The Crinan Canal: Britain's most beautiful shortcut'

Known as 'Britain's most beautiful shortcut', the Crinal Canal runs from Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne nine miles across the Kintyre peninsula to the west coast of Scotland. Designed by John Rennie after initial survey work by James Watt in 1771, the canal was opened in 1801, with further improvements made by Thomas Telford in the second decade of the nineteenth century.

The canal was originally planned to save commercial ships having to make the long journey from the industrial region around Glas...