Caledonian Canal - A recommended trip

[Suffolk_Newbie]

I've been meaning to take the trip along the Caledonian Canal for a few years now and so this year rented a 40' Cabin Cruiser, Kintail IV, from Caley Cruisers.

It was a fantastic week long cruise, from Inverness to Banavie Locks (at the top of Neptune's Staircase, close to Fort William and Ben Nevis) and back, with breathtaking views, great people, some fantastic Yachts to see, and a few Beers, a little Wine, and some delicious food.

If you've considered doing it, my recommendation would be to book it in for next season.

 

[ProDave]

The few times I have been in, it staggers me tourists put up with the shocking service. My last trip, it took 4 whole hours to get from the Clachnahary sea lock up to Calley Marina. VERY much waiting about going nowhere.

 

[dunedin]

The few times I have been in, it staggers me tourists put up with the shocking service. My last trip, it took 4 whole hours to get from the Clachnahary sea lock up to Calley Marina. VERY much waiting about going nowhere.

But the "tourists" aren't allowed to do that bit. They stop further SW of Clachnaharry and above/NE of Neptune's Staircase.
Was it the rail bridge that was the cause of your delay at that point?

 

[Suffolk_Newbie]

But the "tourists" aren't allowed to do that bit. They stop further SW of Clachnaharry and above/NE of Neptune's Staircase.
Was it the rail bridge that was the cause of your delay at that point?

@ProDave, as @dunedin mentioned, we were unable to go through the lock flights at either end, as Hire Boats aren't permitted. Getting through the locks and bridges isn't a fast process and if you wished to traverse the canal 'commercially' or on a tight timeframe, it could be frustrating.

However, through the eyes of the tourist, the service provided by the lock and bridge keepers is very good, not fast but informative, friendly and very much focussed on safety. There are a lot of first timers on boats, let alone through large scale locks, and so slow and steady suits most people. One of our crew was new to boats, the rest of us had only ever done narrowboat locks and the Lowestoft Sea Lock, and so all of us really appreciated the knowledge and advice of the lock keepers.

Incidentally, it also was a great opportunity to talk to some of the other skippers and crew, particularly of the sailing Yachts.

 

[Bouba]

If hire boats are not allowed on the staircase how do they transit?

 

[Suffolk_Newbie]

If hire boats are not allowed on the staircase how do they transit?

@Bouba The hire boats are 'locked in' to the Caledonian Canal, between the East and West staircases, so from the Muirtown Flight in Inverness, down to the Banavie Locks (Neptune's Staircase), close to Fort William. It provides for the full length of the Canal and is a comfortable and enjoyable 1 week return cruise.

This 'Great Canal Journeys' episode with Timothy West and Prunella Scales is really interesting, although they did get permission to go through Neptune's Staircase and out to sea:

 

[ProDave]

But the "tourists" aren't allowed to do that bit. They stop further SW of Clachnaharry and above/NE of Neptune's Staircase.
Was it the rail bridge that was the cause of your delay at that point?

I was helping someone take a boat from Inverness Marina to Calley Marina.

We locked into the sea lock on first opening that day about 10:30 AM. 3 boats in the lock. Lockie filled the look then went round collectint everyones licence fees. By the time he had done that, another boat was in the firth waiting, so he emptied the lock again, let the 4th boat in, took his licence fee and filled the lock again.

Then he held us in the sea lock waiting for a train, and we were only let out of the sea lock to proceed to Works lock when the train had passed and they could swing the railway.

By the time we were locked into seaport marina it was lunch time. So we had an hour wait until the lockes came back from lunch to work the flight.

I was questioning why you would want to keep a boat at Calley marina. Tou can hardly just pop out into the firth for a quick sail if it might take you 4 hours just to get there.

 

[Suffolk_Newbie]

I was helping someone take a boat from Inverness Marina to Calley Marina.

