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The
village of Connel and its counter part of North Connel are just
5 miles north of Oban with
Benderloch just a few miles further north. The most striking
feature of the villages is Connel Bridge which spans the mouth
of Loch Etive at the Falls of Lora where the tide flows
vigorously creating rapids and tidal eddies which white water
canoeists love, particularly on a spring tide ebb.
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The area
is known for its beauty as it looks out over the Firth of Lorne
to the mountains of Mull and
Morvern with the lusher greener Island of
Listmore before them.
Connel Airfield, now known as Oban airport has just been
upgraded and will soon have a few small plane services to
Glasgow and the Isles. There is a railway station as this is the
last stop before the line terminus at Oban. |
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courtesy of
Rosemary Todhunter |
The
village of Connel has a shop and a few hotels. Connel bridge was
built in 1903 as a rail bridge only to link up with
Ballahulish and later it
was adjusted to allow cars to cross as well. Now this beautiful
structure alas does not carry trains at all as the line was
closed in the mid 1960s.
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Photo taken by Strathclyde University Canoe Club Released
under Attribution license. |
A
few miles
north of Connel is the village of Benderloch, with its famous
pink shop and also a seasonal cafe. There is access to Tralee
beach from Benderloch and also a really nice short hill walk up
Ben Lora for some magnificent views of the area.
There are
many routes for walking and cycling in this general vicinity and
fishing is a popular pastime for visitors as well. See our lochs
and fishing pages for details.
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