Caledonian Canal, running for 60 miles along the Great Glen from Corpach near Fort William in the South West to Inverness in the North East, was started in 1803 to plans produced by Thomas Telford following survey work by James Watt thirty years earlier. It was the biggest of the building schemes undertaken by the Government to provide work and stem the flood of emigration from the Highlands. Once finished, the Caledonian Canal provided the long hoped for route between eastern and western Scotland.

Of its 60 mile length, 38 miles are along Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness, with the remaining 22 miles being through canals proper.

The most impressive single engineering feat on the Canal lies north of Fort William, where you will see Neptune's Staircase signposted off the A830 Mallaig road just before Corpach. This is a ladder of eight locks raising vessels to a height of 70 feet above sea level over a distance of 500 yards.

One of the best viewpoints available for the dark north west side is Ben Nevis, and its 2000 foot cliffs are an enthralling distraction. Nearby the canal emerges into the end of Loch Linnhe at Corpach, where there is an interesting canal basin. Another excellent place from which to observe the Caledonian Canal in operation is at Fort Augustus, where a further ladder of locks lowers vessels to the level of Loch Ness, to the north.

A further easily accessible location for the canal is at Muirtown Locks, on the western side of Inverness. Here you can see the locks themselves, or take in the shipping in the canal basin to the north. Another alternative is to see much of the canal from the towpath as you walk the 73 miles of the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness.

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