We locked into the sea lock on first opening that day about 10:30 AM. 3 boats in the lock. Lockie filled the look then went round collectint everyones licence fees. By the time he had done that, another boat was in the firth waiting, so he emptied the lock again, let the 4th boat in, took his licence fee and filled the lock again.

Then he held us in the sea lock waiting for a train, and we were only let out of the sea lock to proceed to Works lock when the train had passed and they could swing the railway.

By the time we were locked into seaport marina it was lunch time. So we had an hour wait until the lockes came back from lunch to work the flight.

I was questioning why you would want to keep a boat at Calley marina. Tou can hardly just pop out into the firth for a quick sail if it might take you 4 hours just to get there.

@ProDave I agree, it wouldn't be great to berth in Calley Marina if you wanted to get out into the sea regularly. Mind you, the Inverness Marina looked to be pretty good, well sheltered and with good facilities, and seemed pretty fully berthed up. From there you would have much better access.

 

[dunedin]

I was helping someone take a boat from Inverness Marina to Calley Marina.

We locked into the sea lock on first opening that day about 10:30 AM. 3 boats in the lock. Lockie filled the look then went round collectint everyones licence fees. By the time he had done that, another boat was in the firth waiting, so he emptied the lock again, let the 4th boat in, took his licence fee and filled the lock again.

Then he held us in the sea lock waiting for a train, and we were only let out of the sea lock to proceed to Works lock when the train had passed and they could swing the railway.

By the time we were locked into seaport marina it was lunch time. So we had an hour wait until the lockes came back from lunch to work the flight.

I was questioning why you would want to keep a boat at Calley marina. Tou can hardly just pop out into the firth for a quick sail if it might take you 4 hours just to get there.

I don’t think anybody would suggest using Calley marina as a home berth for anybody wanting to regularly sail in the sea waters. It is for people cruising the Canal or long term storage.
It does sound like your delay was due to the train bridge. Generally if you phone the office ahead they advise when passage through the train bridge is possible - sometimes informed go NOW to get ahead of a closure.

 

[ProDave]

I don’t think anybody would suggest using Calley marina as a home berth for anybody wanting to regularly sail in the sea waters. It is for people cruising the Canal or long term storage.
It does sound like your delay was due to the train bridge. Generally if you phone the office ahead they advise when passage through the train bridge is possible - sometimes informed go NOW to get ahead of a closure.

The train timetable is fixed. They could just publish a list of bridge opening times. It seems it does not open in between every train.

 

[dunedin]

The train timetable is fixed. They could just publish a list of bridge opening times. It seems it does not open in between every train.

No but if you ask they advise you. Need to contact ahead to get into sea lock anyway so worthwhile phoning the day before, or at least at the start of working hours. That is what I have learnt anyway.

 

[riverliver]

I really fancy that trip. I know first question I will be asked is "what about midges"? Anyone know the answer?

cheers (and thanks for the original post

 

[CliveF]

its the highlands if the wind and weather is right they are out in plague proportions.
I did it in August a few years ago.
I am allergic to the little 'stards
but smidged up or used a net and it was not to bad.

 

[stelican]

I really fancy that trip. I know first question I will be asked is "what about midges"? Anyone know the answer?

cheers (and thanks for the original post

No problem at 20kn

 

[Suffolk_Newbie]

I really fancy that trip. I know first question I will be asked is "what about midges"? Anyone know the answer?

cheers (and thanks for the original post

The midges can be bad, as @CliveF says, but we found it fine with precautions around sitting out at dusk and using the smidge spray. The four of us had 3 bites between us, which is not bad for us

I really wouldn't let the midges put you off what is a wonderful holiday and experience.

 

[Alicatt]

The humble midge, took the wife and kids gold panning on the Kildonan river in Sutherland, that was my first mistake
It would have been fun except for the plague of midges, now the daughter has taken a set against Scotland and brings up the midge as a reason not to go, though her husband would really love to go there.
"Village of Gold" where the kildonan gold rush was in 1869 when over 500 gold prospectors set up camp in the Kildonan valley


Modern day gold prospectors - all they found was midges