Sailing through the Caledonian Canal with a dog

Inverness to Fort Augustus

Having completed the first set of locks on the Caledonian Canal the evening before, Rimau slipped at 08:00 and made her way to the first swing bridge. Despite the early advantage, the lock keeper was in no hurry on this quiet Sunday morning to disrupt traffic. Pete went to investigate and hurry up the proceedings. Not sure what he said - but it worked - we were on our way - breakfast time.

What followed was a magical adventure on Loch Ness, searching for the illusive monster.

History of the Caledonian Canal

The Caledonian Canal is a remarkable feat of engineering that stretches 60 miles through the Scottish Highlands, linking Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy to the Atlantic Ocean at Fort William and the North Sea at Inverness. Construction began in 1803 under the direction of Thomas Telford, who aimed to create a safe passage for ships to avoid the treacherous waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic. The canal was officially completed in 1822, and over the years has served various purposes, from facilitating trade and transportation to becoming a popular destination for leisure boating and tourism. Without the canal, we would not have been able to complete the circumnavigation as there are not enough marina's going round the top. Whilst it was slow going, it was an opportunity to take stock and reflect on the journey so far.

Loch Ness

After completing the first half of the Caladonian Canal, Loch Ness stretches out before us. Several chartered motorboats together with ferries jam-packed with tourists joined the search for a monster.

The Western tip of Loch Ness leads towards Fort Augustus, a small tourist town famous for its historic fort, abbey and role in the Jacobite uprising. Navigation was super easy with plenty of pontoons available for birthing. As Jen was heading back to London that evening Rimau remained at the bottom of the Locks. This however posed quite a delay the following morning.

The journey from Fort Augustus to Copach was slow going due to the amount of traffic on the canal navigating the locks. Wind and poor viability meant that the next leg was severely delayed too. Whilst our sailor waited for a weather window in Copach, he attempted to climb Ben Nevis and enjoyed the hospitality of the local taverns.