A Sail Tale

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Canals and short cuts

Caledonian Canal

Thomas Telford's 1822 Great Glen route links Inverness and Fort William via Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy.

11 episodes on the chart

Length
about 60 miles (about 97-100 km), 22 miles man-made and 38 miles natural lochs
Locks
29
Opened
1822
Transit time
Minimum 2.5-3 days
Max dimensions
Length 45.72 m (150 ft), beam 10.67 m (35 ft), mast 35 m (115 ft), freshwater draft 3.5 m (check with the canal office)
Operator
Scottish Canals

The Caledonian Canal crosses the Scottish Highlands through the Great Glen, from Inverness on the east coast to Corpach near Fort William on the west. About 60 miles long, only about a third is man-made; the rest is natural lochs, including Loch Ness. Thomas Telford designed it and it opened in 1822. Scottish Canals now runs it.

Boats need a visitor licence, priced per metre for a transit period (an outward passage of up to 7 nights is priced around 26 pounds per metre in current tariffs). Minimum transit time is about 2.5-3 days. Lock-keepers and bridge-keepers work fixed daily hours, about 08:30-18:00 in summer, in a season running roughly April to early November.

Highlights include Neptune's Staircase with eight locks, Loch Ness and Fort Augustus flight, all with Highland mountain scenery and a convenient shortcut that avoids Pentland Firth and the north of Scotland.

Highlights

  • Neptune's Staircase, eight locks at Banavie
  • Sailing on Loch Ness
  • Fort Augustus lock flight
  • Avoids the trip round the north of Scotland

Watch out for

  • A visitor licence is required; plan the itinerary around operating hours
  • Swing bridges have traffic priority times
  • Loch Ness and Loch Lochy can get rough in strong winds
  • Boats near the 3.5 m draft limit must call the canal office before arrival

Episodes on this route 11

Crews on this route

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A summary for learning and dreaming, not for navigation. Rules, fees, seasons and security advice change: check current official sources before you go.

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