Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal is one of the great engineering achievements of the 19th century, a 60-mile waterway linking the North Sea at Inverness to the Atlantic at Corpach near Fort William. Designed by the legendary engineer Thomas Telford and completed in 1822, the canal follows the natural fault line of the Great Glen, connecting Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy through a series of man-made channels and locks.

The canal features 29 locks that raise and lower vessels by a total of 32 metres, with the most spectacular being Neptune's Staircase at the western end - eight locks in a continuous flight. Watching boats navigate the locks remains endlessly entertaining, and the canal towpaths offer some of Scotland's finest walking and cycling routes. The Great Glen Way follows much of the canal's length.

Today the canal is used primarily by pleasure craft and tourist boats, having lost its original purpose of providing a safe passage for naval and commercial vessels avoiding the dangerous waters around Cape Wrath. Cruising the canal by boat offers a unique perspective on the Highlands, while the towpath provides access to some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery. The canal represents both an engineering marvel and a gateway to adventure.