| Loch Fyne | |
|---|---|
| Loch Gilp, Loch Shira | |
| Loch Fine (Scottish Gaelic) | |
 Head of the loch from nearSt Catherines | |
  Loch Fyne | |
| Location | Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. |
| Coordinates | 56°10′19″N5°06′00″W / 56.172°N 5.100°W /56.172; -5.100,grid referenceNN0765202128 |
| Type | Sea Loch |
| Etymology | Vine (wine) lake Loch |
| River sources | Curl Arstich burn, river garron river Fyne lingerton burn king las water allt na craobh uinsinn Allt oigh Allt oich allt na Craig Abhainn Mor Inverneill river Allt Airigh na brodaig Douglas water dalchenna burn Allt Airigh na brodaig Abhainn Srathain Ardfenaig burn Crinan Canal Inverdrishaig water Allt an bog |
| Basin countries | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Salinity | Seawater |
| Surface elevation | Sea Level |
| Frozen | No |
Loch Fyne (Scottish Gaelic:Loch Fìne,pronounced[l̪ˠɔxˈfiːnə]; meaning "Loch of the Vine/Wine"), is asea loch off theFirth of Clyde and forms part of the coast of theCowal Peninsula. Located on the west coast ofArgyll and Bute, west ofScotland. It extends 65 kilometres (40 mi) inland from theSound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs in Scotland. It is connected to theSound of Jura by theCrinan Canal. Although there is no evidence that grapes have grown there, the title is probably honorific, indicating that the river,Abhainn Fìne (river Fyne), was a well-respected river.
In the north the terrain is mountainous, with theArrochar Alps,Beinn Bhuidhe,Glen Shira,Glen Fyne,Glen Croe,Arrochar,Tyndrum andLoch Lomond nearby.
It is overlooked bythe Tinkers' Heart, an oldtravellers' monument. It was a place for weddings to traditionally take place.[1]
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The loch has several roads surrounding it. TheA83 goes round the head of the loch then travels down the west coast of Loch Fyne, fromArdrishaig toTarbert along theKnapdale coast. Leaving the A83 north ofCairndow theA815 travels down the east shore of Loch Fyne along theCowal Peninsula coast toStrachur, where to continue down the east shore theA886 leads toNewton. Where you turn off onto theB8000 which carries on down the east shore toMillhouse, where you can go toPortavadie orKames (direct) or via theArdlamont Peninsula, a longer route to Kames.
At the mouth of Loch Fyne betweenPortavadie on theCowal Peninsula, on the east shore of the loch. Avehicle ferry traverses the loch toTarbert on theKintyre Peninsula on the west shore.[2]
TheCrinan Canal connects Loch Fyne atArdrishaig and theSound of Jura at the hamlet ofCrinan itself, giving a shortcut for smaller vessels out to theHebrides saving the longer route of going around theKintyre Peninsula. The canal was built between 1794 and 1801 when the canal was opened, under the supervision ofJohn Rennie. In 1816Thomas Telford redesigned parts of the canal to remedy technical issues with water supplies for the canal. There are fifteenlocks along the canal's 9-mile (14 km) length.[3]
During theSecond World War, HMS Quebec (a shore establishment) also known as the "No 1" Combined Operations Training Centre (CTC) was centred a few miles south of Inveraray and used the shores of the Loch Fyne and surrounding coastline. It trained personnel in the techniques involved in the use of landing craft and the setting up of a beachhead. The No1 CTC was manned and trained personnel from all three services, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army, troops of the allies were also trained. This important military facility was set up in October 1940, around 250,000 personnel passed through the training centre by 1944. The main site is now occupied by Argyll Caravan Park.[4]
Dolphins,seals andotters inhabit the loch, andbasking sharks can appear in its waters during the summer months. ARoss's gull was present at the loch in early 2007.[citation needed]
In 2014 Loch Fyne was declared aNature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA). The designation covers the entire loch northwards from a point nearOtter Ferry.[5]
Loch Fyne has a reputation for itsoyster fishery, and as a consequence, the loch has given its name to the once locally ownedLoch Fyne Oysters and to the associatedLoch Fyne Restaurants.[6] It is also notable for itsherring-fishing industry, and hence the famous Loch Fyne Kipper, originally caught using thedrift-net method. In the mid-19th century, Loch Fyne was the centre of the battle between the traditional drift-net fishermen and the newtrawl-net fishermen who sprang up aroundTarbert andCampbeltown in 1833.[7]
Several Scottish sea-fishing records have been set in the loch:
| Species | Weight lb-oz-dr | Angler | Date | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogfish black mouthed | 02-13-08 (1.29 kg) | J. H. Anderson | 1977 | Boat |
| Poor cod | 01-00-00 (0.45 kg) | F. Johnstone | 1970 | Shore |
| Tadpole fish | 01-04-00 (0.57 kg) | H. Donnelly | 1995 | Shore |
| Blue whiting | 01-12-00 (0.79 kg) | J. H. Anderson | 1977 | Boat |
Loch Fyne is a popular area forsport diving. Off the coast atSt Catherines, is a boulder field and a wrecked speedboat.[8] At Kenmore Point is Stallion Rock, a single rock that rises from the sea bed.[citation needed]
It is also a populartourist destination with attractions such asInveraray Castle,Dunderave Castle,Kilmory Castle,Minard Castle and the nearby ruins ofCastle MacEwen andOld Castle Lachlan around the shores of Loch Fyne.
Crarae Garden located 10 miles south of Inveraray, theNational Trust for Scotland gardens overlook Loch Fyne.[9]
The Loch is overlooked by the 126 feet (38 m) highInverary Bell Tower, visible from much of the Loch, and is a popular tourist attraction.
