Crinan Canal winter works: Landscaping and access improvements

We returned to Crinan Basin on Monday 2nd February, to complete the landscaping and access improvement works begun in 2025.

Our principal contractors, Mackenzie Construction Ltd and George McNaughton & Son, will carry out the works. The design plan for the Crinan Basin was created following our community engagement sessions in July 2024 and retains the basin’s unique character while improving accessibility for all users.  

These works are backed by funding from the Scottish Government and will be delivered through a partnership between Scottish Canals, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans), and Argyll and Bute Council. 

What will the works involve this year? 

The planned works focus on continued accessibility improvements, improving moorings, and improving the transition through the basin for boaters.  Works will begin in the week commencing 2nd February.

Dummy Lock Improvements (funded by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust)

At the dummy lock, we’ll install a new walkway to provide improved access over to the lock 15 sea lock gate. This new walkway will look like our existing lock gate walkways and will also serve to hide the sheet piling on the basin-side of the dummy lock. 

We’ll also create a path connection from the end of the dummy lock to the towpath on the north side of the basin, which forms part of the National Cycling Network Route 78 spur, and widen the existing footpath alongside Seaview Cottage towards the dummy lock and the new walkway. 

We will also install cycle racks near to the café and create a public herb garden at the end of the basin in an existing unused stone planter. 

We’ll also remove the existing Heras fencing around our inspection access hatch and replace it with a temporary timber fence, improving the visual appearance of the dummy lock surrounds. 

Lock 14 access improvements 

At Lock 14, we’ll install ramped access to the lower lock gates walkway and install a new path from the NCN spur up to the lower gates, giving access to the picnic benches on the south side of the canal. 

We’ll install new steps and handrail from the basin up to the bus stop, making the risers more manageable for people with limited mobility. 

The new steps and lock 14 works will be funded by Argyll and Bute Council. 

Planning and Scheduled Monument Consent 

The works around Crinan Basin are permitted developments under Class 35 and Class 36 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. 

Scheduled Monument Consent permission has been received from Historic Environment Scotland as required. 

Local access and information for residents and visitors 

We expect working hours on site to be from 7am-6pm, seven days a week.  

Mackenzie Construction will use part of the basin car park for their site accommodation. This means they can use the existing electricity supply and won’t need to run generators, reducing noise impact. There will be vehicle and plant movements between our localised work sites and the main compound in the car park. They, and our other contractor George McNaughton & Son, will leave spaces in the north side of the car park for the public.

Update: 18th February 2026

The project remains well on track for us to complete the scope of work by the end of March this year.  

The new steps being constructed at the coffee shop will be made of stone and will include a handrail in the same style as the one near the Sea Lock Office. When we inspected the existing steps near the coffee shop, we found that the treads and risers were all different sizes. Combined with the old handrail, this meant they no longer met current standards, and they were noted in our engagement with the community as being difficult for some users, particularly older people. We were able to secure funding from Argyll & Bute Council to bring them up to modern accessibility requirements, which will benefit all users, especially as these steps are the main access point to the bus stop.

The lowered section of path at Boateak will soon be re-paved to provide a level surface, removing the current ramps that are inaccessible to wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. This will improve the accessibility of the route around the basin.

View a summary of all of winter works around Crinan Basin.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about the works, please get in touch with us at CrinanCanalUpdates@scottishcanals.co.uk or on 01546 603210 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).  Should you need to contact the team urgently out with these hours, please call Scottish Canals’ emergency number, 0800 072 9900 (open 24 hours a day for reporting an immediate threat to the environment, wildlife or public safety).