Crinan Canal any tips?

Haha I’d agree, but it seems it depends who you ask as both people who said that were couples. I guess it reflects how different people prefer to sail or have different levels of comfort.
We saw several boats leave Tarbert today, but for us it was a laundry day as going out didnt look fun 🤣
 
Few boats left Ardfern today although the weather on this side of the canal was OK.

I've just booked on behalf of the skipper for us to go W to E through the canal starting tomorrow.
 
Went through a few weeks ago. Took 7h with a bit of faffing, could have been done in 6. They were ok with just two boats going through and the other was a 42 footer with one person on board. Bit of use of the bow thruster and both lines led back to the cockpit and he was fine. Was a calm day, not sure it would have been if not...

Staff were pleasant though not too fast, takes a bit of logistics for them to set up the next set of locks so handy if you have spare people to open and close locks while they're off sorting the next one.
 
Eateries close for food between lunch and dinner. “Food served all day” is not as common as you may expect. Crinan Hotel dinner starts at 6pm, Tayvallach dinner starts at 17:30. I think both close after at 15:00. The cafe at Crinan Basin is open all day until 17:00.
 
Last edited:
I once went to a pub in Reading that did “old” hours and closed after lunch. Felt like utter madness that they were closed 🤣

Lulabelles in Tarbert closes after lunch too, but i can forgive them, their food was excellent.
 
lustyd said:
I once went to a pub in Reading that did “old” hours and closed after lunch. Felt like utter madness that they were closed 🤣

Lulabelles in Tarbert closes after lunch too, but i can forgive them, their food was excellent.
Click to expand...
“Old hours”? Pretty much all of the pubs around here in West Devon close after luncheon then open again about 18.30hrs until 23.00 (or maybe 22.30) Is that “old hours” too?
 
GEM43 said:
“Old hours”? Pretty much all of the pubs around here in West Devon close after luncheon then open again about 18.30hrs until 23.00 (or maybe 22.30) Is that “old hours” too?
Click to expand...
Yes, most pubs in the UK are open all day these days.
 
Sandy said:
That is not my experiance. Perhaps they are in city or large towns, but I tend to stay clear of them these days as they are full of potholes.
Click to expand...
I can’t remember when I last saw a pub that was open at lunch and shut in the afternoon before opening again. I remember that being common in my youth but food (or at least stuff requiring cutlery!) was not common in those pubs. They were invariably occupied by old male customers - sometimes working people but there can’t be many industries where a daily pint at lunch would be accepted now! I can’t remember when I last saw such an establishment - but then if I’m looking for refreshment at lunchtime I would usually be looking for food too.
 
If stopping at Crinan, Ardfern, Craobh or anywhere in the area, it is an incredible walking area. I recommend walkhighlands as a good source of walk information. It covers all of Scotland.

Click on the map of Scotland the area that you are interested in, which opens another map, more local, and then click on the local area your interested in and walks will be listed, along with guide notes, links to Google Maps et cetera.
 
Thanks to everyone for their advice, especially arc1 who we met in Tarbert. It turns out that the canal was easy and actually we may have been better off not asking as the staff are excellent (although some rather distracted by their phones).

Anyone coming across this thread in the future, the main concern I’m left with is people. Yesterday we saw a “pilot” cause absolute chaos trying to get a boat through fast. Today we declined to enter the lock as a thoroughly unprepared and aggressive skipper decided to push through. He ended up causing a half hour delay on the first lock and slowing everyone up.
You are free, as skipper, to steer clear of such characters. It’s not worth the stress!
 
On Wednesday we were Held up at Crinan basin until 10.30am having been told the afternoon before that we could leave at 8,30am. Then we arrived at lock 13 to find a queue. This was because one of the staff had drained the top section so it had to be filled. Fortunately Peter, our pilot helped the staff move the boats in front and then took us and another boat up the locks while the staff were helping other boats.
We had help on the next locks down from the staff but experienced delays because there was a problem with the bridge at Cairnbaan,
We had to tie up on the pontoon at Cairnbaan at 3,30pm because all the pontoons in front were full.
Yesterday our pilot met us at lock 4 and took us to the sea lock bypassing many boats who were apparently not moving at all that day.
Some of the staff were good while others were more interested in their phones.
Our pilot did a really good job and was on good job and worked really well with the staff. He took all the stress out of our journey. Unfortunately he could do anything about the weather!
 
Thanks for the update, we thought it might be busy in the Crinan with the current weather. We’ve met loads of people dashing south. We’re hoping to get down there some time next week so hopefully it’ll quiet down a bit.
Good to hear there are some good pilots, the one we saw was awful and added significant stress. With it fully staffed I didn’t see a need for one though unless solo.
 
Yes that did occur to me. Pretty sure we could manage if necessary. I’m certainly not going around in this weather!
 
lustyd said:
Currently waiting out the storm at Tarbert but planning to go through Crinan next week some time. I’ve never been before so would love any tips or advice.

Any thoughts on what weather to aim for for the locks?
Best strategy for stops/overnights?
Pubs?
Click to expand...
Trashed a few fenders scraping up and down the wall, and a warp from the rough edge of the loch.
 
lustyd said:
Yesterday we saw a “pilot” cause absolute chaos trying to get a boat through fast.
Click to expand...
The so called "pilot" definitely was not myself, Chris or Joe (Quandry). I'd guess he was about 40 years old, 5ft 8 and wore glasses. A member of canal staff who causes chaos wherever he is on the canal, and the reason the summit was drained earlier this week through his gross incompetence.

The staffing levels are now low as the students have gone back to Uni, so expect delays and the boats crammed in tight.

This may be of interest:
 
He was an ex staff member who is well known to the staff to be problematic yet manages to still get lots of clients so they told me. He nearly ruined two boats while we were there including his own client’s when he left said client alone to deal with ropes while he enthusiastically opened the sluices full flow and walked away assuming everyone would be fine with full flow. Absolute menace, but it seems there’s nothing the canal can do to stop people.

That link seems to just be two AI characters advertising?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top