Firth of Lorne

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The Firth of Lorne is a body of water on Scotland's west coast, in Argyll and Bute. It lies between the Isle of Mull to the northwest and the Isles of Kerrera, Seil and Luing (the Slate Islands) along with parts of the Scottish mainland southwest of Oban on the southeast side. The firth's width ranges from 5 to 10 km. It is about 25 km long.

The long narrow basin forming the firth is part of the Great Glen Fault, which runs through its namesake, the Great Glen, and Loch Linnhe before joining with the Firth of Lorne, whence it runs further southwest across Ireland.

The firth's northeast end forms a junction with several other arms of the sea, namely Loch Linnhe, the Lynn of Lorne, Loch Etive and the Sound of Mull. Loch Spelve and Loch Don on the Isle of Mull and Loch Feochan on the mainland are inlets of the Firth of Lorne. On the southeast side, there are also several channels and sounds in the Slate Islands.

Tidal conditions in and around the Firth of Lorne cause a number of interesting phenomena, such as the Falls of Lora at the outlet of Loch Etive, and whirlpools and standing waves in the Gulf of Corryvreckan between Scarba and Jura.