Britain's most beautiful shortcut

Susan Ross and her husband, John, enjoy the tranquility of the Crinan Canal as they save sea miles aboard their Mirage 26.

- Susan Ross

Around 15 years ago my husband, John, and I took our first boat, a Westerly 25, through the Great Glen's Caledonian Canal (PBO, Summer 2011). It was an experience which gave me, a non-sailor, some much needed confidence for the years ahead.

For the last eight years, we've owned a Mirage 26, Calypso, based in Portavadie Marina, Loch Fyne. If truth be told, my confidence at sailing in open waters has ebbed and flowed over these years.

We have anchored in Loch Spelve, Isle of Mull then in sheltered Loch Gair, sailed through the Kyles of Bute many times, to anchor in the disturbingly named Wreck Bay, then tested my comfort on board when a big swell continued all night, as we moored in Lochranza Bay at the north of the Isle of Arran. Meanwhile, John has also continued his adventures as a solo sailor, rounding the tricky Mull of Kintyre twice, exploring the Inner Hebrides of Islay, Jura, Gigha, Oronsay and more.

Now, wishing to sail further afield, John wanted to take Calypso through the Crinan Canal-known as Britain's most beautiful shortcut. This time, I didn't need to be persuaded to join him.

Instead of purely seeing this as a quicker transfer to the open seas, we were determined to step ashore along the way and enjoy the tranquility of this canal.

Crinan Canal took eight years to construct and was first opened in 1801, creating a safe passage from The Clyde to the west coast, avoiding the long, arduous journey around the Mull of Kintyre. New sea locks were built between 1930 and 1932, making the canal accessible at any state of tide.

For modern sailors it's only a two-hour passage from Portavadie Marina to Ardrishaig Harbour, the eastern entrance to this nine-mile canal and the starting point of our adventure.