Stirling Castle: Inverscaddle Bay, Loch Linnhe

NN06NW 8003 c. 02 68

N56 46 W5 14

NLO: Inverscaddle Bay [name centred NN 027 685]

Corran Narrows [name: NN 017 632]

Loch Linnhe [name centred NM 86 47].

Formerly entered as NN06SW 8003 at cited location NN c. 017 635 (N56 43.3 W5 14.5): location also formerly cited as NN 0160 6380 [N56 43.4 W5 14.7].

[No accurate location cited]. SS Stirling: this vessel was one of the first dozen commercial steamships in NW Europe, being built in 1814 and sinking in 1823 with the loss of the notable highlande, Alistaire Glengary. This accident was graphically described by survivors in many newspapers, including The Times, as being in Inverscaddle Bay, in Loch Linnhe.

A more precise location is suggested by the name 'Glengary's Rock' on the Admiralty chart of the area. This small rock is being slowly surrounded by deltaic sediments about 3m deep brought into the loch by a mountain stream.

Despite extensive visual diver and magnetometer searches, no evidence of the wreck was found.

Archaeological Diving Unit report no. ADU 94/24, dated November 1994.

NMRS MS/5546.

(Classified as wooden paddle steamship: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 14 January 1828). Stirling: this vessel was wrecked at Inverscadail [Inverscaddle], Ardgour.

Registration: Inverness. Built 1814. 69 tons burthern. Length: 24m. Beam: 5m.

(Location of loss cited as N56 45.50 W5 14.00).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Moir and Crawford cite the vessel as having stranded, while Baird locates the loss at approximately N56 43.33 W5 14.5 'in the vicinity of Corran lighthouse'. This last (NN06SW 14.00) is at NN 01700 63492.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 1 April 2008.

P Moir and I Crawford 1994; B Baird 1995.

Inverscaddle Bay is a prominent infilled indentation on the NW (Ardgour) side of Loch Linnhe about 2.5 miles NE of the Corran Narrows. The chart depicts it as drying at High Water.

The UKHO chart notes 'Sgeir Mhic Ic Alasdair or Glengarry's Rock' at N56 45.74 W5 13.29 [NN 0311 6803], roughly central to the forward edge of the drying area. There is a narrow area of relatively shallow water (in part noted as an anchorage) in front (to the SE) of this, seperating the bay from the main drop-off into the deep water of the loch.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 29 March 2009.

UKHO chart no. 2380 (1977, 1991 edition).