Full Steam Ahead for Ardrishaig Harbour Launch!

The Egg Shed, a £1.5 million new heritage and community hub, is set to open next month in the latest milestone marker in the regeneration of Ardrishaig Harbour.

The Scottish Canals-led partnership project has transformed and extended a historic, disused building – known locally as the ‘Egg Shed’ – into a bespoke interpretation and community centre, which sits alongside the Steamer Terminal café in Pier Square.

An official opening of the hub will take place on Friday 2nd August at 1.15pm, with the public invited to learn the stories of ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’ at the gateway to the Crinan Canal in Ardrishaig.

Pier Square will come alive between 11am and 4pm with music, activities, environmental and STEM stalls hosted by Scottish Canals, craft stalls, local makers and food and beverage at The Steamer Terminal.

Members of the public will have the option to go on a journey through time with a free walking theatre tour of the Crinan Canal, unearthing the history and tales moored along the canal banks.

The launch event will also recognise the “twinning” of the Crinan Canal with the Dalslands Canal in Sweden, encouraging boaters to explore the partnered waterways. An official plaque will be unveiled on the day commemorating the twinning.

“The Egg Shed has brought the many incredible tales of Mid-Argyll to life and marks the exciting next step in the redevelopment of Ardrishaig Harbour, as a vibrant leisure, tourism and maritime hub. It's one of the first projects to be delivered following the Crinan Canal Charette held a couple of years ago.

“The Crinan Canal is widely used by visiting yachts and fishermen today, but many of them pass through the waterway without knowing the rich history and heritage associated with the Scheduled Monument. The Egg Shed provides the perfect opportunity to learn about the canal and surrounding area, whilst The Steamer Terminal offers food and beverage, making it a worthwhile place to stop.”

Chris Breslin, Head of Regeneration and Development at Scottish Canals

In addition to telling the story of the local area, the Egg Shed includes space for community activities and a range of attractions including art installations, pop-up exhibitions and opportunities for training, social enterprises and community groups. An array of public realm and access improvements also form part of the project, with plans to create new viewpoints and walkways around the building and new access connections with Ardrishaig.

The Egg Shed project is funded by the Scottish Government and the European Community Argyll and the Islands LEADER 2014-2020 programme; the National Lottery Heritage Fund; the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund; Scottish Canals; Argyll and Bute Council’s Tarbert & Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund; Highlands & Islands Enterprise; SUSTRANS Community Links Fund; Shanks Argyll & Bute and Argyll & Bute Council through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund; and Ardrishaig Community Trust.

Notes to Editors

About Scottish Canals

  • Scottish Canals is responsible to the Scottish Government for the management and development of five Scottish canals as well as the surrounding estate and The Falkirk Wheel. See www.ScottishCanals.co.uk or follow @ScottishCanals for more information
  • The Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals in the Lowlands, the Crinan Canal in Argyll and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands, together extend over 137 miles from coast to coast, across country and into the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness
  • Built two hundred years ago to fire the Industrial Revolution, today the canals contribute to the Scottish Government agenda of developing a Greener; Healthier; Smarter; Safer and Stronger; and Wealthier and Fairer Scotland by acting as a catalyst for sustainable economic development, regeneration and tourism; contributing to education, biodiversity, heritage and promoting active living and healthier lifestyles
  • Today Scottish Canals is utilising these 18th century assets along with innovative technology to tackle modern problems. Through working with partners to create pioneering systems, Scottish Canals is helping to combat flooding and driving positive transformation in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas
  • The Forth & Clyde, Union, Monkland, Caledonian and Crinan canals are recognised as Scheduled Monuments and attract 22million visits per year. See www.scottishcanals.co.uk for more information

About the Crinan Canal

  • Meandering through the ancient coastal kingdom known as ‘Dalriada’ in the Heart of Argyll, the nine-mile-long canal links Ardrishaig at the Firth of Clyde with the picturesque village of Crinan and the world-class sailing of the west coast.
  • Once a thriving freight artery, the 200-year waterway may be home to yachts and barges rather than Clyde Puffers nowadays but it’s still a vital link for boaters looking to avoid the long journey around the Mull of Kintyre.
  • More than 1,600 vessels from all over the world transit the Crinan Canal each year.

About the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.heritagefund.org.uk.  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund

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