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75-554: Irvine Bay is on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde , on the coast of North Ayrshire in the West of Scotland . The area is famous for its long sweeping sandy beaches and views across to the Island of Arran. In fact, Irvine Bay itself is a 14-mile stretch of sandy coastline with a range of leisure facilities, including good access to golf and sailing facilities. Irvine, North Ayrshire

150-558: A few of the cairns have been radiocarbon dated . A cairn at Monamore on Arran has been dated to 3160 BC, although other evidence suggests that it was almost certainly built earlier than that, possibly around 4000 BC. The area also features numerous standing stones dating from prehistoric times, including six stone circles on Machrie Moor in Arran, and other examples on Great Cumbrae and Bute. Later, Bronze Age settlers also constructed megaliths at various sites. Many of them date from

225-540: A form of Gaelic (a modern version of which is still spoken today in the Hebrides ). During this period, through the efforts of Saint Ninian and others, Christianity slowly supplanted Druidism . The kingdom of Dál Riata flourished from the rule of Fergus Mór in the late 5th century until the Viking incursions beginning in the late 8th century. Islands close to the shores of modern Ayrshire presumably remained part of

300-592: A geological perspective, some of the islands are in the Highlands and some in the Central Lowlands . As a result of Arran's geological similarity to Scotland, it is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature" and the island is a popular destination for geologists . They come to Arran to study its intrusive igneous landforms , such as sills and dykes , as well as its sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks, which range widely in age. Visiting in 1787,

375-645: A joint venture between Ineos and Petrochina . A second pipeline brings back refined oil products to the Finart Oil Terminal for export (in smaller oil tankers) mainly to Northern Ireland . On the upper Clyde, at Govan and Scotstoun both in Glasgow , two major shipyards are still in operation. They are owned by BAE Systems , whose major client is the Royal Navy . On the lower Clyde, only one shipyard still operates, Ferguson Marine , which

450-469: A plan to increase his territorial possessions. He persuaded a king of Scotland ( Malcolm III or Edgar ) to agree that he could take possession of an area of land on the west coast of Scotland if a ship could sail around it. Magnus then arranged for one of his longships to be dragged across the 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi)-long isthmus at the northern tip of the Kintyre peninsula, which connects Kintyre to

525-607: A rare type of micro-granite containing riebeckite , known as "Ailsite". It is used by Kays of Scotland to make curling stones. (As of 2004, 60 to 70% of all curling stones in use globally were made from granite quarried on the island.) Like the rest of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde was covered by ice sheets during the Pleistocene ice ages , and the landscape has been much affected by glaciation . Back then, Arran's highest peaks may have been nunataks . Sea-level changes and

600-958: A result of this maneuver, he was able to claim possession of the peninsula, which remained under Norse rule for more than a dozen years. ) There are also several islets and skerries in Loch Fyne, which extends 65 kilometres (40 mi) inland from the Sound of Bute , and is the longest of Scotland's sea lochs. They are: Duncuan Island, Eilean Ardgaddan, Eilean a' Bhuic, Eilean Aoghainn, Eilean a' Chomhraig, Eilean an Dúnain, Eilean Buidhe (Ardmarnock), Eilean Buidhe ( Portavadie ), Eilean Fraoch, Eilean Math-ghamhna, Eilean Mór, Glas Eilean, Heather Island, Inverneil Island, Kilbride Island, and Liath Eilean. There are several islets surrounding Horse Isle in North Ayrshire : Broad Rock, East Islet, Halftide Rock, High Rock and North Islet. Lady Isle lies off

675-544: A significant presence on the Firth of Clyde, HMNB Clyde is known as Faslane within the navy and is located on Loch Long . HMNB Clydes role is with the servicing and maintenance of the UK submarine defence fleet. The base has other locations around the Firth. Babcock International . are involved in the engineering and operations at the base. On Loch Long , at Glen Mallan, the Northern Ammunition Jetty

750-521: A small enclosing chamber into which the person's body was placed. They are faced with large slabs of stone set on end (sometimes subdivided into smaller compartments). They also feature a forecourt area, which may have been used for displays or rituals associated with interment. They are mostly found in Arran, Bute, and Kintyre. It is thought likely that the Clyde cairns were the earliest forms of Neolithic monument constructed by incoming settlers. However, only

