The Crinan Canal

Known as 'Britain's most beautiful shortcut', the Crinan Canal runs from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne nine miles across the Kintyre peninsula to the west coast of Scotland. Planned in the late 18th century, its purpose was to offer commercial vessels a safer route to the west coast and Hebridean islands than that round the Mull of Kintyre. By 1854, 33,000 passengers, 22,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle were transported along it each year. Today the canal is one of the country's major tourist attractions, enjoyed by tens of thousands of cyclists and walkers each year, as well as over 3,500 boats.