Crinan Canal

The Crinan Canal between Crinan and Ardrishaig in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland is operated by Scottish Canals. The canal, which opened in 1801, takes its name from the village of Crinan at its western end. Approximately nine miles (14 km) long, the canal connects the village of Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp with the Sound of Jura, providing a navigable route between the Clyde and the Inner Hebrides, without the need for a long diversion around the Kintyre peninsula, and in particular the exposed Mull of Kintyre.

Ardrishaig (listen) (Scottish Gaelic: Àird Driseig) is a coastal village on Loch Gilp, at the southern (eastern) entrance to the Crinan Canal in Argyll and Bute in the west of Scotland. It lies immediately to the south of Lochgilphead, with the nearest larger town being Oban.

Cairnbaan (Scottish Gaelic: An Càrn Bàn) is a village situated on the Crinan Canal, in Argyll and Bute, western Scotland.Cairnbaan is about halfway between Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp at the canal's eastern end and Crinan on the Sound of Jura to the west. Its name, from Scottish Gaelic, means white hill or white cairn.

Loch A' Bharain (the Baron's Loch) is an impounding reservoir which sits directly on the north bank of the Crinan Canal beside lock No.9, 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of Cairnbaan, and is one of a number of reservoirs supplying water to the canal. The earthfill dam is 5.6 metres (18 ft) high and was constructed before 1801.