825-852: A vital military role during World War II . The Firth is sometimes called the Clyde Waters or Clyde Sea , and is customarily considered to be part of the Irish Sea . At the north of the Firth, Loch Long and the Gare Loch join the Firth; these lochs are separated by the Rosneath Peninsula . Off Greenock , an anchorage, known as the Tail of the Bank narrows the estuary of the River Clyde to 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. ( The "Bank"

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900-620: Is 1,825 hectares (4,510 acres). (Coordinates: 55°56'32"N 04°36'32"W) In September 2008, Scotland's first No Take Zone (NTZ) was introduced in Lamlash Bay , on the Isle of Arran . The result of a community effort, led by the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (C.O.A.S.T) . The NTZ was introduced to protect delicate marine communities, such as Maerl . Maerl is a slow-growing coral-like calcareous red algae (it grows only 1 mm per year) and

975-477: Is a new town towards the centre of the bay and is the centre for North Ayrshire local authority. To the north lie Saltcoats , Stevenston and Ardrossan , often known as the three towns. Ardrossan is the main ferry port for travelling to the Isle of Arran . Around 700,000 visitors pass through the town each year on their way to one of Scotland's popular holiday spots. Inland is Kilwinning , an ancient Abbey town. The Irvine Bay Regeneration initiative

1050-653: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Firth of Clyde The Firth of Clyde , is the estuary of the River Clyde , on the west coast of Scotland. The Firth has some of the deepest coastal waters of the British Isles . The Firth is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre Peninsula . The Firth lies between West Dunbartonshire in the north, Argyll and Bute in

1125-421: Is a reference to a sandbank and shoal ) The River Clyde estuary has an upper tidal limit located at the tidal weir next to Glasgow Green . The geographical (and popular) distinction between the Firth and the River Clyde is vague. Some refer to Dumbarton as being "on the Firth of Clyde "; while at the same time, the residents of Port Glasgow and Greenock often refer to the part of the Firth that lies to

1200-493: Is a table listing the nine islands of the Firth of Clyde that have an area greater than 40 hectares (approximately 100 acres), showing their population and listing the smaller uninhabited islets adjacent to them (including tidal islets separated only when the tide is higher, and skerries exposed only when the tide is lower). As of 2001, six of the islands were inhabited, but that included one with only two residents ( Davaar ), and one with only one resident ( Sanda ). At

1275-403: Is a total of 200 hours of bright sunshine during that 3-month period each year. Southern Bute benefits from a particularly large number of sunny days. Mesolithic humans arrived in the area of the Firth of Clyde during the 4th millennium BC, probably from Ireland . This initial arrival was followed by another wave of Neolithic peoples using the same route. In fact, there is some evidence that

1350-607: Is an important Scottish species. Maerl beds are locations of high biodiversity and are crucial nursery grounds for both young scallops and young fish. Studies show that both scallop dredging and organic waste from fish farms, significantly impact Maerl. Scallop dredging on a Maerl bed has been found to kill over 70% of the Maerl. Monitoring the dredged bed over the next four years found no discernible recovery, suggesting that Maerl beds would require many years free of disturbance in order to recover. In 2014, 71,200 hectares (712 km ) at

1425-603: Is improving the town centres, creating better business accommodation and attempting to reconnect communities with the sea. The area has suffered from the gradual decline of local manufacturing industries which Irvine Bay Regeneration Company is attempting to reverse. To the south is the small town of Troon , a popular golfing centre. Troon is outside the Irvine Bay regeneration area. 55°35′49″N 4°42′58″W  /  55.597°N 4.716°W  / 55.597; -4.716 This North Ayrshire location article

1500-525: Is located next to Newark Castle, Port Glasgow . The Scottish Government now own the yard. The Garvel Dry Dock in Greenock continues in operation for ship repair. The large Inchgreen Dry Dock in Greenock is in occasional use. The remains of former sites of shipyards on the Clyde are being redeveloped into areas that contain residential housing, leisure facilities, and commercial buildings. On

1575-548: Is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne , the Public Service provider. This service carries only foot passengers and connects directly with the ScotRail service to Glasgow . Western Ferries , is a Private Limited Company , it operates the service between Hunters Quay and McInroy's Point near to Gourock. This service carries all types of vehicular transport, as well as foot passengers. The Kintyre peninsula forms

