We left Oban at 08:15 to catch the remaining tide up to Fort William. It was fairly misty but clear enough not to need radar. Shortly after Fort William is the entrance to the Caledonian Canal with its sea lock and small ‘pepper pot’ lighthouse. We were now starting the last phase of our Scottish adventure and our journey, through the canal, to Inverness.
First opened in 1822, the Caledonian Canal was built to provide a short cut between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the hazardous route around Scotland’s north coast. The majestic canal is 60 miles in length, of which approximately 1/3 is man-made cuttings and the remainder is formed by the waters of Lochs Lochy, Oich, Dochfour and Ness. The highest point is 32.3m above sea level and it has three flights of locks, the largest of which has eight locks and is known as ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ - which we negotiated today. In total, there are 29 locks and 10 swing bridges.
The Caledonian Canal is twinned with both the Gota Canal in Sweden, which was also designed by Thomas Telford, and the Rideau Canal in Canada.
First opened in 1822, the Caledonian Canal was built to provide a short cut between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the hazardous route around Scotland’s north coast. The majestic canal is 60 miles in length, of which approximately 1/3 is man-made cuttings and the remainder is formed by the waters of Lochs Lochy, Oich, Dochfour and Ness. The highest point is 32.3m above sea level and it has three flights of locks, the largest of which has eight locks and is known as ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ - which we negotiated today. In total, there are 29 locks and 10 swing bridges.
The Caledonian Canal is twinned with both the Gota Canal in Sweden, which was also designed by Thomas Telford, and the Rideau Canal in Canada.