Caledonian Canal - beware!

[jimbo]

No, it's not Nessie that you need to worry about - it's getting in to the canal for a chance to spot Nessie that is the issue. Due to severe staff shortage the canal authority have suspended sales of transit licences. A few are released at 1700 each day for the following day's transit. Once in the canal there are delays at the staircase locks; it is slower than usual.

 

[Dave1786]

I'm hoping to transit west to east mid Sept but there is no online booking available for a 7day transit any time, even looking next year. Has anyone any recent experience of this booking system? I could buy a 14day all canal license but would this let me show up at Corpach sea lock with 24hrs notice and get through? A good bit more expensive but at least it avoids the long way round. Any comments appreciated.

 

[ctva]

Have you phoned the canal office?

 

[Dave1786]

Thanks for the response. Called them about trying to book the 7day transit and was told that it is possible to book at 1700hrs for the next day and that future dates are made available at this time on the website. That doesn't happen. The workaround of a 14day all canal license was only thought about after I had failed to make progress with the 1700hrs booking time. I'll call them again and see what I'm told this time.

 

[Sandy]

Sounds like a fantastic summer job. Wonder if they would allow me to work from the boat with a free mooring for six months?

 

[ylop]

Sounds like a fantastic summer job. Wonder if they would allow me to work from the boat with a free mooring for six months?

Like many places they are struggling for staff, and it would indeed make a great summer job. I think the people who solve these issues will be the ones who come up with creative solutions to the accommodation problem. The sea safari at Easdale have provided accommodation to their seasonal staff as part of the package for years - they never seem to have a problem finding not just bodies, but people with decent customer service skills and an interest in the work. Ironically the canal had keepers cottages etc but most are now holiday lets.

 

[Dave1786]

Scottish Canal website will now allow for online booking of 7day transit licence. Seems they had a bit of a website issue.

 

[gordmac]

Sounds like a fantastic summer job. Wonder if they would allow me to work from the boat with a free mooring for six months?

You would need good waterproofs this year, at the West end at least!
Accommodation boats may be a solution for the lack of non holiday accommodation, have you spare berths?

 

[Sandy]

You would need good waterproofs this year, at the West end at least!
Accommodation boats may be a solution for the lack of non holiday accommodation, have you spare berths?

I'm coming up to the Fort for a school reunion next month. Gosh the B&B prices have shot up since my last visit!

 

[gordmac]

Plenty of tourists paying it! Letting to tourists is very profitable, one reason there is no accommodation available for workers.

 

[SaltIre]

Sounds like a fantastic summer job. Wonder if they would allow me to work from the boat with a free mooring for six months?

I worked on the Crinan Canal for two summers in the 1970s and it was indeed a fantastic summer job.