Gryffe Camera Club Outing - Saturday 4th July 2009

We are off to the Crinan Canal for this years Summer outing. Here is the proposed itinerary.  The bus is free to members and non-members will be £8 each. 

8.00 Kilmacolm Cross

8.10 BoW Car Park

8.20 Carrick Centre

8:30 Georgetown Road to Erskine Bridge

10.45 (estimated) Inveraray - 15 min stop

11.00 (estimated) depart Inveraray

11.45 (estimated) Cairnbaan - disembark if planning to be involved in lock duties or cyling/walking to Crinan (4.5 miles)

Bellanoch – disembark if walking to Crinan (2 miles)

12.10 (estimated) – Crinan

Crinan Classic Boat Festival is on - an informal celebration of wooden boats, with events for all. The smaller, slower boats will be racing around markers within Loch Crinan, providing spectators ashore with a beautiful spectacle of fine vessels. The larger boats will be racing around some of the same marks but also into Loch Craignish & the Sound of Jura.

Highland Games. A chance for all to take part & let their hair down! Rowing races, row boat tug-o-war, haggis hurling & more.

The Puffer VIC 32 will be doing two-hour boat trips from the pier in Crinan.

Four P2000 Navy Patrol Boats will be open for the public to have guided tours.

The Crinan Hotel & Coffee Shop are right in the centre of the village. The Hotel has a couple of bars & restaurants, but suggest bringing packed lunches & snacks as Hotel will be very busy. The canal basin at Crinan near where the Crinan Canal enters Loch Crinan & the open sea is a delightful place. Here you can wander along a network of paths, lock gates, towpaths & shoreline, simply enjoying this stunning location.

Harbour - Here there is a pier & the sheltered moorings of an impressive collection of craft, all overlooked by a line of cottages. So, plenty of great photo opportunities.

4.30 - Depart Crinan

6.30 (estimated) – Helensburgh – more photo opportunities & 46 places to eat:-

• Bar/Café 8
• Fast Food/Take Away 7
• Pub 12 Restaurant 9
• Chinese/Oriental 2
• Indian/Balti 2
• Italian & Pizzeria 1
• Mediterranean/Middle
• Eastern 1
• Pubs With Restaurants 1
• Seafood, Fish or Fish & Chips 1
• Traditional 1
• Wine Bar 1

8.00 – depart