The Crinan Canal is a wonderful waterway to explore by kayak, canoe, cycle or foot, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Argyll. From end to end the Crinan Canal is 9 miles long.
This charming, traditional terraced cottage sits in a pretty position beside the Crinan Canal, close to Kilmartin in beautiful Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland. The cottage was built in 1876 to house the workers from the local slate quarries and forms part of two ten-dwelling terraces with gabled eave dormers front and back. Do read our reviews on TripAdvisor.
Well-appointed throughout to provide comfortable and welcoming accommodation, this Crinan Canal Cottage is ideally located for families and friends seeking a retreat amidst stunning scenery. Decorated to a high standard, the cottage has two bedrooms and a bathroom with a clawfoot bath, with the room to the front giving open views across the canal to the hills beyond. The ground floor comprises a fitted kitchen with a dining area and a cosy sitting room with an enclosed wood-burning fire.
The front garden is full of herbs and seasonal flowers and where you can relax and enjoy the open space and the tranquil surroundings. Just outside the garden is a large playing green providing plenty of space for the children and pet to stretch their legs.
Outdoor activities, including sailing, walking, fishing, canoeing and riding are available locally. Fishing permits for Loch Awe are available, but prior notice is required. The Crinan Canal offers wonderful scenery for walking and cycling, with many cycle tracks signposted throughout the glen and plenty of forests and hills nearby should you wish something more energetic. Wildlife includes many woodland birds and birds of prey, beavers in a new reserve at Knapdale, red squirrels, red and roe deer, seals, otters and occasionally pine martins.
Kilmartin is home to the spectacular ruin of Carnasserie Castle, Nether Largie standing stones, Temple Wood Stone Circle and numerous ancient burial mounds. The medieval hill-fort of Dunadd was considered to be the capital of the ancient Gaelic Kingdom of Dalriada, and has ancient stone carvings and the stone footprint believed to be part of a mediaeval coronation ritual. Kilmartin Museum is well worth a visit to discover the rich history of this ancient land.
The nearby town of Lochgilphead has a variety shops, cafes and restaurants, hospital/doctors surgery, a swimming pool, golf course and sports center. There is also a shop where bicycles can be hired. Boats can be chartered from Crinan harbour and there are trips around the islands where it is possible to see whales, porpoise, seals, many sea birds including golden and white-tailed eagles, and the spectacular Corryvreckan Whirlpools.
This is a charming cottage, sure to delight throughout the year. Prices are based on the start date of your holiday and are for one week (Saturday to Saturday). The cottage is also available to rent for weekends (Fri-Mon) and midweek (Mon-Fri) out-with the peak periods. Please contact me for prices. Entry is usually available after 4pm and departure is by 10am.
The Crinan Canal is one of the most beautiful waterways in Britain, and enjoys uninterrupted views of some of Scotland's breathtaking and rugged natural landscape. It is rightly known as 'Scotland's most beautiful shortcut'. Enjoy the magnificent surroundings and explore the many different aspects the area has to offer. The Crinan Canal is a wonderful waterway to explore by kayak, canoe, cycle or foot, surrounded by the stunning scenery of Argyll. From end to end the Crinan Canal is 9 miles long.
A walk from Crinan Harbour to Ardrishaig is only 9 miles as said above and provides you with the perfect opportunity to take in the stunning views of Mid Argyll and watch the boats sailing by. The wildlife along the canal includes herons and wrens, otters and wild mink. This area of Scotland is well known as a haven for all kinds of wildlife. Watch Osprey from the canal towpath and look out for dolphins in the sea at Crinan. Pine martins, one of Scotland's rarest mammals, are so shy they are rarely seen. Moine Mhor is a lowland raised bog of international importance, a rugged and beautiful landscape that is the wild heartland of Kilmartin Glen. It is one of Europe's rarest and most threatened wildlife habitats, 98% of which have already been destroyed. The best views of Moine Mhor (The Great Moss) are from the Crinan Canal near Bellanoch or the ancient hill fort of Dunadd. From here you can see the waterlogged system of pools and bogs alongside the gentle twists and turns of the River Add. Down at bog level you will find hen harriers, curlews as well as an impressive range of dragonflies and Stonechats which are present all year round. There is a visitor facility at the northern end of the bog, on the road from Bellanoch to Kilmartin. Only 9 miles in length, the Crinan Canal was built to improve access to the Western Isles, offering a safe transit route from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne to Crinan, avoiding the long, arduous journey around the Mull of Kintyre.
Crinan Canal Cottage No8 is located at Cairnbaan Cottages on the north bank of the Crinan Canal at Cairnbaan. The cottage is easily accessed from Glasgow via Loch Lomond and also from Oban to the north.
