Corran Ferry
Encyclopedia
The Corran Ferry crosses Loch Linnhe
at the Corran Narrows, south of Fort William, Scotland
.
, the Corran Ferry is one of few remaining mainland vehicle ferries in Scotland. The route crosses Loch Linnhe
from Nether Lochaber to Ardgour, at the Corran Narrows, nine miles south of Fort William
.
The ferry links the main A82 road
with Morvern
, Moidart
and Ardnamurchan
, via the village of Strontian
. It also provides a link to Lochaline
, thirty miles to the south west, from where a ferry crosses to Mull
. Close to the western slipway are Corran Lighthouse and the Ardgour Inn. The route lies on one of the ancient drove routes from the Hebrides to the cattle markets in Central Scotland.
The , launched in 1976 in Ardrossan, spent her early years operating between Kylesku
and Kylestrome in the far north west of Scotland. She was displaced when the Kylesku Bridge opened in 1984. She continues as the backup ferry on the route.
The Rosehaugh was displaced from the Kessock Ferry
in 1982 by the opening of the Kessock Bridge
. She was retired in 2001 after 32 years in service on various routes across the Highlands.
The Corran replaced the Rosehaugh in late 2001. She was built in Hull
for £2.9m and brought additional capacity to the crossing.
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
at the Corran Narrows, south of Fort William, Scotland
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
.
Description
Operated by Highland CouncilHighland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
, the Corran Ferry is one of few remaining mainland vehicle ferries in Scotland. The route crosses Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
from Nether Lochaber to Ardgour, at the Corran Narrows, nine miles south of Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
.
The ferry links the main A82 road
A82 road
The A82 is a trunk road in Scotland. It is the principal route from Lowland Scotland to the western Scottish Highlands, running from Glasgow to Inverness, going by Loch Lomond, Glen Coe and Fort William. It is the second longest primary A-road in Scotland after the A9, which is the other...
with Morvern
Morvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
, Moidart
Moidart
Moidart is a district in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland.Moidart lies to the west of Fort William and is very remote. Loch Shiel cuts off the south-east boundary of the district. Moidart includes the townships of Dorlin, Mingarry, Kinlochmoidart and Glenuig. At Dorlin is located the ancient fortress...
and Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. Its remoteness is accentuated by the main access route being a single track road for much of its length.-Geography:...
, via the village of Strontian
Strontian
Strontian is the main village in Sunart, an area in western Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, on the A861 road. It lies on the north shore of Loch Sunart, close to the head of the loch...
. It also provides a link to Lochaline
Lochaline
Lochaline is the main village in Morvern. It is situated at the mouth of Loch Aline, on the northern shore. Lochaline is connected with Fishnish on the Isle of Mull by ferry....
, thirty miles to the south west, from where a ferry crosses to Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
. Close to the western slipway are Corran Lighthouse and the Ardgour Inn. The route lies on one of the ancient drove routes from the Hebrides to the cattle markets in Central Scotland.
Ferries
There has been a ferry at the site for centuries. The Highland Queen, a turntable ferry, was on the route in the 1930s. Her deck rotated to allow two cars to drive easily onto the slipway.The , launched in 1976 in Ardrossan, spent her early years operating between Kylesku
Kylesku
Kylesku is a small, remote fishing hamlet in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. Until 1984, it was the site of a free ferry.-Village:Kylesku is located where Loch Glencoul and Loch Gleann Dubh join to form a sea passage Loch a' Chàirn Bhàin which links to Eddrachillis Bay...
and Kylestrome in the far north west of Scotland. She was displaced when the Kylesku Bridge opened in 1984. She continues as the backup ferry on the route.
The Rosehaugh was displaced from the Kessock Ferry
Kessock Ferry
The Kessock Ferry used to ply between Inverness and the Black Isle, across the Beauly Firth. It was withdrawn on the opening of the Kessock Bridge in 1982.-Service:...
in 1982 by the opening of the Kessock Bridge
Kessock Bridge
The Kessock Bridge carries the A9 trunk road across the Beauly Firth at Inverness.-Description:The Kessock Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge across the Beauly Firth, an inlet of the Moray Firth, between the village of North Kessock and the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.The bridge has a...
. She was retired in 2001 after 32 years in service on various routes across the Highlands.
The Corran replaced the Rosehaugh in late 2001. She was built in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
for £2.9m and brought additional capacity to the crossing.