The geographical (and popular) distinction between the Firth and the River Clyde is vague. Some refer toDumbarton as being "on theFirth of Clyde"; while at the same time, the residents ofPort Glasgow andGreenock often refer to the part of the Firth that lies to the north of those areas as "the river".
The Firth encompasses manyislands and peninsulas. Twelve ferry routes connect them to each other and the mainland. The majority of the ferry services are run byCaledonian MacBrayne and one byWestern Ferries, and many of the routes are lifeline services for communities living in remote areas.[12][13] The Firth has no fixed link transport infrastructure connections (bridge or tunnel), linking the shores or islands. The lowest fixed crossing over the Clyde is theErskine Bridge, opened on 2 July 1971.[14][15]
The Firth joins the strait between Scotland and Northern Ireland, called theNorth Channel, at the north of the Irish Sea. The deepest part of the channel is theBeaufort's Dyke, at 312 metres (1,024 ft).[16][17]
The Highland Boundary Fault enters the Firth off the east coast ofKintyre Peninsula in the south. The fault crosses the south eastern tip of theCowal Peninsula atToward Point, where it can be seen on the surface by the presence ofOld Red Sandstone.[18] The fault continues toHelensburgh in the north, then continues past the east coast of Scotland. The fault can be followed across Scotland for at least 240 km (150 mi). The fault is of great age and its remains are broken by more recent geological movement of the earth's crust.[19][20]
The Cowal Peninsula extends into the Firth of Clyde and forms the main western shoreline of the upper Firth.[21] The main town on the Cowal Peninsula isDunoon.Ardlamont Point on theArdlamont Peninsula, which extends off the Cowal Peninsula, is the southern tip of the Ardlamont and Cowal Peninsulas.[22]
The Rosneath peninsula is formed by the Gare Loch in the east, and Loch Long in the west; both merge with the upper Firth of Clyde. There is a Caledonian MacBrayne passenger-only service across the Firth toGourock fromKilcreggan.[28]
There are many islands in the Firth. The largest three all have thriving communities and regular ferry services connecting them to the mainland. They are:
Also, in 2005, the Firth had the second-highest number ofbasking shark sightings in Scotland (afterthe Minch). These huge sharks seem to particularly favour the warm, shallow waters surroundingPladda, south ofArran.[53]
However, although commercial fishing was at one time intensive in the Firth's many fishing towns, today the only catches of commercial interest remaining in the Clyde waters areprawns,lobsters,herring, mussels, and crayfish.
On 5 September 2000, theInner Clyde Estuary received aRAMSAR designation with ite number 1036; the area covered is 1,825 hectares (4,510 acres). (Coordinates: 55°56'32"N 04°36'32"W)[54][3][55]
In September 2008, Scotland's first No Take Zone (NTZ) was introduced inLamlash Bay, on theIsle of Arran. The result of a community effort, led by theCommunity of Arran Seabed Trust (C.O.A.S.T). The NTZ was introduced to protect delicate marine communities, such asMaerl. Maerl is a slow-growing coral-like calcareous red algae (it grows only 1 mm per year) and is an important Scottish species. Maerl beds are locations of high biodiversity and are crucial nursery grounds for both young scallops and young fish. Studies show that both scallop dredging and organic waste from fish farms, significantly impact Maerl. Scallop dredging on a Maerl bed has been found to kill over 70% of the Maerl. Monitoring the dredged bed over the next four years found no discernible recovery, suggesting that Maerl beds would require many years free of disturbance in order to recover.[56][5]
In 2014, 71,200 hectares (712 km2) at the south of the Firth betweenKintyre Peninsula and theRhins of Galloway, on theNorth Channel boundary. Designated a Marine Protected Area, the(Clyde Sill MPA), theNatureScot Site Code is 10414, theEU Site Code is 555560461.[47] The MPA covers a distinctive sill where fresher water of the Firth mixes with the cooler, more saline water of the North Channel. This is a rich environment for plankton, which provide food for fish, that are in turn eaten by higher marine predators and seabirds.[57]
On 16 December 2015, an area to the south ofArran received a Marine Protected Area designation.[58][59]
The water quality of the Firth is monitored by theScottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). SEPA have had a monitoring buoy located off the coast ofDunoon since 2009, with data collected every 15 minutes.[60][61]
The Firth of Clyde has some of the deepest sea channels in Northern Europe. It can accommodate the largestCapesize vessels afloat today. As a result, the Clyde has one of the UK's leading ports, atClydeport, part of The Peel Group.[62] The facility handles cargo from container ships at theGreenock Ocean Terminal.