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1650-549: Is the most visited attraction owned by the National Trust for Scotland . Ocean liners frequently call at Greenock, and Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport are nearby. There is frequent rail service to and from the Clyde coast, including links to Oban and Fort William , with city terminals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also daily ferry service between the area and Belfast. The Firth hosted

1725-847: Is the same latitude as Labrador in Canada and north of the Aleutian Islands . However, the influence of the North Atlantic Drift —the northern extension of the Gulf Stream —moderates the winter weather. As a result, the area enjoys a mild, damp oceanic climate. Temperatures are generally cool, averaging about 6  °C (43  °F ) in January and 14 °C (57 °F) in July at sea level. Snow seldom lies at sea level, and frosts are generally less frequent than they are on

1800-644: Is thought that grazing pressures and insect damage are preventing regeneration of the woodland. The Catacol whitebeam was discovered in 2007, but only two specimens have been found, so steps have been taken to protect them. The Roman historian Tacitus refers to the Clota , meaning the Clyde. The derivation is not certain but is probably from the Brythonic Clouta , which became Clut in Old Welsh . The name literally means "wash", probably referring to

1875-559: The 2011 census , there was no one usually resident on either of these islands. The islets that lie remote from the larger islands are described separately below. There are two islets in Gare Loch: Green Island and Perch Rock. Gare Loch is small, but it hosts the Faslane Naval Base , where the UK's Trident nuclear submarines are located. At its southern end, the loch opens into the Firth of Clyde via

1950-579: The Battle of Largs , which was fought on the Firth, in 1263, was a geopolitical turning point: It marked the end of Norse ambitions in Britain. Beginning in the 16th century, the Firth increasingly became a conduit for commercial and industrial products, including: herring; timber; wine; sugar; tobacco; textiles; iron and steel; coal; oil; industrial chemicals; distillation and brewing; ships, locomotives, and other vehicles; and other manufactured products. In

2025-567: The Catacol whitebeam . All of them are found only in Gleann Diomhan, and they are amongst the most endangered tree species in the world. (Gleann Diomhan was formerly part of a designated national nature reserve —the designation was removed in 2011)- and it continues to be part of an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest .) Only 283 Arran whitebeam and 236 cut-leaved whitebeam were recorded as mature trees in 1980, and it

2100-858: The Diocese of Sodor and Man , based at Peel , on the Isle of Man . After 1387, the seat of the Bishopric of the Isles was relocated to the north, first to Snizort on Skye and then to Iona . This arrangement continued until the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, when Scotland broke with the Catholic Church. The mid-1700s marked the beginning of a century of significant change. New forms of transport, industry, and agriculture brought an end to ways of life that had endured for centuries. The Battle of Culloden in 1746 foreshadowed

2175-548: The Ferguson Marine shipbuilding yard, adjacent to Newark Castle, Port Glasgow , is the last merchant shipbuilder on the Clyde, and it is owned by the Scottish Government. In Greenock, the large dry dock and ship-repair facilities at Inchgreen opened in 1964, and were subsequently taken over by Scott Lithgow . The dry dock there is 305 metres (1,001 ft) long and 44 metres (144 ft) wide. With

2250-604: The Kingdom of Strathclyde during this period, whilst the main islands became part of the emerging Kingdom of Alba founded by Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín). Beginning in the 9th century and into the 13th century, the Islands of the Clyde constituted a border zone between the Norse Suðreyjar and Scotland, and many of them were under Norse hegemony. Beginning in the last half of the 12th century, and then into

2325-604: The Rhu narrows. There are also several islets in the Kilbrannan Sound , which lies between Arran and the Kintyre peninsula. They are: An Struthlag, Cour Island, Eilean Carrach ( Carradale ), Eilean Carrach ( Skipness ), Eilean Grianain, Eilean Sunadale, Gull Isle, Island Ross and Thorn Isle. (The Norse sagas tell a story about the Kintyre peninsula. In the late 11th century, a king of Norway ( Magnus Barefoot ) devised

