BLUE500 - Scotland's Great Loop
Explore the Loop / Leg D · Leg E

Crinan Sea Lock

Leg E begins at the western entrance to the Crinan Canal. Crinan combines the sea lock, sheltered basin, formal long-term Scottish Canals moorings, Crinan Boatyard and the Crinan Hotel, making it both a route milestone and a major service/layover location.

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Why this stop matters

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Leg E begins at the western entrance to the Crinan Canal. Crinan combines the sea lock, sheltered basin, formal long-term Scottish Canals moorings, Crinan Boatyard and the Crinan Hotel, making it both a route milestone and a major service/layover location.

The 2026 Crinan Canal season runs 1 May-30 September, 08:30-17:00 daily. Operating draft is currently 2.0m freshwater until further notice. There are no transit pontoons at Lock 14, so passage from the sea lock must be coordinated with Lock 13/14 staff. Short-term licences include designated overnight berthing and boater facilities. Crinan Basin offers sheltered formal moorings; Crinan Boatyard adds visitor/long-stay moorings, fuel, repairs, chandlery and winter storage.

At a glance

What a cruiser needs to know

Visitor berthingBasin/designated overnight moorings form part of canal transit arrangements.
LayoverFormal Scottish Canals long-term moorings plus Crinan Boatyard options. Formal seasonal/annual + boatyard options; 1-8 week temporary stay to confirm. Afloat or ashore FIELD CHECK.
FuelFuel available via Crinan Boatyard.
Water & powerWater available; limited shore power at key canal points including Crinan.
Launch / liftCrinan Boatyard slipping/cradle capability; exact small-craft limits FIELD CHECK. Crinan Boatyard commercial slipping facility. FIELD CHECK.
Repairs / boatyardStrong boatyard/chandlery support.
AshoreCrinan Canal, west-coast views and Mid-Argyll heritage. Crinan Hotel and Coffee Shop.

Field verification still required

Confirm current sea-lock tidal window and Lock 14 arrangements; overnight berth before beginning the canal; temporary unattended layover of 1-8 weeks; shore-power/security/keyholding; and practical launch/recovery limits at Crinan Boatyard. Record how water-conservation grouping affects real transit timing.

Primary source

Check current official information

BLUE500 organises the route, but operational and navigation-critical information must remain current.

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