Caledonial canal

[onesea]

Some of the 'tall ships' fleet came through the Caledonian canal.

They did 20 years ago too, I still have scars to prove it long story nearly cost me my job...

 

[duncan99210]

Back before we got Rampage we took our Hardy Pilot up to Inverness on the trailer and spent 10 days going over to Fort Willian back. A great little adventure with amazing scenery and very friendly staff. Most of the main locks have ablution blocks to which you get a key when you pay your fees. they were always clean and had lashing of hot water. At some of them there were washing machines as well IIRC.

A word of warning. The central and western bits of the canal are well removed from life support so you need to stock up on food for a couple of days.

There used to be a Dutch barge moored at Lagan locks doing business as a restaurant. You could have anything you liked as long as it was fish and the array of whisky in the bar was impressive.

 

[ukmctc]

Has anyone ever done it? I have always wanted to and would like to do it next year with a couple of other boats from NI.

its great, just run right in there, spend a month go down one side and back the other, easy and one of the best holidays on water you'll ever have. it is the easiest passage you'll make.
Some great pubs and places to eat, lots to see.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Sorry, but this is inconsistent to the point of being plain misleading. Not to fit under the bridge your mast has to be 29m (nearly 90'), so your length will be around 20m. This will be nearer £350 than £180. The OP simply does not have to worry about bridge height (nor draught nor LOA nor beam); he'll fit. Some of the 'tall ships' fleet came through the Caledonian canal.

Phew! If you deleted a "nasty" ad hominam it must have been a scorcher!
I'm sorry to mislead the OP. I must have missed his/her dimensions.
So, erroneous comment regarding bridge / mast heights, and hence cost (per length) was innocent error.
As for comment re the boat that couldn't get under the Kessock Bridge, well I saw that in a Post some weeks back. Presumably the Tall Ships that succeeded had accommodating masts.

I'm sorry to have upset you.

 

[FishyInverness]

His calculations were spot on though - Rhiann Marie couldn't come under the bridge, she's a Discovery 67.

I had the pleasure of lending a ropes hand to the current owner of The Westernman this Summer through from Ft Augustus to Ft William - loved every minute of it. Stunning scenery, friendly lock staff, it was a beautiful and serene trip and it has spurred me on to do the Canoe Trail within the coming few years as well.

 

[LittleShip]

I did the Caledonian last year with some friends from the USA, to say its stunning is an understatement. They are still telling their friends about the cruise.

The Eagle at Laggan Locks is still there and it's still very difficult to get past

We went both ways and took 2 weeks to do so........and could have easily taken longer.

Glengarry Castle on Loch OIKE is well worth a visit and a meal, there is a pontoon to tie along.

Best advice for anybody is....... Dont rush it.

One month in the Canal which also included passage through the Crinan was £450 ish.

Tom

 

[jimi]

I did the Caledonian last year with some friends from the USA, to say its stunning is an understatement. They are still telling their friends about the cruise.

The Eagle at Laggan Locks is still there and it's still very difficult to get past

We went both ways and took 2 weeks to do so........and could have easily taken longer.

Glengarry Castle on Loch OIKE is well worth a visit and a meal, there is a pontoon to tie along.

Best advice for anybody is....... Dont rush it.

One month in the Canal which also included passage through the Crinan was £450 ish.

Tom

The Eagle at Laggan Locks was closed at the end of August when we were there

 

[LittleShip]

JIMI



Tom

 

[snooks]

Would fancy doing it myself but always wondered what to do when at the other end, do others turn round and come back, having a boat on the east coast would be no good for me.

We went up the west coast, around cape wrath to Orkney down to Inverness and through the caley that way.

To the op, don't expect to sail, wind in the lochs can be flukey. But when we went through we had little or no wind all the way. When our engine went bang on Loch Lochy the wind was going from 18 knots to 2 in the blink of an eye. We wouldn't have sailed unless we had to.

It's good to do, nice to chat to all the lock keepers, and the scenery is stunning, but if you're expecting some good sailing, go up the west coast instead.

 

[awol]

The Eagle at Laggan Locks was closed at the end of August when we were there

They must have heard you were coming!

 

[dt4134]

If you're based at Ballycastle you shouldn't be fazed by any tides you encounter going north, except if you choose to go through the Gulf of Corryvrecken, which would be a diversion anyway.

On the way up if you go up the E side of Jura the main tidal gate to consider is the Sound of Luing. There are strong tides to the E of Lismore if you go that way and there is also a strong flow in the Corran Narrows.

Quite common to get only light winds in Loch Linne but according to the lockeeper it is normal to find the wind is much stronger if it's westerly as you approach Corpach. I've been no further than the basin at Corpach but fancy going through the canal sometime.