Holy Loch

The Holy Loch is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Open to the Firth of Clyde at its eastern end, the sea loch is approximately one mile wide and between two and three miles long, varying with the tide. The town of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula lies on the loch's south western shore and continues round the point to the western shore of the Clyde.

Related Topics:
Argyll and Bute - Scotland - Firth of Clyde - Sea loch - Dunoon - Cowal

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During World War II the loch was used by the Royal Navy as a submarine base, served by the depot ship Forth. An anti-submarine boom was constructed between Dunoon and the Cloch Point Lighthouse to defend waters from German U-boats. The vessels Vandal and Untamed also defended the Holy Loch, along with Graph, a captured and refitted German U-boat.

Related Topics:
World War II - Royal Navy - Submarine - ''Forth'' - Cloch Point Lighthouse - U-boat - ''Vandal'' - ''Untamed'' - ''Graph''

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Between 1960 and 1991, the Holy Loch was the site of a United States Navy base and home to the Polaris nuclear fleet. As a result, it was the location of frequent demonstrations by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and others opposed to the siting of nuclear arms on UK territory.

Related Topics:
United States Navy - Polaris - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - UK

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The name Holy Loch is believed to date from the 6th century when Saint Munn landed there after leaving Ireland.

Related Topics:
6th century - Saint Munn - Ireland

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