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2400-459: The golden eagle . In 1981, there were 28 ptarmigans sighted on Arran, but in 2009 it was reported that extensive surveys had been unable to find any recorded ptarmigans sightings. Similarly, the red-billed chough no longer breeds on the island. Arran has three species of the rare endemic trees known as Arran Whitebeams : the Scottish or Arran whitebeam ; the cut-leaved whitebeam ; and

2475-412: The isostatic rise of land after the last retreat of the ice created clifflines behind raised beaches , which are a prominent feature of the entire coastline. The action of these forces has made charting the post glacial coastlines a complex task. The various soil types on the islands reflect their diverse geology. Bute has the most productive land, and it has a pattern of deposits that is typical of

2550-579: The 16 December 2015, an area to the south of Arran received a Marine Protected Area designation. The water quality of the Firth is monitored by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). SEPA have had a monitoring buoy located off the coast of Dunoon since 2009, with data collected every 15 minutes. The Firth of Clyde has some of the deepest sea channels in Northern Europe. It can accommodate

2625-568: The 1908 summer olympics, with the 12 metres (39 ft) sailing yacht races. The Firth of Clyde, like the River Clyde , has historically been an important centre of shipbuilding and shipping. Upriver, there have been shipbuilding and engineering centres at Glasgow , Govan , Clydebank , Dumbarton , and Renfrew . Downriver, there have been major yards at Greenock and Port Glasgow ; smaller yards at Irvine , Ardrossan, Troon , and Campbeltown ; and various other boatyards, including those at Hunters Quay , Port Bannatyne , and Fairlie . Today,

2700-509: The 2nd millennium BC. However, instead of chambered cairns , these peoples constructed burial cists , which can be found, for example, on Inchmarnock. Evidence of settlement during this period, especially the early part of it, is scant. However, one notable artifact has been found on Bute that dates from around 2000 BC. Known today as the “Queen of the Inch necklace,” it is an article of jewellery made of lignite (commonly called “jet”). During

2775-589: The Clyde The geology and geomorphology of the area is complex, and the islands and the surrounding sea lochs each have distinctive features. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Atlantic Drift create a mild, damp oceanic climate. There is a diversity of wildlife, including three species of rare endemic trees. The larger islands have been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times. The cultures of their inhabitants were influenced by

2850-509: The Firth itself, Ardmaleish Boatbuilding are based at Ardmaleish , near to Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute . The Greenock Cruise Terminal , operated by Clydeport part of The Peel Group. A new terminal was opened on 25 August 2023. Shipwreck diving is a popular activity on the Firth, with many wreck sites to explore. Military wrecks have protection under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 . The Royal Navy has

2925-547: The Firth of Clyde was a significant route through which mainland Scotland was colonised during the Neolithic period. The inhabitants of Argyll, the Clyde estuary, and elsewhere in western Scotland at that time developed a distinctive style of megalithic structure that is known today as the Clyde cairns . About 100 of these structures have been found. They were used for interment of the dead. They are rectangular or trapezoidal, with

3000-415: The Firth of Clyde, there are populations of red deer , red squirrel , badger , otter , adder , and common lizard . In the Firth itself, there are harbour porpoises , basking sharks and various species of dolphin . Davaar is home to a population of wild goats . Over 200 bird species have been recorded as sighted in the area, including the black guillemot , the eider , the peregrine falcon , and

3075-535: The Firth. Harbour porpoises are also common. While dolphins are much less common, some were spotted in the upper reaches of the Firth in the summer of 2005. Very uncommon are humpback whales , as are the minke whales . Even rarer are Killer Whales . Also, in 2005, the Firth had the second-highest number of basking shark sightings in Scotland (after the Minch ). These huge sharks seem to particularly favour

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3150-525: The Gaelic culture of the island was dealt a terminal blow. (A memorial to the tenant farmers evicted from the island by this programme was later erected on the shore at Lamlash , funded by a Canadian descendant of some of those evicted.) From the 1850s to the late 20th century, cargo ships known as “ Clyde Puffers ” (made famous by an early-20th-century story collection called the Vital Spark ), were

3225-588: The South Ayrshire coast near Troon . At one time it housed "ane old chapell with an excellent spring of water". However, in June 1821, someone set fire to the "turf and pasture". Once the pasture had burned away, gales blew much of the island's soil into the sea. This permanently destroyed the island's ability to support grazing. There are no islands in Loch Goil or Loch Long, which are fjord -like arms in

