Crinan Canal Future?

[magicol]

I worry about the future of the Crinan Canal. Having done the transit in various boats, I wonder each time at how little income it generates compared to the high running costs and the enormous repair and maintenance costs needed to keep it open. It is difficult to see how any amount of increased income from tourist activity would make an impact on these costs. Because of its significant importance to Scotland’s maritime history it will likely continue to benefit from some heritage funding. The threat in the short term however, will be from further critical infrastructure failure. Last year, the problems with the road bridge at Ardrishaig and the potential failure of the false lock at Crinan were major concerns: either could have closed the canal for a prolonged period. Add to this the growing impact of climate change on the availability of water in the summer: future viability is a worry.
As others have said, there is always the Mull but for some with time constraints or adverse weather, having the canal is helpful and reassuring.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I worry about the future of the Crinan Canal. Having done the transit in various boats, I wonder each time at how little income it generates compared to the high running costs and the enormous repair and maintenance costs needed to keep it open. It is difficult to see how any amount of increased income from tourist activity would make an impact on these costs. Because of its significant importance to Scotland’s maritime history it will likely continue to benefit from some heritage funding. The threat in the short term however, will be from further critical infrastructure failure. Last year, the problems with the road bridge at Ardrishaig and the potential failure of the false lock at Crinan were major concerns: either could have closed the canal for a prolonged period. Add to this the growing impact of climate change on the availability of water in the summer: future viability is a worry.
As others have said, there is always the Mull but for some with time constraints or adverse weather, having the canal is helpful and reassuring.

And, as I and others have often said, there's actually no time advantage from any of the marinas on the east side of the Clyde, unless you're VERY lucky and get a fast passage - it can be done in a few hours, but it's more likely to take a day or more. It's really only a short-cut from Tarbert and Portavadie; the one time I used it I started from Portavadie, and returned the same way because the return trip was cheaper!

 

[wully1]

Some Fyne ideas for tourist development here. (See wott I did there?)

Unfortunately the short season , rising costs and lack of staff , not all down to Boris, will mean they mostly wont happen.
If it did a lot of the ‘locals’ wont be happy of course. And lot of them wont see the irony of not being able to find staff to work low paying summer jobs because there is nowhere for them to stay because all the cheap housing that existed in now very expensive, mostly empty, holiday homes..

Also a lot of people who come to visit dont want ‘development’

Sadly the canal was built in the right place at the wrong time and was never a profitable venture but will probably stagger along for a while with the heritage funding it gets.

 

[jamie N]

My village is on the NC500 route, with a caravan park for the 'motorhomers'. Chatting with the landlord of my local the other day, he mused that many of these people would have the same experience if they just sat in their motorhome, parked on their driveway, with a TV covering the windows, showing an image of somewhere where they thought they'd like to be. They'd be able to sit inside drinking their own cheap wine and cooking their own bargain sausages, without any of the hassle they've had in driving on roads which "are too narrow", or having to meet people "who don't talk proper" when they'd tried to buy something that they'd not recognised from a shop, somewhere that "weren't spelt right" on a Gaelic/English roadsign.

 

[steveeasy]

It was before Christmas, perhaps early Dec. Vague statement that closed for forseable future but didn't explain why but I did read somewhere a suggestion that the road closures from landslides between Lochgilphead and Oban had been the final straw. It changed hands not that long ago (maybe just before covid?).

Our experience was similar - but they were open for drinks but not food. But we were the only customer in the bar and felt like we were an inconvenience to the staff. We didn't bother going in on the return trip.

This could be steveeasy's big chance: Outstanding Opportunity at the Iconic Cairnbaan Hotel | Graham & Sibbald

Oh I’ve had my chances. Still for the right persons what a fun place to spend a few years. Who ever takes over should offer some specials for yachties to stop of for..

Where else could you go and start the day with breakfast. Stop off for lunch and finish the day in the Crinan basin having a meal and pint looking out on the west coast.
Me I’m going to rent that little white hut and sit outside doing whippey ice creams looking at my boat tied up and watching the boats pass by in the sunshine. Heaven.
Steveeasy

 

[ylop]

Me I’m going to rent that little white hut and sit outside doing whippey ice creams looking at my boat tied up and watching the boats pass by in the sunshine. Heaven.
Steveeasy

you’ll have to work all the nice days (when icecream sells well) and only get to sail her on the wet miserable days!

 

[dunedin]

And, as I and others have often said, there's actually no time advantage from any of the marinas on the east side of the Clyde, unless you're VERY lucky and get a fast passage - it can be done in a few hours, but it's more likely to take a day or more. It's really only a short-cut from Tarbert and Portavadie; the one time I used it I started from Portavadie, and returned the same way because the return trip was cheaper!

That kind of depends on the weather. If blowing briskly from the SW for a week or two, a trip through the Canal will be much faster than waiting for a weather window for the Mull.
Also, if don’t want to do in the dark, in early and late season the tides tend to work for alternate weeks, so again the Canal is quicker if tides are wrong when want to go.
However, if no time constraints then the Mull can be simpler - and the route we have gone the last dozen or so times.

