91-672: 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 the west and Inverclyde , North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire in the east. The Kilbrannan Sound
182-634: A river source heat pump scheme in the area called Queens Quay. It is the first large heat pump scheme in Britain to deliver at 80 °C. The heat pumps were supplied by Star Refrigeration Ltd, who manufactured them in their Glasgow factory. The project was delivered by Vital Energi. Loch Eck Loch Eck ( Gaelic : Loch Eich ) is a freshwater loch located on the Cowal Peninsula , north of Dunoon , in Argyll and Bute , west of Scotland. It
273-557: A 46-ton cutter, was built by Scotts of Greenock in 1803. The pre-eminent Scottish yacht designer William Fyfe did not start designing yachts until 1807. The first yacht club on the Clyde was the Northern Yacht Club , which was established in 1824 and received its royal charter in 1831. The club was founded to organise and encourage the sport of yacht racing. By 1825, Scottish and Irish clubs were racing against each other on
364-619: 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 the south of the Firth between Kintyre Peninsula and the Rhins of Galloway , on the North Channel boundary. Designated
455-614: 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 the 16 December 2015, an area to
546-651: A few miles from the river, was constructed later by the Romans as a means of defending the area against invasion by the Picts . Despite the strategic location and flat terrain of Glasgow and the surrounding Clyde basin, no Roman civilian settlement was ever constructed. Instead, the region may have functioned as a frontier zone between the Roman province known as Britannia Inferior and the Caledonians , an indigenous group that
637-457: A heat source. The flow rate downstream alone is around 50 m /s. Reducing this temperature by 3 °C would enable river heat pumps to extract 188.1 MW of heat. Since river heat pumps typically have an efficiency of 3.0, the heat deliverable is 1.5 times the river component. As a result, the estuary could deliver 282 MW of heat. The temperature of industrial heat pump delivery is typically 80 °C. In 2020, West Dunbartonshire Council deployed
728-454: A long but declining history of coal usage and, beginning around the 1950s, an increasing reliance on petroleum fuels. The decline of hydrocarbon pollution was followed by the appearance of PCB concentrations in the 1950s. Total PCB concentration levels peaked in the period 1965 to 1977, and declined beginning in the 1990s. The Polmadie Burn , which flows into the Clyde at Richmond Park , remains heavily contaminated by hexavalent chromium , to
819-607: A low concrete dam. Construction work began in 1974. The Loch Eck water treatment works opened in 1977, upgraded in 2012 by Scottish Water , which supplies the freshwater to much of the southeast of Cowal, including Dunoon. In July 2013, two dogs died due to algal bloom present in the loch. Warnings were then posted advising that people and animals should avoid contact with the water. There were three further incidents: one in June 2019 and two in July 2021. The actress Emma Thompson owns
910-597: A naval defence contractor, BAE Systems Surface Ships , which specialises in the design and construction of technologically advanced warships for the Royal Navy and other navies around the world. The two yards are the former Yarrow yard at Scotstoun , and Fairfields at Govan. In addition, the King George V Dock is operated by the Clyde Port Authority . Ferguson Shipbuilders , at Port Glasgow on
1001-791: 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 , a joint venture between Ineos and Petrochina . A second pipeline brings back refined oil products to
SECTION 10
#17327729127901092-478: A small workshop at Sandbank in 1876, and went on to become one of the foremost wooden boat builders on the Clyde. The 'golden years' of Robertson's yard were in the early 20th century, when they started building classic 12-and-15-metre (39 and 49 ft) racing yachts. More than 55 boats were built by Robertson's in preparation for World War I, and the yard remained busy even during the Great Depression in
1183-593: 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 a vital military role during World War II . The Firth is sometimes called the Clyde Waters or Clyde Sea , and
1274-757: Is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde , in the west of Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland after the River Tay and the River Spey . It runs through the city of Glasgow . The River Clyde estuary has an upper tidal limit located at the tidal weir next to Glasgow Green . Historically, it was important to the British Empire because of its role in shipbuilding and trade. To
1365-414: Is around half a mile distant from the Clyde. It is said to have constructed over 500 vessels, many of which were assembled and then 'knocked down' to kit form for despatch to a remote location, such as Chauncy Maples . Clyde shipbuilding reached its peak in the years just before World War I: It is estimated that, in the year 1913 alone, over 370 ships were completed. The first recorded Clyde racing yacht,
