View source for Loch Fyne

{{Short description|Sea inlet on west coast of Scotland}}
{{redirect|Fyne}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Loch Fyne
| native_name        = {{native name|gd|Loch Fine}}
| native_name_lang   = 
| etymology          = Vine (wine) lake Loch 
| other_name         = Loch Gilp, Loch Shira
| image              = File:Loch Fyne from Tighcladich.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Head of the loch from near [[St Catherines, Argyll|St Catherines]]
| image_size         = 
| image_bathymetry   = 
| alt_bathymetry     = 
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| location           = [[Cowal|Cowal Peninsula]], Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
| group              = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|56.172|-5.100|region:GB_type:waterbody|display =inline,title}}, {{gbmapping|NN0765202128}}
| type               = Sea Loch
| part_of            = 
| inflow             = 
| rivers             = 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
| outflow            = 
| oceans             = 
| catchment          = 
| basin_countries    = Scotland, United Kingdom
| agency             = 
| designation        = 
| date-built         = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water -->
| engineer           = 
| date-flooded       = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water -->
| length             = 
| width              = 
| area               = 
| depth              = 
| max-depth          = 
| volume             = 
| residence_time     = 
| salinity           = Seawater
| shore              = 
| elevation          = Sea Level
| temperature_high   = 
| temperature_low    = 
| frozen             = No
| islands            = 
| islands_category   = Eilean Dubh and Lingerton islands
| sections           = 
| trenches           = 
| benches            = 
| cities             = 
|pushpin_map=Scotland Argyll and Bute
| pushpin_label_position  = <!-- left, right, top or bottom -->
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}}

'''Loch Fyne''' ({{langx|gd|Loch Fìne}}, {{IPA|gd|l̪ˠɔx ˈfiːnə|pron}}; meaning "Loch of the Vine/Wine"), is a [[sea loch]] off the [[Firth of Clyde]] and forms part of the coast of the [[Cowal|Cowal Peninsula]]. Located on the west coast of [[Argyll and Bute]], west of [[Scotland]]. It extends {{convert|65|km|mi}} inland from the [[Sound of Bute]], making it the longest of the sea lochs in Scotland. It is connected to the [[Sound of Jura]] by the [[Crinan Canal]]. Although there is no evidence that grapes have grown there, the title is probably honorific, indicating that the river, {{lang|gd|[[:wikt:abhainn|Abhainn]] Fìne}} (river Fyne), was a well-respected river.

In the north the terrain is mountainous, with the [[Arrochar Alps]], {{lang|gd|[[Beinn Bhuidhe (Glen Fyne)|Beinn Bhuidhe]]|italic=no}}, [[Glen Shira]], [[Glen Fyne]], [[Glen Croe]], [[Arrochar, Argyll|Arrochar]], [[Tyndrum]] and [[Loch Lomond]] nearby.

It is overlooked by [[the Tinkers' Heart]], an old [[Scottish Gypsy and Traveller groups|travellers]]' monument.  It was a place for weddings to traditionally take place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29413463 |title=MSPs seek action over Tinkers' Heart in Argyll |website=[[BBC News]] |date=2014-09-30 |access-date=2016-12-14}}</ref>

[[Image:Scotland Map (Loch Fyne Detail) Loch Fyne.png|thumb|Loch Fyne in Scotland]]

==Transport==

===Roads===

The loch has several roads surrounding it.  The [[A83 road|A83]] goes round the head of the loch then travels down the west coast of Loch Fyne, from [[Ardrishaig]] to [[Tarbert, Kintyre|Tarbert]] along the [[Knapdale]] coast.  Leaving the A83 north of [[Cairndow]] the [[A815 road|A815]] travels down the east shore of Loch Fyne along the [[Cowal|Cowal Peninsula]] coast to [[Strachur]], where to continue down the east shore the [[A886 road|A886]] leads to [[Newton, Argyll|Newton]].  Where you turn off onto the [[B8000 road|B8000]] which carries on down the east shore to [[Millhouse, Argyll|Millhouse]], where you can go to [[Portavadie]] or [[Kames, Argyll|Kames]] (direct) or via the [[Ardlamont|Ardlamont Peninsula]], a longer route to Kames.

===Ferries===

{{main|Caledonian MacBrayne}}
At the mouth of Loch Fyne between [[Portavadie]] on the [[Cowal|Cowal Peninsula]], on the east shore of the loch. A [[Roll-on/roll-off|vehicle ferry]] traverses the loch to [[Tarbert, Kintyre|Tarbert]] on the [[Kintyre|Kintyre Peninsula]] on the west shore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.calmac.co.uk/article/2324/Portavadie|title=Portavadie Port Information &#124; Cowal & Dunoon &#124; CalMac Ferries|website=www.calmac.co.uk}}</ref>

===Crinan Canal===

{{main article|Crinan Canal}}

[[File:Bellanoch, canal reflections - geograph.org.uk - 915988.jpg|thumb|The Crinan Canal at Bellanoch]]
The [[Crinan Canal]] connects Loch Fyne at [[Ardrishaig]] and the [[Sound of Jura]] at the hamlet of [[Crinan, Argyll and Bute|Crinan]] itself, giving a shortcut for smaller vessels out to the [[Hebrides]] saving the longer route of going around the [[Kintyre|Kintyre Peninsula]]. The canal was built between 1794 and 1801 when the canal was opened, under the supervision of [[John Rennie the Elder|John Rennie]]. In 1816 [[Thomas Telford]] redesigned parts of the canal to remedy technical issues with water supplies for the canal.  There are fifteen [[Lock (water navigation)|locks]] along the canal's {{convert|9|mi|adj=on}} length.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/crinan/crinancanal/ |title=Crinan Canal Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland |publisher=Undiscoveredscotland.co.uk |access-date=2017-02-03}}</ref>