3300-445: The demise of Scott Lithgow and Cammell Laird , their facilities came under the management of Clydeport . The Hunterston Ore Terminal was constructed to facilitate the transport of bulk ore, but later mainly dealt with coal imports, and closed in 2016. The ExxonMobil (ESSO) Fuel Oil Terminal site at Bowling . There was a jetty built as part of Inverkip Power Station , for oil deliveries by oil tanker . Islands of

3375-568: The early Iron Age , the Brythonic culture held sway. There is no evidence that the Roman occupation of southern Scotland extended into these islands. Beginning in the 2nd century AD, Irish influence was at work in the region, and by the 6th century, Gaels had established the kingdom of Dál Riata there. Unlike earlier inhabitants, such as the P-Celtic speaking Brythons, these Gaels spoke

3450-530: The early 1200s, the islands may well have served as the power base of Somhairle mac Giolla Brighde and his descendants . During this time, the islands seem to have come under the sway of the Steward of Scotland ’s authority and to have been taken over by the expanding Stewart lordship. This western extension of Scottish authority appears to have been one of the factors motivating the Norwegian invasion of

3525-420: The emergence of the kingdom of Dál Riata , beginning in 500 AD. The islands were then politically absorbed into the emerging kingdom of Alba , led by Kenneth MacAlpin . During the early Middle Ages , the islands experienced Viking incursions. In the 13th century, they became part of the Kingdom of Scotland . The Highland Boundary Fault runs past Bute and through the northern part of Arran. Therefore, from

3600-476: The end of the clan system. These changes improved living standards for some, but came at a cost for others. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Alexander, the 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767–1852), and others implemented a controversial agricultural-reform programme called the Highland Clearances that had a devastating effect on many of Arran's inhabitants. Whole villages were emptied, and

3675-506: The estuary of the River Clyde , have their own substantial features. In places, the effect of glaciation on the seabed is pronounced. For example, the Firth is 320 metres (1,050 ft) deep between Arran and Bute, even though they are only 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) apart. The islands all stand exposed to wind and tide. Various lighthouses , such as those on Ailsa Craig, Pladda , and Davaar , act as an aid to navigation. The Firth of Clyde lies between 55 and 56 degrees north latitude. This

3750-709: The firth. Private companies operate services from Arran to Holy Isle, and from McInroy's Point (Gourock) to Hunter's Quay on the Cowal peninsula. Politically, from 1890 to 1975, most of the islands comprised the traditional County of Bute , and its inhabitants were represented by the county council. Since the 1975 reorganization, however, the islands have been split more or less equally between two modern council authorities: Argyll and Bute , and North Ayrshire . Only Ailsa Craig and Lady Isle in South Ayrshire are not part of either of these two council areas . Below

3825-633: The geologist James Hutton found his first example of an unconformity there. The spot where he discovered it is one of the most famous places in the history of the study of geology. The group of weakly metamorphosed rocks that form the Highland Border Complex lie discontinuously along the Highland Boundary Fault. One of the most prominent exposures is along Loch Fad on Bute. Ailsa Craig , which lies some 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Arran, has been quarried for

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3900-638: The largest Capesize vessels afloat today. As a result, the Clyde has one of the UK's leading ports, at Clydeport , part of The Peel Group. The facility handles cargo from container ships at the Greenock Ocean Terminal . Supertankers visit the Firth to deliver crude oil to Finnart Oil Terminal in Loch Long , which is connected by pipeline to the Grangemouth Refinery on the Firth of Forth . Both owned by Petroineos ,

3975-472: The main west coastline of the lower Firth. The Rosneath peninsula is formed by the Gare Loch in the east, and Loch Long in the west, both merge with the upper Firth of Clyde. There is a Caledonian MacBrayne passenger only service across the Firth to Gourock from Kilcreggan . There are many islands in the Firth. The largest three all have thriving communities and regular ferry services connecting them to

4050-400: The mainland. (The isthmus lies between East Loch Tarbert and West Loch Tarbert ). He took command of the ship's tiller himself. Then, declaring that Kintyre had "better land than the best of the Hebrides ", he claimed that dragging his ship across the isthmus had been equivalent to “sailing around” the peninsula, and thus that the peninsula counted as “land around which a ship could sail.” As