1456-779: 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" is a reference to a sandbank and shoal ) The River Clyde estuary has an upper tidal limit located at
1547-667: 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 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
1638-578: 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, 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
1729-533: Is seven miles (11 kilometres) long. It is oriented in a north-south direction. Its main inflow, at the northern end, is the River Cur , and its main outflow, at the southern end, is the River Eachaig , which meanders somewhat within the confines of the broad strath before flowing into the head of Holy Loch , about 5 km further south. Along with Loch Lomond , it is the only naturally occurring habitat of
1820-549: 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
1911-571: The Clyde Navigation Consolidation Act 1858 ( 21 & 22 Vict. c. cxlix). The Clyde Port Authority Confirmation Act 1965 (c. xlv) replaced the Clyde Navigation Trust with the Clyde Port Authority from 1 January 1966, which has since been renamed to 'Clydeport', and was privatisated in 1992. In 2003 it was acquired by Peel Holdings . The Clyde is formed by the confluence of two streams,
SECTION 20
#17327729127902002-505: The 7th century , Saint Mungo established a new Christian community on the banks of the Clyde, potentially replacing Cathures if this is assumed to have occupied the same locus. This community was the beginnings of what would become the city of Glasgow. Several villages along the Clyde that were founded in or before this period have endured to this day, and have grown to become towns, including Llanerc ( Lanark ), Cadzow ( Hamilton ), and Rhynfrwd ( Renfrew ). The fortress of Altclut fell in
2093-655: The Daer Water (the headwaters of which are dammed to form the Daer Reservoir ) and the Potrail Water. The Southern Upland Way crosses both streams before they meet at Watermeetings ( grid reference NS953131 ) to form the River Clyde proper. At this point, the Clyde is only 10 km (6 mi) from Tweed's Well, the source of the River Tweed , and is about the same distance from Annanhead Hill ,
2184-547: 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
2275-407: The Gare Loch , within half a mile of each other. McGruers built over 700 boats. Both yards built many widely-known and classic yachts, some of which are still sailing today. The Glasgow Humane Society is responsible for the safety and preservation of life on Glasgow's waterways. Founded in 1790, it is the oldest lifesaving organisation in the world. During and immediately after World War II ,
2366-628: The Industrial Revolution was due to the location of Glasgow, as a port facing the Americas. Tobacco and cotton trade began to drive this economic engine in the early 18th century. However, an obstacle to further economic growth soon became evident: the Clyde was too shallow for the largest ocean-going ships to navigate into it, so cargo had to be transferred, at Greenock or Port Glasgow , to smaller ships that could sail upstream into Glasgow itself. In 1768, John Golborne advised that
2457-460: 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 a significant presence on the Firth of Clyde, HMNB Clyde
2548-597: The River Cart , by many boatyards, including those at Maryhill and Kirkintilloch on the Forth & Clyde Canal , and Blackhill on the Monkland Canal . Over the same time period, it is estimated that more than 300 firms have engaged in shipbuilding on Clydeside, although probably at most 30 to 40 firms were operating at any given time. The shipbuilding firms became household names on Clydeside, and even around
2639-573: The Romans , it was Clota , and in the early medieval Cumbric language , it was known as Clud or Clut . It was central to the Kingdom of Strathclyde ( Teyrnas Ystrad Clut ). The exact etymology of the river's name is unclear, though it is known that the name is ancient. In 50AD, the Egyptian mathematician, astronomer and geographer Claudius Ptolemy wrote of the river as "Klōta", It
2730-524: 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 the main west coastline of the lower Firth. The Rosneath peninsula is formed by the Gare Loch in the east, and Loch Long in
2821-521: The Siege of Dumbarton of 870 AD, when a force of Norse-Irish raiders from the Kingdom of Dublin sacked it. After that, the kingdom, now politically weakened, possibly moved its capital to Govan . However, it never fully recovered, and in the 11th century it was annexed by the Kingdom of Alba . It did however retain some autonomy under the Church of Glasgow, which became the secular successors of much of
Firth of Clyde - Misplaced Pages Continue
2912-546: The early modern period onwards, the Clyde began to be used commercially as a trade route; trade between Glasgow and the rest of Europe became commonplace. In the centuries that followed, the Clyde became increasingly vital to both Scotland and Britain as a major trade route for exporting and importing resources. The Clyde Navigation Trust was initially formed in 1840 by the Clyde Navigation Act 1840 ( 3 & 4 Vict. c. cxviii), and then reconstituted under
