Connel
Encyclopedia
Connel is a village in Argyll and Bute
, Scotland
. It is situated on the southern shore of Loch Etive
. The Lusragan Burn flows through the village and into the loch.
The most noticeable feature in the village is Connel Bridge
, a large cantilever bridge
that spans Loch Etive at the Falls of Lora
. It was built to carry the Callander and Oban Railway
's branch line
to Ballachulish
that opened in 1903.
and St. Oran's Church (Church of Scotland
). The church is linked with two others. The first is in the nearby village of Dunbeg
, the second is on the Isle of Coll
. Church services at St Oran's are held every Sunday at 10.30am.
There is a village shop and post office
located in the main village. There are two bus stop
s, one located opposite the post office and the second on the A85, just south of Connel Bridge Junction, which serves both sides of the road. Restaurant
s can be found at the Falls of Lora Hotel and at The Oyster Inn. There are also several B&Bs
to be found throughout the village.
trunk road
that runs between Oban
and Perth
. The A828
Connel to Ballachulish
trunk road joins the A85 at a junction towards the west end of the village. Vehicles turning onto the A828 head south then follow the road on a long left-hand curve as it climbs to Connel Bridge, which crosses over the A85. Connel is just 5 miles (8 km) to Oban by main road. There is also a minor 'back road' to Oban that runs by way of Ardchonnel and Barranrioch.
A ferry
formerly transported people and vehicles across the loch to North Connel
.
When the Callander and Oban Railway came to Connel in 1880, a station was opened in the village and named "Connel Ferry
". The station is still open, it being situated on the West Highland Line
to Oban
. It is now unstaffed.
Oban Airport
is nearby on the opposite side of Loch Etive.
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is situated on the southern shore of Loch Etive
Loch Etive
Loch Etive is a 30 km sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It reaches the sea at Connel, 5 km north of Oban. It measures 31.6 km in length and from 1.2 km to in width...
. The Lusragan Burn flows through the village and into the loch.
The most noticeable feature in the village is Connel Bridge
Connel Bridge
Connel Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans Loch Etive at Connel in Scotland. The bridge takes the A828 road across the narrowest part of the loch, at the Falls of Lora.- Construction :...
, a large cantilever bridge
Cantilever bridge
A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using cantilevers, structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed to handle road or rail traffic use trusses built from...
that spans Loch Etive at the Falls of Lora
Falls of Lora
The Falls of Lora is a tidal race which forms at the mouth of Loch Etive when a particularly high tide runs out from the loch. They form white water rapids for two to five days either side of the spring tides....
. It was built to carry the Callander and Oban Railway
Callander and Oban Railway
The Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander...
's branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
to Ballachulish
Ballachulish
The village of Ballachulish in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, is centred around former slate quarries. The name Ballachulish was more correctly applied to the area now called North Ballachulish, to the north of Loch Leven, but was usurped for the quarry villages at East Laroch and West Laroch,...
that opened in 1903.
Amenities
There is a primary school in the village, called Achaleven Primary School. Other buildings of note include the Falls of Lora HotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and St. Oran's Church (Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
). The church is linked with two others. The first is in the nearby village of Dunbeg
Dunbeg
Dunbeg , formerly known as Dunstaffnage , a village about two and a half miles outside of Oban has a population of just under 1000. It is home to the Scottish Association for Marine Science , one of the primary marine science centres in the UK...
, the second is on the Isle of Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
. Church services at St Oran's are held every Sunday at 10.30am.
There is a village shop and post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
located in the main village. There are two bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
s, one located opposite the post office and the second on the A85, just south of Connel Bridge Junction, which serves both sides of the road. Restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s can be found at the Falls of Lora Hotel and at The Oyster Inn. There are also several B&Bs
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
to be found throughout the village.
Transport
Connel lies on the A85A85 road
The A85 is a major road in Scotland. It runs east from Oban along the south bank of Loch Etive, through Lochawe and Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Crieff before passing through Perth, where it crosses the River Tay via Perth Bridge. Its name between the latter two locations is...
trunk road
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
that runs between Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
and Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. The A828
A828 road
The A828 road is a primary route along the western coast of ScotlandAt its northern end the A828 meets the A82 at South Ballachulish and it runs to a junction with the A85 at Connel; the total length being some . It passes through Highland and Argyll and Bute council areas...
Connel to Ballachulish
Ballachulish
The village of Ballachulish in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, is centred around former slate quarries. The name Ballachulish was more correctly applied to the area now called North Ballachulish, to the north of Loch Leven, but was usurped for the quarry villages at East Laroch and West Laroch,...
trunk road joins the A85 at a junction towards the west end of the village. Vehicles turning onto the A828 head south then follow the road on a long left-hand curve as it climbs to Connel Bridge, which crosses over the A85. Connel is just 5 miles (8 km) to Oban by main road. There is also a minor 'back road' to Oban that runs by way of Ardchonnel and Barranrioch.
A ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
formerly transported people and vehicles across the loch to North Connel
North Connel
North Connel is a village situated on the north side of Loch Etive in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Just to the east of the village is the Connel Bridge and Oban Airport is just west....
.
When the Callander and Oban Railway came to Connel in 1880, a station was opened in the village and named "Connel Ferry
Connel Ferry railway station
Connel Ferry railway station is a railway station serving the village of Connel in western Scotland. This station is on the Oban branch of the West Highland Line, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway.- Facilities :...
". The station is still open, it being situated on the West Highland Line
West Highland Line
The West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...
to Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
. It is now unstaffed.
Oban Airport
Oban Airport
Oban Airport is located northeast of Oban, near the village of North Connel, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Operated by Argyll and Bute council, it has a CAA licence as a commercial airport following recent upgrading. Currently Hebridean Air Services is the only airline based at Oban...
is nearby on the opposite side of Loch Etive.