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Connel is a small village 92 miles northwest
of Glasgow, 5 miles northeast of
Oban on the
main Glasgow to Oban A85 road.
The village is popular for its bridge across
the mouth of Loch Etive with the Falls of Lora
below the bridge. Each high tide, leads to sea
water rushing in over a rock shelf, then
hitting the loch water flowing out to sea,
creating tidal rapids. These rapids attract top
Canoeists, and Rescue Boats on training
exercises. Rapids Canoe
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Attractions
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The image top is from the south side of the
small village of Connel with Connel Bridge
crossing the mouth of Loch Etive. This bridge
was completed in 1903 for the Callander and
Oban Railway's line that ran from Connel 28
miles north to Ballachulish.
The Connel Bridge was converted from a rail
bridge to road traffic in 1966.
There is a car park and seating area by the
bridge, across the road from the Oyster Inn. The best time to be
here is at high tide when the sea water is at
its highest pushing against water from Loch
Etive, creating the Falls of Lora.
If you are lucky, you may see canoeists
taking on the rapids, or rescue boats training.
Canoes on the
Rapids Images.
Although the train line north to
Ballachulish closed in 1966, there is still a
station at Connel for the Glasgow to Oban
trains.
Connel History
1600s late - a village grew around the ferry
that was operated across the loch. At that
time, the village was known as Connel
Ferry.
1880 - a railway station was opened at
Connel by the Callander and Oban Railway. This
line has a number of stations at scenic small
villages on the road up from Glasgow to Oban
such as Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Taynuilt, and
Connel.
1888 - St Orans Church
in Connel was completed in Gothic Revival
style.
1894 - the large Falls of Lora Hotel was
completed.
1903 - a train line was completed between
Connel and Ballachulish by Glencoe 28 miles
north.
Some trains on this line would carry cars
across the loch.
1914 - Connel Bridge was converted so trains
and cars could travel across.
1966 - the Connel to Ballachulish train line
was closed leading to Connel Bridge being
converted for cars and pedestrians, a good spot
to look down on the Tidal Rapids.
Today, the village is a popular stop for
lunch at the Hotel or Inn. The Hotel, Inn,
B&Bs and Self Catering properties at Connel
are also a good base for exploring the many
attractions in the area, and for trips to the
Western Isles.
Connel is a quieter base than the bustling
Ferry Port town of Oban 5 miles south.
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