Inverarnan Canal

The hamlet of Inverarnan with its 300-year-old inn lies in the council area of Stirling, Scotland, on the A82 road, 2.5 km south of the hamlet of Ardlui, Argyll and Bute at the head of Loch Lomond (into which the River Falloch flows), and about 10 km SW of Crianlarich. The canal was privately built with the support of steamship owners Mr David Napier and Mr John McMurrick in order to permit steamers to avoid the sometimes shallow water, gravel banks and bends of the River Falloch's course to the head of Loch Lomond and also to allow convenient travel directly to Inverarnan, which was a stagecoach stop and had a drovers' inn which provided refreshments, accommodation, etc. Mails, goods and…

Construction started in 1842; however due to very wet weather and severe winters with heavy snows, the canal was not completed until 1844, despite being only 530 yards or 485 metres long with no locks. The turning basin at New Garabal had a short landing stage and was only around 300 yards or 274 metres south of the inn. although these are no longer visible (datum 2016). It is not clear whether ships were charged for the use of the canal.