Crinan Canal trail

THE final part of the Dalriada Project, 62 miles of walking routes linking the Crinan Canal was launched on Friday 11th March.

This £3 millions Heritage Lottery funded initiative in Argyll, was launched by VisitScotland Chairman Mike Cantlay, (pictured) a new 19 miles Heritage Trail that is part of a 62 miles Access Network of walking routes that links over 800 ancient monuments from Carnasserie Castle near Kilmartin to the Crinan Canal.

World-class heritage features

The Dalriada Project's new purpose built walking trails feature interpretation boards, leaflets and podcasts, and encompass an area with world-class natural and cultural heritage features including the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve, Dunadd Fort—where the first Kings of Scotland were crowned—ancient Atlantic oak woodlands, the finest prehistoric rock art in Europe and a unique linear cemetery where walkers can go into bronze age tombs and walk around stone circles.

Brought in by helicopter

So sensitive are parts of the landscape that stone slabs had to be brought in by helicopter to create ingenious clapper bridges across areas of internationally protected moss land.

Working with the huge alliance behind the scheme, were British Waterways Scotland, Waterways Trust, Historic Scotland and a Crinan Canal Tourism Development Project.