3003-541: The legions of the Roman Empire arrived in southern Scotland, the river and the area surrounding it had been settled by the Brythonic-speaking Damnonii tribe. It has been suggested that a Damnonii town called Cathures was located there and was the precursor to modern Glasgow. The Damnonii tribe originally likely distributed power among individual chiefdoms, but at some point before 500 AD
3094-726: The powan (fish), although it is closely related to the gwyniad and other similar fish. The loch also has salmon, sea trout, brown trout and arctic char . Loch Eck is within the Argyll Forest Park , which is itself part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park . It is close to the Benmore Botanic Garden and the Benmore Outdoor Centre, which uses the loch and its surrounding for outdoor learning. The A815 road bounds
3185-587: 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 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
3276-567: 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,
3367-559: The 1930s, as many wealthy businessmen developed a passion for yacht racing on the Clyde. During World War II, the yard was devoted to Admiralty work, producing large, high-speed Fairmile Marine motor boats (motor torpedo boats and motor gun boats). After the war, the yard built the successful one-class Loch Longs and two 12 m (39 ft) challengers for the America's Cup , designed by David Boyd: Sceptre (1958) and Sovereign (1964). Because of difficult business conditions in 1965,
3458-403: The 1970s, and completed eastward in 2005, is a foot-and mountain-bike path that follows the course of the Clyde between Glasgow and New Lanark . Scottish Natural Heritage has designated it one of Scotland's Great Trails . The British Geological Survey has identified and evaluated organic chemical pollutants in the sediment of the Clyde estuary. Surface sediments from the Glasgow reaches of
3549-540: The Clyde and Cuningar to Milton , were previously found to contain polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from 630 μg/kg to 23,711 μg/kg and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in the range of 5 to 130.5 μg/kg, which puts these sediments in the range classified as "non-toxic." However, a later study showed PCB concentrations as high as 5,797 μg/kg, which is above published threshold levels for such chlorinated compounds. A comparison between individual PAH compounds that have different thermal stabilities shows that
3640-470: The Clyde since the Paleolithic era. Artifacts dating from 12,000 BC have been found near Biggar , a rural town close to the river. Biggar is home to an archeological site at which Britain's most ancient artifacts have been unearthed. Prehistoric canoes , used by ancient peoples for transport or trade, have been found in the river. There are a number of Mesolithic sites along the Clyde, especially in
3731-542: The Clyde's importance as a major industrial centre rapidly declined. During the war, the Luftwaffe singled out Clydebank for bombing , and its buildings sustained heavy damage. In the immediate postwar period, the sharp reduction in warship orders was initially balanced by a prolonged boom in merchant shipbuilding. But by the end of the 1950s, other countries had begun to establish well-capitalised and highly productive shipbuilding centres that were able to outcompete many of
Firth of Clyde - Misplaced Pages Continue
3822-407: The Clyde. By the mid-19th century, yachting and yacht building had become widely popular. The Clyde became famous worldwide for its significant contribution to yachting and yachtbuilding, and was the home of many notable designers: William Fife III , Alfred Mylne , G. L. Watson , E. McGruer, and David Boyd. It was also home to many famous yacht yards. Robertson's Yard started repairing boats in
3913-760: 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 is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne , the Public Service provider. This service carries only foot passengers and connects directly with
4004-572: The European shipbuilding yards. Several Clydeside yards booked a series of loss-making contracts in the hope of weathering the storm, but their unprofitable circumstances continued for too long, and by the mid-1960s they faced potential collapse. Harland and Wolff 's Linthouse yard went under, and Fairfields of Govan faced bankruptcy. The government tried to limit the decline by creating the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders consortium, but
4095-622: 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 is located next to Newark Castle, Port Glasgow . The Scottish Government now own
4186-479: 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 the warm, shallow waters surrounding Pladda , south of Arran . However, although commercial fishing was at one time intensive in
4277-550: 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 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
4368-406: 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 the north, then continues past the east coast of Scotland. The fault can be followed across Scotland for at least 240 km (150 miles),