 

[Whaup367]

That kind of depends on the weather. If blowing briskly from the SW for a week or two, a trip through the Canal will be much faster than waiting for a weather window for the Mull.
Also, if don’t want to do in the dark, in early and late season the tides tend to work for alternate weeks, so again the Canal is quicker if tides are wrong when want to go.
However, if no time constraints then the Mull can be simpler - and the route we have gone the last dozen or so times.

Yes, exactly; that's one of the reasons I asked the questions that started this thread.
We're currently wintering in the Clyde and spending summers on a mooring outside. This means moving the boat around the end of March and the end of September, so weather is unpredictable and daylight restricted.
Easter (4day w/e) this year falls conveniently at the harbour/marina changeover dates but it's neaps.. so the west-going tide around the MoK is inconveniently late in the day... a canal transit would be quicker, safer and more reliable.
Unfortunately, they are closed until the end of April again. Prompting my question about whether they are expected to return to year round operation after this winter's works.

Current thinking is sharp start from C/town and push the last of the incoming tide, so as to make Gigha (or P. Ellen if Easterly) before dark.
Hoping for fair weather.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

My village is on the NC500 route, with a caravan park for the 'motorhomers'. Chatting with the landlord of my local the other day, he mused that many of these people would have the same experience if they just sat in their motorhome, parked on their driveway, with a TV covering the windows, showing an image of somewhere where they thought they'd like to be. They'd be able to sit inside drinking their own cheap wine and cooking their own bargain sausages, without any of the hassle they've had in driving on roads which "are too narrow", or having to meet people "who don't talk proper" when they'd tried to buy something that they'd not recognised from a shop, somewhere that "weren't spelt right" on a Gaelic/English roadsign.

We see these giant motorhomes closed up like fortresses against all other folk. A pox on them!

In our more ordinary van we find a layby near pub or restaurant and go and partake of local hospitality. Nice to pass the timer of day and sometimes to get fascinating in sights into other lives. Not boaty but my most memorable discussion was with barmaid at Suie Bar one winter when she was puzzled/pleased that her aged Dad liked coming out of retirement to drive gritters and snowploughs in the dead on night and I thought thats a well lived life - good on him.

But even if we cannot find a place to sell cooked food - Cairnwell Pass was not well equipped by evening- then there is pleasure in buying local produce. Our discovery of Stornoway Black Pudding sits in my memory on one trek and thus it lead to my awareness Stornoway Haggis - which I hope to eat belatedly this Saturday

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Oh dear, when did the hotel close? We were there last year and tried to use the hotel for a drink but seemed to only be operating certain days, “due to staff shortages”.
It would be a shame if Cairnbaan had no hotel or cafe of any form.

It closed a few weeks ago. When I last saw it during summer 23 it was in bad need of upgrade the old woman who owns is probably has no inclination for renovation. It's one market I believe around £180,000.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

The Cairnbaan hotel is next to the other “significant” road bridge on the canal, a common stopping point for those taking 2 days to complete the transit. A long low building with the feeling that it has suffered 50 years of under investment. It used to have a very good reputation for food. It is a midge fest though.

Crinan itself will miss out on the bus tour trade by being at the end of a dead end and unsuitable road. I expect the locals prefer that!

The locals are constantly complaining about the canal the slightest thing and it's on social media, yet the canal brings in a fair amount of income to the local economy not forgetting the cottages that are rented out by the canal.
The cairnbaan hotel is up for sale now and the midges are now homeless.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Some Fyne ideas for tourist development here. (See wott I did there?)

Unfortunately the short season , rising costs and lack of staff , not all down to Boris, will mean they mostly wont happen.
If it did a lot of the ‘locals’ wont be happy of course. And lot of them wont see the irony of not being able to find staff to work low paying summer jobs because there is nowhere for them to stay because all the cheap housing that existed in now very expensive, mostly empty, holiday homes..

Also a lot of people who come to visit dont want ‘development’

Sadly the canal was built in the right place at the wrong time and was never a profitable venture but will probably stagger along for a while with the heritage funding it gets.

In it's early days it was mega profitable will goods transiting and boat trips along it, but steam passed and boat became bigger and faster and throughput declined. I believe there are around 3000 craft a season passes through it. Not enough to pay the bills though.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

In its early days it was mega profitable …

It was not “mega profitable”, ever, according to this history statement, which claims the information is from Scottish Canals.

History of the Crinan Canal | Crinan Hotel Background

… Given these misfortunes, it is no surprise that the Crinan Canal never became financially self-supporting. By 1854, the canal was carrying 33,000 passengers, 27,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle. By 1906 most of the revenue was obtained from goods traffic, but at £6,000 a year this hardly covered operating costs. ..

 

[steveeasy]

 

[Sneaky Pete]

It was not “mega profitable”, ever, according to this history statement, which claims the information is from Scottish Canals.

History of the Crinan Canal | Crinan Hotel Background

No it didn't make billions your right, but the taxes they took from the transportation through the canal from herring, cattle and whiskey made a handsome profit to quote from history statements.

 

[dgadee]

Would more boats use it if it was cheaper? Popping through it for a very long weekend?