The remains of former sites of shipyards on the Clyde are being redeveloped into areas that contain residential housing, leisure facilities, and commercial buildings.[70][71]
HMSVigilant alongside Faslane Naval Base. MOD 45147682
The Royal Navy has a significant presence on the Firth of Clyde. HMNB Clyde is known asFaslane within the navy and is located onLoch Long. HMNB Clyde's role is with the servicing and maintenance of the UK submarine defence fleet. The base has other locations around the Firth.[116]
OnLoch Long, at Glen Mallan, the Northern Ammunition Jetty was refurbished, to accommodate the navy’s new aircraft carriers,HMSQueen Elizabeth andHMSPrince of Wales, with work completed in January 2022.[118] The jetty is part of theDM Glen Douglas military munitions depot. Plans have been announced in February 2024 to demolish an undisclosed part of the site.[119]
The Firth of Clyde has always been an important sea route from the earliest times. For example, theBattle of Largs, which was fought on the Firth, in 1263, was a geopolitical turning point: it marked the end ofNorse ambitions in Britain.[120] Beginning in the 16th century, the Firth increasingly became a conduit for commercial and industrial products, including: herring; timber; wine; sugar; tobacco; textiles; iron and steel; coal; oil; industrial chemicals; distillation and brewing; ships, locomotives, and other vehicles; and other manufactured products.
In the middle of the 19th century, the sport of yachting became popular on the Firth. The area became famous worldwide for its significant contribution to yachting and yachtbuilding with notable designers including:William Fife III;Alfred Mylne; G L Watson; David Boyd. It was also the location of many famous yacht yards. Clyde-built wooden yachts are still known for quality and style today.
The "lower Clyde" shipyards ofGreenock andPort Glasgow, most notablyScott Lithgow, played an important historical role in shipbuilding. ThePS Comet was the first successfulsteamboat inEurope. Well into the 20th century, a large proportion of the world's ship construction took place around the upper Firth andRiver Clyde.
With the advent oftourism inVictorian times, the Firth became popular with Glaswegians and residents of neighbouring towns and counties who travelled "doon the watter" (the Firth) onClyde steamers to holiday in the picturesque seaside towns and villages that line the Firth, with the more wealthy building substantial holiday homes along its coasts. Many towns, such asGourock,Largs,Ayr,Dunoon,Rothesay, flourished during this period and became fully fledged resorts with well-appointed hotels and attractions. Golf courses, including major championship courses, proliferated.
Today, tourism, sport and recreation, and heritage history continue to attract visitors from across the world. The steam-poweredPS Waverley—in addition to its regular service—still makes cruising trips to the coastal towns that have been popular tourist destinations since the 19th century. The Firth is ringed by many castles and buildings of historical importance that are open to the public, includingInveraray Castle,Brodick Castle, the opulentMount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute, andCulzean Castle, which is the most visited attraction owned by theNational Trust for Scotland. Ocean liners frequently call at Greenock, andGlasgow International Airport andGlasgow Prestwick Airport are nearby. There is frequent rail service to and from the Clyde coast, including links toOban andFort William, with city terminals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also daily ferry service between the area and Belfast.
Cold War; TheUnited States of America maintained aUS Navy base during the Cold War, in theHoly Loch, off the Firth. Submarine Squadron 14 or SUBRON14, also known asSite one, Holy Loch was in operation between 1 July 1958, up until the end of the Cold War. The last deployed Submarine Tender departed the Holy Loch and Firth on 3 March 1992.[127]
World War II; During World War II,Glasgow and the Firth of Clyde became the main entry point into Britain for the Allied forces with the formation of The Clyde Emergency Port, officially opened on 12 September 1940. With merchant shipping, military personnel, and equipment moving through the port. The Firth was used as the assembly and despatch point for Atlantic convoys. The Firth hosted the United Kingdom's largest naval base for the duration of the war. In 1942, an underwater oil pipeline was laid across the Firth,Operation Pluto, the world's first deep-water test of this technology. This was only one of many innovations designed to support air, maritime, and territorial combat during World War II.[128]
The Firth's maritime climate is considerably milder than continental locations at the same latitude. Whilst the reason for this mild climate is the subject of debate[139] it is historically considered to be due to the moderating influence of theNorth Atlantic Drift, a warm oceanic current that is the eastern extension of theGulf Stream[140] which originates in the tropical waters of theGulf of Mexico.
Worldwide, human-made causes including theover-exploitation and the pollution of water systems, are among the biggest threats and concerns which are damaging aquatic ecosystems and in extreme cases causeecological death.
The durability ofplastics in the natural environment,plastic pollution, imposes threats on aquatic life and theaquatic ecosystems. Plastic debris may result in entanglement and ingestion by aquatic life such as birds, fish andmarine mammals, causing severe injury or death. Human livelihoods and life itself can also be impacted by plastic pollution. In severe cases, with effects on surrounding tourism or real estate value, the clogging of drains and other hydraulic infrastructure leading to increased flood risk and further pollution.[141][142][143][144]
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