View source for Gare Loch

{{short description|Sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{for multi|the village and sea-loch on the north-west coast of Scotland|Gairloch |the village on the north-western shore of [[Loch Fyne]]|Lochgair}}

{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Gare Loch
| native_name        = {{Native name|gd|An Gearr Loch}}
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| coordinates        = {{coord|56|02|15|N|4|48|55|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type               = Sea Loch
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The '''Gare Loch''' or '''Gareloch''' ({{langx|gd|An Gearr Loch}}) is an open [[sea loch]] in [[Argyll and Bute]] in the west of [[Scotland]], and it bears a similar name to the village of [[Gairloch]] in the north west Highlands.

The loch is well used for [[sailing|recreational boating]], [[list of water sports|water sports]] and [[sea fishing|fishing]]. [[Harbor seal|Harbour]] and [[grey seal]]s are often seen in the Gare Loch along with pods of [[porpoise]]. Bottle Nose whales were photographed in September 2020.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} The loch also has been used since the early 20th century for naval training and as a base for the [[United Kingdom]]'s submarine based [[nuclear weapon]]s system.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

==Geography==

A [[sea loch]] aligned north–south, Gare Loch is {{convert|10|km}} long with an average width of {{convert|1.5|km}}. At its southern end it opens into the [[Firth of Clyde]] through the [[Rhu]] narrows. The village of [[Rosneath]] lies on the western shore just north of Rosneath Point and gives the name [[Rosneath Peninsula]] to the whole body of land separating the Gare Loch from [[Loch Long]] to the west.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst4013.html|title=Gare Loch from The Gazetteer for Scotland|website=www.scottish-places.info|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

The town of [[Helensburgh]] lies on the eastern shore and is the largest settlement on the banks of the loch. Other towns and villages next to the loch include [[Rhu, Argyll and Bute|Rhu]], [[Garelochhead]], [[Shandon, Argyll]], [[Clynder]] and [[Rosneath]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Loch Lomond South, Dumbarton & Helensburgh, Drymen & Cove : showing part of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and West Highland Way.|date=2006|publisher=Ordnance Survey|isbn=978-0-319-23874-5|oclc=720547611}}</ref>

==Recreational and shipping use==

At the north end of the loch the substantial village of [[Garelochhead]] includes adventure holiday facilities and has a [[Garelochhead railway station|station]] on the [[West Highland Line]].<ref>{{HEScotland|num=LB19490|desc=Garelochhead Station including signal box, subway, gates and railings|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> The Gare Loch offers good conditions for [[sightseeing]], [[sailing]] and sea [[angling]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/garelochhead-p235051|title=Garelochhead Visitor Guide - Accommodation, Things To Do & More|website=www.visitscotland.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

The Greek sugar boat {{ship||Captayannis}} was heading for the sheltered waters of the Loch but now lies wrecked in the Clyde.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GZVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5332,5390543|title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

==Naval history==

The base was used by the [[Royal Navy]] dating back to the [[First World War]]. On 29 January 1917 the steam-powered submarine {{HMS|K13}} sank in the loch during sea-trials. The submarine was carrying 80 passengers, made up of naval personnel as well as shipbuilders, when seawater entered the engine room causing flooding which killed 31. The remaining 48 men aboard were rescued in an effort which took over 57 hours. The submarine was later salvaged and re-entered service as HMS ''K22''. As a result of sinking of ''K13'', no other Royal Navy vessel has been named using the number 13.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navaltoday.com/2017/01/30/royal-navy-submariners-mark-centenary-of-k13-sinking/|title=Royal Navy submariners mark centenary of K13 sinking|website=Naval Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Alderson|first=Reevel|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-38771526|title=Ceremony remembers Faslane sub disaster|date=2017-01-29|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-04|language=en-GB}}</ref>

However it was during the [[Second World War]] that the loch became the site of a major naval base as its depth made it suitable to accommodate a large variety of naval craft.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Brocklehurst|first=Steven|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-43975011|title=50 years of nuclear submarines on the Clyde|date=2018-05-10|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-04|language=en-GB}}</ref> The loch was widely used by the [[United States]] military forces, alongside operations on nearby [[Holy Loch]], during the war for naval landing preparations that would be deployed in North Africa and the [[Normandy landings]].<ref name=":0" /> In the 1950s, the Royal Navy used the loch to store decommissioned naval vessels.<ref name=":0" />

[[HMNB Clyde]] was established on the banks on the loch in 1964 as part of the [[United Kingdom]]'s preparations for hosting the [[Polaris (UK nuclear programme)|Polaris]] submarine based nuclear programme.<ref name=":1" /> The site was chosen due to its deep water, suitable for submarine operations and ease of access to the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]]. The site continues to operate a number of naval operations, mostly associated with the current nuclear [[Trident (UK nuclear programme)|Trident]] defence system and also to be the base of the Royal Navy's {{Sclass|Astute|submarine|1}}s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/royal-navys-hms-talent-arrives-at-new-clyde-naval-base-home/|title=Royal Navy's HMS Talent arrives at new Clyde naval base home|date=2019-08-11|website=Naval Technology|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

Given the siting of the nuclear missile programme on the Loch, pressure groups such as the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] and [[Trident Ploughshares]] have maintained a permanent [[Faslane Peace Camp|peace camp]] outside the gates of the naval facility since 1982.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Faslane : diary of a peace camp|date=1984|publisher=Polygon|author=Faslane Peace Camp |isbn=0-904919-87-0 |location=Edinburgh |oclc=12621463}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Tackling Trident : academics in action through 'Academic conference blockades'|date=2012|publisher=Irene Publishing|last=Vinthagen |first=Stellan |last2=Kenrick |first2=Justin |last3=Mason |first3=Kelvin |name-list-style=amp|isbn=978-1-4717-5104-2|location=[Place of publication not identified]|oclc=806368892}}</ref>

The [[Royal Marines]]' [[Garelochhead Training Area|Garelochhead training camp]] was established in the 1940s and is still in use today after a number of new facilities were installed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/13978937.plans-to-develop-mod-training-camp-facilities/|title=Plans to develop MoD training camp facilities|website=Helensburgh Advertiser|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{oscoor gbx|NS 24601 85850}}
{{Commons category|Gare Loch}}
{{EB1911 poster|Gare Loch}}

{{River Clyde}}
{{aquatic ecosystem topics|expanded=marine}}
{{coastal geography}}

{{Portal bar|Scotland}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gare Loch}}
[[Category:Sea lochs of Scotland]]
[[Category:Lochs of Argyll and Bute]]
[[Category:Firth of Clyde]]