4125-435: The mainland. In common with most islands off the west coast of Scotland, the average annual rainfall is generally high: between 1,300 mm (51 in) on Bute, in the Cumbraes, and in the south of Arran, and 1,900 mm (75 in) in the north of Arran. The Arran mountains are even wetter: Their summits receive over 2,550 mm (100 in) of rain annually. May, June and July are the sunniest months: on average, there

4200-436: The mainland. They are: The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for some of the navigation aids around Scotlands coast. With others being the responsibility of the local Competent Harbour Authority . There are lighthouses at: There are navigation beacons at: The Field Studies Council has a marine research station, based in Millport , on the island of Great Cumbrae . Common seals and grey seals abound in

4275-564: The middle of the 19th century, the sport of yachting became popular on the Firth. The area became famous worldwide for its significant contribution to yachting and yachtbuilding with notable designers including: William Fife III; Alfred Mylne ; G L Watson; David Boyd. It was also the location of many famous yacht yards. Clyde-built wooden yachts are still known for quality and style today. The "lower Clyde" shipyards of Greenock and Port Glasgow , most notably Scott Lithgow , played an important historical role in shipbuilding. The PS  Comet

4350-424: The north of the Irish Sea. The deepest part of the channel is the Beaufort's Dyke , at 312 metres (1,024 ft). The Highland Boundary Fault enters the Firth off the east coast of Kintyre Peninsula in the south. The fault crosses the south eastern tip of the Cowal Peninsula at Toward Point , where it can be seen on the surface by the presence of Old Red Sandstone . The fault continues to Helensburgh in

4425-440: The north of those areas as "the river". The Firth encompasses many islands and peninsulas. Twelve ferry routes connect them to each other and the mainland. The majority of the ferry services are run by Caledonian MacBrayne and one by Western Ferries , and many of the routes are lifeline services for communities living in remote areas. The Firth has no fixed link transport infrastructure connections (bridge or tunnel), linking

4500-413: The north, then continues past the east coast of Scotland. The fault can be followed across Scotland for at least 240 km (150 miles), the fault is of great age and its remains are broken by more recent geological movement of the earths crust. Fourteen sea lochs join the Firth, the largest being Loch Fyne. The Cowal Peninsula extends into the Firth of Clyde and forms the main western shoreline of

4575-569: The northern part of the firth. Here is a list of places along that shores of the Firth of Clyde that are not islands, but have names that misleadingly suggest they are islands ( eilean being Gaelic for "island"): Eilean na Beithe, Portavadie; Eilean Beag, Cove ; Eilean Dubh, Dalchenna, Loch Fyne; Eilean nan Gabhar, Melldalloch, Kyles of Bute ; Barmore Island, just north of Tarbert , Kintyre; Eilean Aoidh, south of Portavadie; Eilean Leathan, Kilbrannan Sound just south of Torrisdale Bay ; Island Muller, Kilbrannan Sound north of Campbeltown . Around

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4650-436: The old sagas. Following his death, under the 1266 Treaty of Perth , all rights that the Norwegian Crown "had of old therein" in relation to the islands were yielded to the Kingdom of Scotland. Politically, from the conclusion of the Treaty of Perth in 1266 to the present day, all of the islands of the Clyde have been part of Scotland. Ecclesiastically, beginning in the early medieval period all of these isles were part of

4725-482: The picturesque seaside towns and villages that line the Firth, with the more wealthy building substantial holiday homes along its coasts. Many towns, such as Gourock , Largs , Ayr , Dunoon , Rothesay , flourished during this period and became fully fledged resorts with well-appointed hotels and attractions. Golf courses, including major championship courses, proliferated. Today, tourism, sport and recreation, and heritage history continue to attract visitors from across

4800-509: The region in 1230, during which the invaders seized Rothesay Castle . In 1263, Norwegian troops commanded by Haakon Haakonarson repeated the feat, but the ensuing Battle of Largs between Scots and Norwegian forces, which took place on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, was inconclusive as a military contest. This battle marked an ultimately fatal weakening of Norwegian power in Scotland. Haakon retreated to Orkney , where he died in December 1263, consoled on his death bed by recitations of

