Loch Long

Loch Long is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, stretching twenty miles inland from the Firth of Clyde to the Arrochar Alps. Its width varies between one and two miles, and it has a western arm called Loch Goil. The loch forms the western coast of the Rosneath Peninsula and part of the Cowal Peninsula. Historically, it marked the boundary between Argyll and Dunbartonshire until boundary changes in 1996 moved it fully into Argyll and Bute. Viking raiders once sailed up the loch to reach Loch Lomond by dragging their ships overland. The loch’s Gaelic name means ‘ship lake’, reflecting its long use as a waterway. Steamers once crossed its waters, including the PS Waverley, built in 1947 to serve Loch Long and Loch Goil. Fishing reports from 1900 describe poor herring catches, driving local crews to other waters. On its eastern shore stands Coulport Armament Depot, part of the Royal Navy’s base at Faslane. Nearby, the Finnart Oil Terminal links to Grangemouth Refinery via a ninety-three-kilometre pipeline. Visitors find a loch ringed by hills and small villages. The Arrochar Alps rise at its head, offering walking routes. Glen Mallan jetty serves the naval depot, while the old steamer pier at Arrochar recalls past voyages. Rubbish often collects at the loch’s head, carried downstream from Glasgow. Low-level radioactive traces have been detected near Coulport, linked to maintenance issues at the depot. Despite these concerns, the loch remains a scenic stretch of water with a history tied to transport, defence and industry.