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The Highland Fling
Laggan > Inverness > Banavie > Laggan
Cruise the Caledonian Canal for a true taste of the Highlands. Take in the sights at Loch Oich and the great watersports facilities at the Great Glen Water Park. Learn about Highland life at the Clansman Centre at Fort Augustus, one of the most picturesque villages on your route. See if you can spot the monster in Loch Ness and visit Drumnadrochit - the centre of monsterspotting activities and a great base for pony-trekking. Visit Urquhart Castle which perches on the edge of Loch Ness and spend time in Inverness - Britain’s youngest city. Return via Gairlochy under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain and on to Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Fort William.
- Distance: 193 km
- Cruising Time: 35 hrs
- Locks: 10
- Return Trip
Laggan > Inverness > Banavie > Laggan
Benavie - For Ben Nevis
Banavie is just 15 minutes from Fort William, with all facilities. Here you can watch commercial shipping and pleasure craft navigate the lock gates at Corpach Basin. See also Neptune's Staircase, which is a remarkable series of nine locks. Visit Ben Nevis Distillery and Visitors Centre and sample the award winning whiskies
Gairlochy Locks
Beautiful views of Ben Nevis and the Grey Collies mountains
Laggan
There is a pub and restaurant here (The Eagle Barge)
Great Glen Water Park
The Great Glen Water park offers a full range of activities as well as a swimming pool and a childrens play area.
Loch Oich
Loch Oich is a freshwater loch, and lies between Loch Ness and Loch Lochy. It is the higest of all the lochs at about 100 ft above sea level. The Loch has a rich variety of wildlife and every autumn the Atlantic salmon migrate from the sea using Loch Oich, Loch Lochy and Loch Ness as their spawning nests. There is prime walking area and the attractive pathway here follows the old track of the Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus railway. The old village of Invergarry stands where the A82 turns west to meet the A87. The Invergarry Community Centre hosts both the Heritage Centre and a coffee shop. The local pub "The Invergarry Hotel" is often is a base for local musicians to perform on a weekend. The Glengarry Castle Hotel stand the ruins of Invergarry Castle, destroyed by the Duke of Cumberland in the aftermath of Culloden.
Fort Augustus
Situated on the shores of the world famous Loch Ness, Fort Augustus is nestled right in the centre of the stunning scenery of the Great Glen, which stretches from the east to the west coast of Scotland. The fort, and and the village, were named after King George II’s younger son, Prince William Augustus and today offers visitors a good range of shopping, bars and restaurants, amenities, attractions and activities.
Drumnadrochit - For Loch Ness
There are many visitor attractions here including the famous Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre, some of the best pony trekking in the country, as well as lovely coffee shops, great restaurants, craft shops, small food stores & a post office.
Dochgarroch Locks
This is a very pretty spot, at the head of Loch Ness and under 5 miles from Inverness. It is a perfect location to moor up and spend some time walking along the marked trails here and to work up an apetite for a meal at the the quirky Oakwood restaurant, which is ideal for a relaxing evening meal.
Inverness
Inverness is an compact and historic city, which is easy to explore. Enjoy beautiful views from the castle and riverbank and indulge in a spot of retail therapy in the old town or at the new Eastgate complex. If you want to experience traditional music and dance, there is usually lots going on in the and around the city streets, with daily live music and Saturday evening Ceilidhs at Hootananny, Church Street. This street is also home to the town's oldest-surviving Medieval buildings.
