Caledonian Canal
It took 24 hours to get the Swing Bridge working again. This we were told, is the usual time needed for repairs, still we were sooo relieved. We could move on to climb the 4 steps of the Muirtown looks. 25 more were to follow, all in all 29 locks and 11 swing bridges. From Clachnaharry lock where we entered into the canal up to Corpach it’s a stretch of 50 nm, a scenic trip from coast-to-coast through the Scottish Highlands.
Loch Ness
We passed the Tomnahurich swing bridge and were released into the open waters of Loch Ness. It was a rainy drizzly day, but the mist around us only added up to the sense of peace in this magnificent landscape. We didn’t see Nessie but we had a beautiful view of the remains of Urquhart Castle.
Fort Augustus
Here beginns another flight of 5 locks. It took us about 1,5 hours to reach the top.The sun was out again and we found ourselves surrounded by tourists taking photos of Arielle and of the locking procedures. Arriving a the top we rafted up alongside a Norwegian yachtsman for the night.
In the days of the Jacobite uprisings Fort Augustus had been an English garrison. The name does not, as one might think, derive from the Roman emperor. It was named after William August Earl of Cumberland, 2. son of King George II. He was the commander of the English troops during the battle of Culloden. Because of the brutality in his relentless pursuit of the highlanders he was later nicknamed „butcher of Culloden“. Everywhere you go in the highlands you encounter the memories of the Jacobites.
Loch Oich
The next loch along our way was Loch Oich, a quite narrow stretch of water, were boats follow the green and red channel in an orderly fashion.
The Great Glen Trail runs alongside the canal and sometimes we see cyclist or hikers with backpacks pass by.
Loch Lochy to Banavie
Gairlochy lies at the end of beautiful Loch Lochy, silent and edged with pine and oak trees and green fields.
We reached Banavie basin at the top of Neptune’s Staircase by 17:30h. Here beginns a descend of 8 + 3 locks, until finally being released into Loch Linnhe at the end of the canal. We moored at a pontoon where several boats were already tied up in a waiting position for locking through the next day.
Neptun's staircase
Taking this ladder down to Loch Linnhe was quite an experience, something worth seeing live and in full colour. A video will follow in a short while, promised. For now just a few impressions…
The passage through the canal was an awesome trip which took us all in all 3 1/2 days, which we believe to be the absolute minimum. The locking procedures are efficiently organized, the lock keepers have an eye on every boat. But what you will need is patience, passing a flight of 8 locks takes 2 hours and there is always the possibility of having to queue. In practice we called the lock on VHF upon arrival and were either prompted to procede into the lock or to tie up at a waiting pontoon. We were called upon in time and directed to the side of the lock we had to take. Stress-free and nothing like what we are used to from the Dutch locks.
I almost forgot to mention …. I was shortly enlightend about the origin of the name for this canal by my cousin Saskia living in New Caledonia. Caledonians were the people called in Roman times in this stretch of the British island.
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Uwe
hi
it is a pleasure to read yours story travel, it seems as a great experience,
hope you will continue to enjoy the journey, expectant to your next blog.
greetings Alex.
Take care of yourselves.
Effi.
Wir sind begeistert.weiterhin alles Gute
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