4459-485: 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 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)
4550-644: The Glasgow Garden Festival 1988 as part of the re-use of city docklands and associated industrial uses led by the Scottish Development Agency in the 1980s and early 90s. The Clyde Waterfront Regeneration project from 2008 aims to continue this approach of finding new uses and attracting new investment, from Glasgow Green to Dumbarton. Residents and tourists come back to the riverside, especially in Glasgow, where vast former docklands have given way to housing and amenities on
4641-400: The Lower Clyde, is now owned by the Scottish government. It is the last survivor of the many shipyards that once dominated Port Glasgow and Greenock. Its core business is now the construction of car ferries . Major regeneration schemes include those in the 1970s of forming Strathclyde Country Park , lying between Hamilton and Motherwell, as part of motorway developments; the establishment of
SECTION 50
#17327729127904732-443: The Upper Clyde Valley. Permanent settlements and structures, including what is believed to be a temple to moon gods in Govan , were constructed in the area during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages . Celtic art, language, and other aspects of culture began spreading to the area from the south during this period, and prehistoric artifacts suggest that, by around 1000 BCE, they had become the dominant cultural influences there. Before
4823-405: The amounts of PBDE compounds revealed a decline in certain compounds, in line with the European ban on production of mixtures containing environmentally harmful PBDE with eight and nine bromine atoms. At the same time, there was an increase in the amounts of the less harmful mixture, composed of ten bromine atoms. The River Clyde, or more accurately the Clyde Estuary, has significant potential as
4914-474: The banks in the city. Examples of public amenities and attractions include the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , the Glasgow Science Centre , and the Riverside Museum . Merchant shipping has largely moved west, closer to deeper water at Greenock, and 20 miles beyond that, south, to Hunterston. The river's water is increasingly used for recreation now that industrial uses have diminished. The Clyde Walkway , originating at Glasgow's Custom House Quay in
5005-422: The consortium became mired in controversy and collapsed in 1971. After that, James Callaghan 's Labour government implemented the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 (c. 3), which nationalised most of the Clyde's shipyards and grouped them with other major British shipyards, such as the firm British Shipbuilders . Today, two major shipyards on the Upper Clyde remain in operation. They are both owned by
5096-550: 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 . River Clyde The River Clyde ( Scottish Gaelic : Abhainn Chluaidh , pronounced [ˈavɪɲ ˈxl̪ˠuəj] )
5187-409: The east side. A pathway runs along the west side of the loch, and gives access to the Paper Caves, set in the steep hillside with caving access to a platform set above a steep scarp within the cave. A legend holds that the Argyll family documents were hidden in the caves when the 9th Earl of Argyll was arrested, to prevent his lands from being made forfeit. The loch is an impounding reservoir, with
5278-425: The exchange of military information. The Romans did, however, construct several forts ( castra ) in the area, notably on the banks of the Clyde. These include Castledykes, Bothwellhaugh , and Old Kilpatrick and Bishopton . The Romans also constructed several roads along the river, both small ones and larger ones designed to be used as trade routes and to carry entire legions. The Antonine Wall , which lies only
5369-528: The extent it turned bright green in 2019, and yellow in 2021. Although pollution from heavy industry and power generation has been decreasing, there is evidence that human-made pollution from new synthetic compounds in electrical products and textiles has been increasing. The amounts of 16 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) compounds used as flame retardants in televisions, computers, and furniture upholstery were measured in sediment cores collected from six sites between Princes Dock and Greenock. Comparison of
5460-405: 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 the upper Firth. The main town on the Cowal Peninsula is Dunoon . Ardlamont Point on the Ardlamont Peninsula , that extends off of
5551-466: The increased flow of the newly constrained water wore away the river bottom. In other cases, dredging was required to deepen the river. In the mid-19th century, engineers took on the task of dredging the Clyde much more extensively. They removed millions of cubic feet of silt to deepen and widen the channel. The major stumbling block encountered by that project was a massive geological intrusion known as Elderslie Rock . Because that rock increased
SECTION 60
