The Caledonian Canal

 

Mist and fog in Loch Linnhe

The next day we motored out of Loch a Choire in mist and fog, which lifted as the day warmed up and lay in streaks along the mountains. It was very beautiful. I had a phone call from the Caledonian Canal soon after 0800. I’d left a message the previous day. Did we know we had to book online at the scottishcanals website? We didn’t. We learned the canal was open but the sea lock would close at 1430. Jeremy found the form on the website, booked a transit of seven days and paid £270.

 

Corpach basin

Corpach sea lock opened at 1100. We entered and tied up. A yacht called Ibis tied up behind us. After lunch, we went up Neptune’s Staircase, a flight of 8 locks. Many tourists lined both sides of the locks. We tied up at Banavie for the night. Ibis tied up behind us. We had supper at The Lochy pub and bought a few groceries at the local Co-op.

Day 2. We had to telephone ahead to the lock keeper at Gairlochy and check the opening times for the swing bridges at Moy and Gairloch. Just before Moy bridge we came across the hotel barge, Scottish Highlander, which had stopped in the middle of the canal waiting for the bridge to open. We asked permission to go past and tie up to a waiting pontoon. Two yachts were tied up on the opposite side. The lock keeper said Scottish Highlander and three yachts could proceed through the open swing bridge and into the lock. We were the last yacht. Ibis had to wait until later. We spent the night tied up above the loch and used the excellent toilet and showering facilities provided. Ibis tied up behind us and we enjoyed chatting to Ian and Jan.

Kathy steering along the Caledonian Canal

Day 3. We passed through Laggan locks and entered Loch Oich. There was a pontoon near a picnic area. We tied up, went ashore and had a barbecue in sunny weather. In the afternoon, we continued to Cullochy lock and had to wait for Scottish Highlander to enter first. Next, we passed through Kytra lock and tied up for the night above the Fort Augustus flight of 5 locks.

 

Scenic reach on the Caledonian Canal

Day 4. Two barges had to take the first locking. We were next with one other yacht. We tied up below the locks. Jeremy went to the nearby Spar for groceries. We had lunch at the Lock Inn. When we returned, Ibis was tied up behind us. After chatting to Ian and Jan, we set off into Loch Ness, unfurled the genoa and sailed gently towards Urquart Castle, where we anchored for the night. We launched the dinghy and explored a woodland area ashore. Nessie came to visit on our return.

 

Look who popped up!

Day 5. We continued through Loch Ness to Dochgarroch lock, passed through and tied up about half a mile below the lock. We had a barbecue on the side of the canal. Later on, Jan and Ian came on board for sundowners and a long chat. 

 

Sharing a lock

Day 6. It rained as we motored towards Torvean and Tomnahurch swing bridges. We had to tie up and wait for Scottish Highlander and another barge to pass through first. We followed to the Muirtown flight of 5 locks. As before, the two barges filled the first lock. We waited at a stone wharf. Four yachts shared the next locking. One was Ibis. Opposite us was a Feeling yacht from the River Deben in Suffolk, which is our home river. Small world! After the locks and a swing bridge, we tied up to a previously booked finger berth at Seaport Marina. The first night was free and the second night cost £10. Ibis was tying up behind us on a different pontoon. Someone shouted, “Person in the water!” It was Jan. She’d slipped on the finger berth and fallen in. Unfortunately, she hurt her shoulder and a visit to A&E confirmed she had broken her arm.

 

Urquart Castle, Loch Ness

Day 7. We shopped at the nearby Co-op in the morning. In the evening we had drinks on Ibis. Later, Mirek and Jasper, two crew who are helping Ian take Ibis down the east coast, slept the night on Sal Darago. Jan went home by bus and has been advised to go to her local fracture clinic for further assessment.

 

The Moray Firth

We left the Caledonian Canal on Sunday morning, 13^th August and started our journey down the east coast to Suffolk.