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Crannogs are "partly or wholly man-made islands which supported timber buildings". Erskine Crannog is exposed for about four hours at low tide. See Link (at Canmore) for archaeological details.

The more familiar lochside variety of crannog was located out in the water, and was connected to the shore by a causeway. However, the marine crannogs seem to have been different in this respect; a report entitled "Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Firth Of Clyde & Isle Of Bute" (Report No. 876) by CFA Archaeology, on behalf of Historic Scotland, cites Alex Hales' "Marine Crannogs: previous work and recent surveys" (2000; Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 130, 537-558) and notes that:

"The work carried out at Dumbuck suggested that this site, and possibly Langbank West were built on the end of promontory features, projecting into the water from palaeoshorelines. By way of contrast, Erskine was built on a raised area adjacent to deeper-water channels suitable for access by shallow-draught boats, such as log boats, even at low tide."

There are several other crannogs in the inner estuary of the River Clyde:

● Dumbuck Crannog — Link — at NS41577392; see Link at Canmore;
● Langbank East Crannog (or Westferry Crannog) at NS40507318; see Link at Canmore;
● Langbank West Crannog at NS38147355; see Link at Canmore;
● See Link at Canmore for another report, but note the comments there from 2015.