#17327729127905642-455: The machinery needed to drive these vessels, including the boilers, pumps, and steering gear, including Rankin & Blackmore , Hastie's and Kincaid 's of Greenock, Rowan's of Finnieston, Weir's of Cathcart, Howden's of Tradeston, and Babcock & Wilcox of Renfrew. One shipyard that was known as a 'Clyde' shipyard was not actually located on any of the Clyde's waterways: Alley & MacLellan 's Sentinel Works in Jessie Street at Polmadie
5733-426: 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 the shores or islands. The lowest fixed crossing over the Clyde is the Erskine Bridge , opened on 2 July 1971. The Irish Sea and
5824-426: The open sea. Shipping and shipbuilding grow in Glasgow and its neighbouring industrial burghs of Govan and Partick ; with the Clyde, including is lower reaches, becoming the centre of world shipbuilding. The river then flows west, out of Glasgow, past Renfrew , under the Erskine Bridge , and past Dumbarton on the northern shore and the sandbank at Ardmore Point between Cardross and Helensburgh . Opposite, on
5915-480: The political framework was a British culture of Welsh speakers that was politically unified and formed a centralised kingdom known as Alt Clut, representing the power centre at Dunbarton Rock. None of the documentary or archaeological evidence from the period when the Roman legions arrived suggests that battles took place in the area. Therefore the Roman legions and Damnonii tribespeople are assumed to have been on good terms and to have co-operated by means of trade and
6006-420: The power of the Falls of Clyde , the most spectacular of which is Cora Linn. A hydroelectric power station still generates 11MW of electricity there today, although the mills have now become a museum and World Heritage Site . The river then makes its way northwest, past the towns of Wishaw to the east of it and Larkhall to the west of it. The river's surroundings here become increasingly suburban. Between
6097-410: The problem, so in 1773, a training wall called the Lang Dyke was built on the Dumbuck shoal to stop water flowing over into the southern channel of the river. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, hundreds of jetties were built out from the banks of the river between Dumbuck and the Broomielaw quay in Glasgow proper. In some cases, this construction had the effect of deepening the river, because
6188-399: The project's difficulty, the work was not completed until the 1880s. Around this time, the Clyde became an important source of inspiration for artists, such as John Atkinson Grimshaw and James Kay , who were interested in painting scenes that depicted the new industrial era and the modern world. The completion of the dredging was well-timed, because the channel finally became navigable all
6279-414: 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 the Firth. Harbour porpoises are also common. While dolphins are much less common, some were spotted in the upper reaches of
6370-456: The river should be made narrower and the scour increased by constructing rubble jetties and dredging sandbanks and shoals . Another obstacle to navigation that had to be solved was that the river divided into two shallow channels by the Dumbuck shoal near Dumbarton . After James Watt 's 1769 report describing this problem, a jetty was constructed at Longhaugh Point to block off the southern channel. This turned out to be insufficient to solve
6461-415: The river's shipyards were given contracts to build prestigious ocean-going liners, as well as warships. The Queen Mary and, in later years, the Queen Elizabeth 2 were built in the town of Clydebank . Between 1712, when the Scott family's shipyard was built at Greenock, and the present day, over 25,000 ships have been built on the River Clyde, its firth, and its tributaries , the River Kelvin and
6552-595: The source of PAH pollution in the Clyde is different in different parts of the river. PAH in the inner Clyde (Cuningar to Milton) are from combustion sources (vehicle exhaust, coal burning), whereas PAH in the outer Clyde are from petroleum spills. The amount and type of sedimentary pollution in the Clyde reflects the area's industrial history. In order to assess how the nature of the pollutants has changed over time, from 1750 to 2002, seven sediment cores of one metre's depth were collected, and dated using lead concentrations and changing lead isotope ratios. The sediments showed
6643-458: The source of the River Annan . From there, it meanders northeastward before turning to the west, where its flood plain serve as the site of many major roads in the area, then reaches the town of Lanark , where the late 17th- and early 18th-century industrialists David Dale and Robert Owen built mills and the model settlement of New Lanark on the banks of the Clyde. The mills harnessed
6734-590: 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 the largest Capesize vessels afloat today. As
6825-459: The southeastern part of Glasgow, the river begins to widen, meandering through Cambuslang , Rutherglen , and Dalmarnock , and past Glasgow Green . From the Tidal Weir westwards, the river is tidal : a mix of fresh and salt water. Over three centuries the river has been engineered and widened where it passes through Glasgow city centre and onwards towards Dumbarton and Greenock and
