corryvreckan and its whirlpool.
Crinan Harbour lies just west of
the tiny village of Crinan where the
eponymous canal empties out into
Loch Crinan. There is a sizeable
car park here, just beyond the first
few houses as the road turns right
into Crinan Harbour. From the car
park return along the road, past the
junction to a white cottage. In front of
it a signposted waymarker points out
the route, along a shingly foreshore for
a short distance.
Another sign indicates where the
path leaves the shore and runs parallel
to it for a while through a lovely grove
of oak trees. Shortly after a wooden
bench the path veers slightly left and
begins to climb what appears to be a
firebreak through the woods. There
is another bench halfway up the hill
which may offer a bit of relief.
Enjoy your break, and the views
that are now opening up, because
you won’t see many more views for a
while, and there’s more climbing to be
done. At the top of the steep path turn
right onto a forestry track and enjoy
easier walking to another junction and
bench. Turn left here and climb a little
more gently now to another, narrower,
path that runs off to the right. At last, away from broad
forestry tracks and among native trees
with views beginning to open out
across Loch Crinan towards the sea.
A narrow pass gains another rest
stop. Not a wooden bench this time
but a full-blown picnic table. Over a
rise, and along a slight descent before
reaching another junction. The
descent route went to the right but,
before that, climb to the
castle viewpoint to reach the viewpoint
by climbing through the ancient
dun’s entrance. There are enough
fortifications still in existence at Castle
Dounie to give a pretty good idea
of what it must have been like. It was
a great spot to linger awhile in the
sunshine. From the retaining walls gaze across the vast area
of sea towards the island
of Scarba. Away to the north the
peaks of Cruachan stand proud, however
the best of the view is to the north-west towards the high hills of
Mull.
What a spot. Begin the descent, back to
the last path junction and steeply
downhill to another junction with a
forest track. Turn right onto the
track and begin
climbing again, a long haul up to
another viewpoint and a wooden bench. Back on the path and continue
climbing. Re-gain one of the benches passed
earlier and then homeward
bound - back to the top of the
steep climb, down the grassy slopes
of the steep climb to the bench by the
shore and then the woodland path
back to Crinan Harbour.
