[7] The canal was built to provide a shortcut for commercial sailing and fishing vessels and later Clyde puffers to travel between the industrialised region around Glasgow to the West Highland villages and islands.

3. c. 104), it was designed by civil engineer John Rennie and work started in 1794, but was not completed until 1801, two years later than planned.

Landowners demanded high prices for their land and navvies were reluctant to leave jobs in more accessible parts of England and Scotland.

[9] The canal company, headed by the Duke of Argyll, had to seek help from the government, who asked Thomas Telford to assess the problems.

He suggested improvements to the locks, and some parts of the canal were redesigned including the swing bridges which were replaced in cast iron in 1816.

It is operated by a rotating handle and a cogged wheel which causes the bridge deck to roll forwards and backwards on rails and comes to rest across the lock chamber.

[21] The canal has towpaths on both sides from Ardrishaig to Crinan Bridge (no longer) and horses assisted unpowered craft until 1959.

The Crinan Canal for me, I don't like the wild raging sea, It would be too terrific to cross the Pacific, Or sail to Japan or Fiji.

A life on the Spanish Main, I think it would drive me insane, The big foaming breakers would give me the shakers, The Crinan Canal for me.