Caledonian canal - a good introduction for a reluctant boater?

[Bodach na mara]

The month licence is the way to go. Four years ago this was about £160 for a 31 footer. Nobody bothered with a safety check. You can then use both canals, and even the Forth and Clyde if you feel masochistic. If the weather is not good as you come towards the North Channel, you could come up the more sheltered passage of Kilbrannon Sound and stop off at Tarbert. Be sure to visit the fish place near the ferry slip for the freshest seafood you will ever taste. Choose your lobster from the tank or get one pre-cooked. Lovely scallops as well. And prawns. Oh stop it!

The Crinan is a bit of a sweat, and requires some strong mates to keep the missus happy. Or she will get all grumpy pushing heavy lock gates.

Caledonian locks are all attended and operated for you. I second the bit about letting hire boats go first, except that they all want to tie up in the middle of the lock and prevent boats behind getting in. They are not allowed west of the top of Neptune's Staircase at Bannavie. The weather can be rough, even though inland. We went through Loch Lochy under bare poles at 5 knots. It was flat calm for much of the rest of the time. We also spent the night at the pontoon in Loch Oich in almost a flat calm. A few metres away in the channel it was blowing a hooley.

It took five days from Corpach to Inverness and five days back again. This is because there are breaks in the day when you can't get through bridges etc or neeed to wait for a staircase of locks to fill.

We had two problems. Bogs and midges. This refers to both canals. The toilet facilities are not adequate. We do not have a holding tank and needed to use the shore facilities. On one occasion there was a queue outside of people, all with towels and intending to use the shower. It was a single occupancy facility, i.e. six people x one shower = about 80 minutes wait! That may have changed in the last four years. The preventative for midges is Avon Skin-so-soft moisturiser, but it must be Woodland Fragrance scented. This has been mentioned in other threads.

 

[johnkeith]

Had a really pleasant holiday on the Caledonian Canal a few years ago with my wife and young family. Plenty to see and do, including the possibility of going right into Inverness. Plenty of good stopping places and short walks to pubs. It was pretty windy when we came South down Loch Ness with surprisingly large waves so we stopped part of the way down the Loch at the very sheltered harbour at Drumnadrochit (Pay and Display Meter for berthing dues!).

Would recommend it for cautious crew. Not much chance to get long sails though. Loch Lochy reasonably wide for sailing, Loch Oich has a fairly narrow channel of deep water so not much space for tacking. When we went North up Loch Ness with the wind behind us it was much easier just to have the Genoa up and not bother with constantly gybing the main.

 

[Danny Jo]

Loads of useful advice - many thanks to all those who posted it.

The question of a holding tank had occurred to me, and I had made a mental note to take a spade.

Midges, mossies and cleggies - I hate every one of them, but midges most of all: they seem to be able to find bits of flesh I never knew existed. So I appreciate the suggested use of "Avon Skin-so-soft moisturiser".

The warnings about katabatic winds and strong winds on the open waters of Loch Ness are also appreciated. I kind of hoped that, if rough conditions were predictable SWBO would, on the pretext of nipping back on the bus to Corpach or Fort William for the car, miss out the exciting bits.

I was hoping to be able to leave the boat at the NE end for a few days while I tramp around Aberdeen looking for the graves of my ancestors.

 

[awol]

[ QUOTE ]
I was hoping to be able to leave the boat at the NE end for a few days while I tramp around Aberdeen looking for the graves of my ancestors.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Inverness marina is free for only one night (IIRC), included in the transit.

 

[Danny Jo]

Thanks. Caley marina doesn't have the charges on its website, but a very nice man on 01463 236539 told me that a berth for a week would be £3.75 per metre. That's only a little more for a week than I spent for one night at one or two stops on the East coast of Ireland. My incredulity cost me another phone call to check it.

Thanks again, folks.

 

[Strathglass]

Why pay to use Caley marina?

There not many places where one has to pay to moor on the Canal.

As far as I am aware they are. -

The pontoons in the basin at Inverness.

Caley.(useful if you wish to leave the boat) But remember that this is where most of the hire cruisers retire to roost before being handed out to the next family if drivers.

Clansman Motel on Loch Ness (I think)

The marina at Drumnadrochit. (Nightly charge + charge to use electricity) No long term mooring.

Generally speaking you can berth anywhere along the length of the canal free of charge (once you have paid your transit charge) and there is plenty of room.

A great place to introduce the other half to sailing (or Motor sailing if the wind is in the wrong direction)

The winds can be flukey on Loch Ness and it occasionally can get a bit bouncy.

On very limited occasions it may wise not to venture onto the loch. But those days are few and far between.

SWMBO learned to sail on the Caledonian canal system (over a ten year period) but she now much prefers the open sea and estuary sailing.
Her view is that while it is interesting and safe there, she now wants to venture further.

I don't think you could get a more interesting and safe place to take your wife sailing.

The Crinnan Canal is more of a transit canal and is less geared to provide interesting things to do on the way. It is also much more hard work for the crew.

Iain