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Loch Long
LochLong(StevePartridge)Nov2007.jpg
Looking down Loch Long from the torpedo testing facility. The houses to the left are at Ardmay.
Loch Long is located in Argyll and Bute
Loch Long
Loch Long
Location in Argyll and Bute
Location Cowal, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Coordinates 56°02′04″N 4°53′08″W / 56.034395°N 4.8855839°W / 56.034395; -4.8855839,
Type Sea Loch
Basin countries Scotland, United Kingdom
Frozen No

Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately 20 miles (32 km) in length, with a width of between 1 and 2 miles (1.6 and 3.2 km). The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its western side.

Loch Long forms part of the coast of the Cowal peninsula and forms the entire western coastline of the Rosneath Peninsula.

Loch Long was historically the boundary between Argyll and Dunbartonshire; however, in 1996 boundary redrawing meant that it moved wholly within the council area of Argyll and Bute.

The steamboat Chancellor used to traverse the loch, departing Dunoon at 11 A.M. and returning about five hours later.

Villages on Loch Long

Villages on the loch include Arrochar at its head and Cove on the east shore near its foot.

Fisheries

Several Scottish sea fishing records are attributed to the loch:

Species Weight Angler / Date
Argentine 00-05-03 I. Miller, 1978 (Boat)
Herring 01-02-00 R. C. Scott, 1974 (Boat)
Rockling, Shore 00-14-08 A. Glen, 1982 (Shore)

Sport

Loch Long and Ardentinny
Looking across Loch Long to Ardentinny

The Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre on the western shore uses the loch for watersports.

It is now a popular area for diving on the numerous wrecks that scatter the loch.

Finnart Oil Terminal

The Finnart Oil Terminal is located on the eastern shore of the loch, linked to the Grangemouth Refinery via a 58-mile-long (93 km) pipeline.

Navy use

Admiralty Chart No 3739 Loch Long torpedo range
1968 Admiralty chart showing the Loch Long torpedo range

The eastern shore is also the location of the Royal Navy's Coulport Armament depot, part of HMNB Clyde, and the Glen Mallan jetty, linked to Glen Douglas defence munitions depot.

A testing range for torpedoes was established on the loch in 1912, in connection with the Clyde Torpedo Factory in Greenock. It operated through both World Wars, closing in 1986. The loch contains numerous wrecks.

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