4875-421: The shores or islands. The lowest fixed crossing over the Clyde is the Erskine Bridge , opened on 2 July 1971. The Irish Sea and the Firth of Clyde's southerly boundary, as defined by the Scottish Government, is between the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula and Corsewall Point on the Rhins of Galloway . The Firth joins the strait between Scotland and Northern Ireland, called the North Channel , at

4950-507: The so-called "Royal Route" to Oban. During the 20th century, many of the islands were developed as tourist resorts along the lines of mainland resorts such as Largs and Troon , but catering for Glaswegians who preferred to holiday "Doon the Watter". In 1973, CSP and MacBraynes combined their Clyde and West Highland operations under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne . A government-owned corporation , they serve Great Cumbrae, Arran, and Bute, and also run mainland-to-mainland ferries across

5025-514: The south of the Firth between Kintyre Peninsula and the Rhins of Galloway , on the North Channel boundary. Designated a Marine Protected Area, the (Clyde Sill MPA) , the NatureScot Site Code is 10414, the EU Site Code is 555560461. The MPA covers a distinctive sill where fresher water of the Firth mixes with the cooler, more saline water of the North Channel. This is a rich environment for plankton, which provide food for fish, that are in turn eaten by higher marine predators and seabirds. On

5100-506: The southwest of Scotland. In the eroded valleys, there is a mixture of boulder clay and other glacial deposits. Elsewhere, especially to the south and west, there are raised beach- and marine deposits, which in some places, such as Stravanan, result in a machair landscape inland from the sandy bays. The Firth of Clyde, in which these islands lie, is north of the Irish Sea and has numerous branching inlets. Some of those inlets, including Loch Goil , Loch Long , Gare Loch , Loch Fyne , and

5175-463: The upper Firth. The main town on the Cowal Peninsula is Dunoon . Ardlamont Point on the Ardlamont Peninsula , that extends off of the Cowal Peninsula, is the southern tip of the Ardlamont and Cowal Peninsulas. The ferries across the Firth save time compared to traveling "round by road", via Loch Eck side ( A815 road ), the Rest and Be Thankful ( A83 road ) and Loch Lomond side ( A82 road ).The service between Dunoon and Gourock in Inverclyde

5250-421: The warm, shallow waters surrounding Pladda , south of Arran . However, although commercial fishing was at one time intensive in the Firth's many fishing towns, today the only catches of commercial interest remaining in the Clyde waters are prawns , lobsters , herring , mussels, and crayfish. On 5 September 2000, the Inner Clyde Estuary received a RAMSAR designation. Site number: 1036. The area covered

5325-400: The west and Inverclyde , North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire in the east. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran . The Kyles of Bute separates the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula . The Sound of Bute separates the islands of Bute and Arran. The Highland Boundary Fault crosses the Firth. The Firth also played

5400-655: The workhorses of the islands, carrying a great deal of produce and a great variety of products to and from the islands. In May 1889, the Caledonian Steam Packet Company (CSP) was founded and began operating steamer services to and from Gourock for the Caledonian Railway . The company soon expanded by taking over rival steamer operators. David MacBrayne operated the Glasgow-to- Ardrishaig steamer service, as part of

5475-485: The world. The steam-powered PS  Waverley —in addition to its regular service—still makes cruising trips to the coastal towns that have been popular tourist destinations since the 19th century. The Firth is ringed by many castles and buildings of historical importance that are open to the public, including Inveraray Castle , Brodick Castle , the opulent Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute, and Culzean Castle , which

5550-542: Was refurbished, to accommodate the navy’s new Aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09) , with work completed in January 2022. The jetty is part of the DM Glen Douglas military munitions depot. Plans have been announced in February 2024 to demolish an undisclosed part of the site. The Firth of Clyde has always been an important sea route from the earliest times. For example,

5625-564: Was the first successful steamboat in Europe . Well into the 20th century, a large proportion of the world's ship construction took place around the upper Firth and River Clyde . With the advent of tourism in Victorian times, the Firth became popular with Glaswegians and residents of neighbouring towns and counties who travelled "doon the watter" (the Firth) on Clyde steamers to holiday in

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