Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
50
Caledonian Canal
Distance
96km from Loch Linnhe to the Beauly Firth
Highlights
Banavie Locks, the longest and widest staircase
Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain
Well of the Seven Hands
Urquhart Castle
Loch Ness monster centres
Navigation Authority
Scottish Canals
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
26 Inverness & Loch Ness
34 Fort Augustus
(35 Kingussie & Monadhliath Mountains)
41 Ben Nevis, Fort William & Glen Coe
The Caledonian Canal, running north-east right across the Highland Region from the head of
Loch Linnhe to the Moray Firth, is unusual for several reasons. Our most northerly operational
canal, it is isolated from the rest of the canal system, has large dimensions, incorporates three
major lochs and runs through dramatic scenery. It uses the line of Glen Albyn (Glen Mor or the
Great Glen), a tear fault line dating from the Caledonian orogenesis, partially infilled with Old
Red Sandstone, unlike the thrust faults found elsewhere. Northern Scotland has moved 105km
northeast along a wrench fault that has then been scoured by glacier. Without this shift Loch
Eil would discharge by Colonsay and Fort William would be near Fortrose. These mountains
were once as high as the Himalayas.
The route was considered by Captain Burt in 1726 and it was surveyed by James Watt in
1773. Designed by William Jessop, it was expected to take seven years to build. The three
lochs account for two-thirds of its length. This was one of the greatest projects of Thomas