==History==

===World War II===

{{main article|Combined Operations Training Centre}}

During the [[World War II|Second 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.combinedops.com/Training%20No1%20CTC.htm |title=No. 1 Combined Training Centre, Inveraray |publisher=Combinedops.com |access-date=2017-02-01}}</ref>

==Nature and conservation==

[[Dolphin]]s, [[Pinniped|seal]]s and [[otter]]s inhabit the loch, and [[basking shark]]s can appear in its waters during the summer months. A [[Ross's gull]] was present at the loch in early 2007.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

In 2014 Loch Fyne was declared a [[Marine Protected Areas in Scotland|Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area]] (NCMPA). The designation covers the entire loch northwards from a point near [[Otter Ferry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10424|title=Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil|access-date=2 September 2019|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage}}</ref>

==Fisheries==

Loch Fyne has a reputation for its [[oyster]] fishery, and as a consequence, the loch has given its name to the once locally owned [[Loch Fyne Oysters]] and to the associated [[Loch Fyne Restaurants]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/business/Retail_and_leisure/article1682251.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410175858/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/business/Retail_and_leisure/article1682251.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 10, 2016 | title=Loch Fyne on the block| newspaper=The Sunday Times| date=2016-03-27| last1=Dunkley| first1=Daniel}}</ref> It is also notable for its [[herring]]-fishing industry, and hence the famous Loch Fyne Kipper, originally caught using the [[Drift netting|drift-net]] method. In the mid-19th century, Loch Fyne was the centre of the battle between the traditional drift-net fishermen and the new [[Trawling|trawl-net]] fishermen who sprang up around [[Tarbert, Kintyre|Tarbert]] and [[Campbeltown]] in 1833.<ref>The Rinn-Net Fishermen, Martin</ref>

Several Scottish sea-fishing records have been set in the loch:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Species !! Weight<br />lb-oz-[[Dram (unit)|dr]] !! Angler !! Date !! Method
|-
| [[Blackmouth catshark|Dogfish black mouthed]]|| 02-13-08 (1.29&nbsp;kg)|| J. H. Anderson||1977||Boat
|-
| [[Poor cod]]|| 01-00-00 (0.45&nbsp;kg)|| F. Johnstone||1970||Shore
|-
| [[Jellynose fish|Tadpole fish]] || 01-04-00 (0.57&nbsp;kg)|| H. Donnelly||1995||Shore
|-
| [[Blue whiting]] || 01-12-00 (0.79&nbsp;kg)|| J. H. Anderson||1977||Boat
|}

==Sport and leisure==

===Diving===

Loch Fyne is a popular area for [[scuba diving|sport diving]].  Off the coast at [[St Catherines, Argyll|St Catherines]], is a boulder field and a wrecked speedboat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://c-divers.com/w/information/scottish-dive-sites/st-catherines-loch-fyne/|title=St Catherines Dive Site Loch Fyne - C-Divers Central Scotland Dive Club}}</ref> At Kenmore Point is Stallion Rock, a single rock that rises from the sea bed.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

===Sight seeing===

====Castles====

{{main article|List of castles in Argyll and Bute}}

It is also a popular [[tourist]] destination with attractions such as [[Inveraray Castle]], [[Dunderave Castle]], [[Kilmory Castle]], [[Minard Castle]] and the nearby ruins of [[Castle MacEwen]] and [[Old Castle Lachlan]] around the shores of Loch Fyne.

====Crarae Garden====

Crarae Garden located 10 miles south of Inveraray, the [[National Trust for Scotland]] gardens overlook Loch Fyne.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk/view-details.php?id=493|title=Crarae Garden - Glorious Gardens of Argyll & Bute|website=www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk}}</ref>

==== Inveraray Bell Tower ====
The Loch is overlooked by the 126 feet (38 m) high [[Inveraray Bell Tower|Inverary Bell Tower]], visible from much of the Loch, and is a popular tourist attraction.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" class="center">
Image:Inveraray Bridge - Loch Fyne.jpg|[[Inveraray]] Bridge on Loch Fyne. The spires of [[Inveraray Castle]] can just be seen on the left.
Image:Wfm loch fyne.jpg|Loch Fyne at Inverary harbour.
Image:2008-08 - Plum Island and Cowal Games 543.jpg|A view towards the north-eastern tip of the loch from St Catherines.
Image:Lochfyne.JPG|The view down Loch Fyne, from Inveraray. The [[Fairy Hill]] can be seen in the distance to the right.
Image:Shoreline and Loch Fyne - geograph.org.uk - 156498.jpg|Shoreline and Loch Fyne
Image:The foreshore of Loch Fyne near Castle Lachlan. - geograph.org.uk - 412516.jpg|The foreshore of Loch Fyne near Castle Lachlan.
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Ardkinglas|Ardkinglas Railway]]
* [[Loch Fyne (Greenland)]], a fjord named in 1823 by [[Douglas Clavering]] after this loch

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{oscoor gbx|NN0765202128}}
{{Commons category|Loch Fyne}}

* [http://www.oldcastlelachlan.com/about/clan-maclachlan/ Old Castle Lachlan - website]
* [https://www.combinedops.com/Training%20No1%20CTC.htm/ Combined Operations, No 1 Combined Training Centre, Loch Fyne - website]
* [https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/crarae-garden/ National Trust, Crarae garden - website]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Loch Fyne}}
[[Category:Sea lochs of Scotland|Fyne]]
[[Category:Lochs of Argyll and Bute|Fyne]]
[[Category:Firth of Clyde]]
[[Category:Cowal]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in Scotland]]
[[Category:Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas of Scotland]]