6916-408: The southern shore, is the last remaining Lower Clyde shipyard, at Port Glasgow . The river continues on to Greenock , where it reaches the Tail of the Bank as the river merges into the Firth of Clyde . Here at the mouth of the Clyde, there is currently a significant ecological problem of oxygen depletion in the water column. The economic prosperity that the Clyde made possible at the beginning of
7007-607: The territory when it was treated as a Principality of the Scottish Crown. In the 13th century, Glasgow, then still a small town, built its first bridge over the river Clyde. This was an important step in its ability to eventually grow into a city. The establishment, in the 15th century, of both the University of Glasgow and the Archdiocese of Glasgow , vastly increased the importance of the town within Scotland. From
7098-462: 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 the north of those areas as "the river". The Firth encompasses many islands and peninsulas. Twelve ferry routes connect them to each other and
7189-482: The towns of Motherwell and Hamilton , the course of the river has been altered to create an artificial loch within Strathclyde Park . Part of the original course can still be seen: It lies between the island and the eastern shore of the loch. The river then flows through Blantyre and Bothwell , where the ruined Bothwell Castle stands on a defensible promontory . As it flows past Uddingston and into
7280-847: 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 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
7371-475: The way from Greenock to Glasgow just when the steelwork industry had begun to grow in the city. Shipbuilding replaced trade as the major activity on the river, and shipbuilding companies started rapidly establishing themselves there. The Clyde soon gained a reputation for being the best location for shipbuilding in the British Empire , and grew to become the world's pre-eminent shipbuilding centre. The term Clydebuilt became an industry symbol of high quality, and
7462-436: 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 the mainland. They are: The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for some of the navigation aids around Scotlands coast. With others being
7553-418: The world to some extent. These included, among many others, John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Denny of Dumbarton, Scott of Greenock, Lithgows of Port Glasgow, Simon and Lobnitz of Renfrew, Alexander Stephen & Sons of Linthouse, Fairfield of Govan, Inglis of Pointhouse, Barclay Curle of Whiteinch, Connell and Yarrow of Scotstoun. Almost as famous were the engineering firms that supplied
7644-485: 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
7735-465: The yard turned to doing GRP production work (mainly building Pipers and Etchells), and it closed in 1980. During its 104-year history, Robertson's Yard built 500 boats, many of which are still sailing today. Two other notable boatyards on the Clyde were Silvers, which operated from 1910 to 1970, and McGruers, which operated from 1910 to 1973. They were situated on the Rosneath peninsula on the banks of
7826-536: 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 the Firth itself, Ardmaleish Boatbuilding are based at Ardmaleish , near to Port Bannatyne on
7917-489: 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 was the first successful steamboat in Europe . Well into the 20th century, a large proportion of the world's ship construction took place around
8008-713: Was called Clut or Clud by the Britons and Clota by the Romans. It is therefore likely that the name comes from a Celtic language—most likely Old British . But there is more than one old Celtic word that the river's name could plausibly derive from. One possible root is the Common Brittonic Clywwd , meaning 'loud' or 'loudly'. More likely, the river was named after a local Celtic goddess, Clōta . The goddess's name in turn derives from an older, Proto-Celtic word meaning 'the strongly flowing one' or 'the holy cleanser'. Humans have settled along
8099-467: Was hostile to the Romans. Strathclyde was founded as an independent unified British kingdom, quite some centuries after the Roman occupation of Britain . The kingdom's core territory and much of its arable land was located around the Clyde basin in the area traditionally associated with Alt Clut. The kingdom was ruled from its original capital, the near impenetrable Alt Clut fortress (Dumbarton Rock), which
8190-714: 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 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
8281-558: Was situated on the river and overlooked much of the estuary. This fortress was noteworthy enough to have been referred to at the time in several letters and poems about Sub-Roman Britain , written by Gildas and others. Strathclyde remained a powerful kingdom during the early medieval period in Britain. It was also a reservoir of native Welsh culture : Its territory expanded along the Clyde Vae Southern Uplands and Ayrshire, and eventually southwards into Cumbria. In
#789210