Loch Long

For other uses, see Loch Long (disambiguation).

Loch Long is a body of water in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The sea loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end, to the Arrochar Alps at the head of the loch. It measures approximately 20 miles (30 kilometres) in length, with a width of between one and two miles (two and three kilometres). The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its western side.

Loch Long
Looking down Loch Long from the torpedo testing facility. The houses to the left are at Ardmay.
Loch Long
Location	Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Coordinates	56.034395°N 4.8855839°W / 56.034395; -4.8855839, grid reference NS2031486146
Type	Sea Loch
Basin countries	Scotland, United Kingdom
Frozen	No

Loch Long forms part of the coast of the Cowal Peninsula, and forms the entire western coastline of the Rosneath Peninsula.

Loch Long was historically the boundary between Argyll and Dunbartonshire; however, boundary redrawing in 1996 meant that it moved wholly within the council area of Argyll and Bute.^[1]

Villages on Loch Long

Villages and hamlets on the loch include.

• Arrochar
• Succoth
• Portincaple
• Coulport
• Ardpeaton
• Cove
• Ardgartan
• Ardentinny
• Blairmore

Royal Navy

See also: HMNB Clyde and Royal Navy

On the eastern shore of the Loch is the Royal Navy's Coulport Armament depot, with the Glen Mallan jetty, both part of Defence Munitions Glen Douglas. Part of the extensive Royal Navy's, His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.^[2][3]

Historic

In Arrochar, the Royal Naval Torpedo Testing Station and Range was established on the Loch in 1912, in connection with the Clyde Torpedo Works on Eldon Street, Greenock, established in 1910. Both sites are now closed.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

Finnart Oil Terminal

The Finnart Oil Terminal is located on the eastern shore of the loch, linked to the Grangemouth Refinery via a 58-mile-long (93-kilometre) pipeline.^[9]

In September 2024, it was announced that the oil terminal is scheduled for closure.^[10]

Environment and concerns

Loch Long has a long term issue with rubbish collecting at the head of the loch. Rubbish mainly washed down water courses from the Glasgow area.^[11][12]

History

The name is not a reference to the loch's length; it actually comes from the Gaelic for "ship lake". Prior to their defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263, Viking raiders sailed up Loch Long to Arrochar, and then dragged their longships 2 miles overland to Tarbet and into Loch Lomond. Being inland, the settlements around Loch Lomond were more vulnerable to attack.^[13]

Transport

The steamboat Chancellor used to traverse the loch, departing Dunoon at 11:00 and returning about five hours later.^[14] PS Waverley was also built to serve Loch Long and Loch Goil from 1947,^[15] a route that she still sailed as of 2021,^[16] albeit as more of an attraction than a primary means of transport.

Gallery

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  20210815 Loch Long
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  'Fida' In Loch Long
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  Loch Long and Ardentinny
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  Admiralty Chart No 3739
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  Loch Long At Ardentinny