The Caledonian Canal was designed and engineered by Thomas Telford and opened in 1822, with 29 locks linking the east coast of Scotland at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach, near Fort William. The canal makes use of the natural landscape, following the route of the Great Glen and making use of the three lochs of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness to create a 60-mile through route.
The Canal is owned by British Waterways, which has responsibility for maintaining it and for regulating traffic along it. Built as a transport link, the canal is now a major recreational centre with opportunities for boating and other related watersports, as well as walking and cycling: the long-distance Great Glen Way follows the towpath for much of the route.
Water Sports on the Caledonian Canal
The canal is both a transit route for longer-distance sailors and a place for those who wish to go no further than the limits of Inverness or Fort William. Its great benefit lies in the natural lochs along its path that allow those making passage also to have the benefit of wider bodies of water.
Those in transit are recommended by British Waterways to allow at least two days to make the passage along the full length of the canal, but a leisurely trip enjoying the benefits of the Great Glen will take longer. A transit licence is required (costs varies according to duration of the licence and length of vessel).
Boating hoildays can betaken on the canal, with boats available for hire from Kilfinnan, near Loch Laggan, from Inverness and from Loch Oich. A Skipper’s Guide to the navigation of the canal is available to download from British Waterways. Moorings and canal-side facilities are available at several sites along the canal, including Laggan, Banavie, Dochgarroch, Inverness and Gairlochy.
The canal is popular with canoeists, who are requested to obtain a (free) permit from British Waterways before setting out. The route is to be the focus of a new trail, the Great Glen Canoe Trail, which is currently under development and is due to open in 2012 (Scottish Natural Heritage “The Great Big Paddle”, Summer 2010). British Waterways publishes a leaflet with details of available facilities.
Walking, Cycling and Fishing Along the Caledonian Canal
The Great Glen Way, a 73-mile long-distance path, passes along much of the towpath of the Caledonian Canal. Both walkers and cyclists use the towpath, which offers spectacular views of the Highland scenery, and it can be covered in a series of shorter routes not just as a whole. The route is popular for organised activities, such as the Loch Ness Marathon and charity walking/cycling events.
The canal and its loch are excellent for fishing, with salmon and brown trout both abundant, as well as pike and eels. Although some free fishing is available, angling in most locations will require a licence which can be purchased locally. Organised fishing trips can be arranged in the area.
Accommodation, Eating and Drinking
The Caledonian Canal is closely followed by the A82, which is the main road along the Great Glen. Most of the facilities in the glen are along this route and are readily accessible from the canal. There are numerous hotels, hostels, guest houses and B&Bs, especially in the Fort William, Fort Augustus and Inverness. British Waterways encourages responsible wild camping by walkers, cyclists and canoeists, though commercial sites are limited in number.
Many pubs and restaurants are located along the route. Most hotels are open to non-residents, serving bar meals, while the larger settlements – Fort William itself, Inverness and Fort Augustus – offer a substantial range of opportunities to eat and drink, from pubs and takeaways to restaurants and tearooms.
Join the Conversation