Caledonian Canal Skipper’s Guide

Our Skipper's Guide tells you everything you need to know about boating on the Caledonian Canal.

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Maps and facilities on Caledonian Canal

Our maps show you how to navigate through the Caledonian Canal and where the locks and bridges are. For information on local attractions and activities, please visit our Things to do page.

Using the locks

There are locks on this canal, find out how to use them and what you'll need to pass through safely.

Using locks

2023 Caledonian Canal Skippers Guide [7018 kb]
start from
Inverness Corpach
Inverness

1. Clachnaharry

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Sea lock hours:

The canal sea locks operate with approx. 1.4m of tide (Spring HW± 4 hours), during operating hours.

VHF Ch 74 (16), call: “Corpach Sea Lock” or “Clachnaharry Sea Lock”.

Inverness Marina VHF Ch 12 / Inverness Harbour VHF Ch 12/16 (office hours)

Approaches to Clachnaharry

  • Admiralty Chart 1078. Imray Charts C22 & C23.
  • HW Inverness is at Aberdeen –0050 (sp); –0150 (np). Tidal range 4.1m (sp); 1.9m (np)
  • The final 3 miles of the approach from the NE to Kessock Bridge is shoal in places. A careful course should be maintained.
  • The tide runs strongly through Kessock Narrows and Kessock Roads. Approach the sea lock with care in these conditions.
  • Anchoring off the sea lock may be difficult due to strong tidal current. It may be preferable to wait in Inverness Marina.
  • To avoid sandbank NE of canal entrance, (night) keep in white sector of Longman Point Beacon, or (day) keep beacon well open north of S bridge pier.
  • For passage between Inverness Marina and Clachnaharry Sea Lock (and vice versa) see map.

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Clachnaharry map 106.472 KB

Muirtown

2. Muirtown and Clachnaharry

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Clachnaharry Sea Lock 
  • Clachnaharry Works Lock 
  • Swing Bridge (please keep close to the boat in front to minimise road traffic delays. Opening is restricted during peak hours) 
  • Muirtown Flight

Seaport Marina:
Canal Office 01463 725500

Slipways:
Seaport Marina - 01463 725500
Caley Marina - 01463 236328

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Muirtown and Clachnaharry map 912.489 KB

Dochgarroch

3. Loch Dochfour

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Dochgarroch Lock

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Loch Ness

4. Loch Ness

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Attractions:

Loch Ness

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Loch Ness map 622.841 KB

Fort Augustus

5. Fort Augustus

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

On arrival at Fort Augustus, skippers should moor their vessel and check locking times with the lock keeper – VHF CH 74.

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Fort Augustus map 142.183 KB

Invergarry

6. Loch Oich – north-eastern portion

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Cullochy Lock

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Loch Oich North eastern portion map1024 1 2 86.036 KB

Invergarry

7. Loch Oich – middle portion

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

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Loch Oich Middle portion map 119.646 KB

Invergarry

8. Loch Oich – south-western portion

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks: 

  • Laggan Locks

Slipways: 

  • Great Glen Waterpark - 01809 501381

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Loch Oich South western portion map 131.266 KB

Laggan

9. Loch Lochy and Laggan Locks

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

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Loch Lochy and Laggan Locks map 94.228 KB

Gairlochy

10. Gairlochy and Loch Lochy

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Gairlochy Swing Bridge
  • Moy Swing Bridge

Attractions:

Gairlochy

Moy Swing Bridge

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Gairlochy and Loch Lochy map 169.216 KB

Corpach

11. Corpach and Banavie

Time needed to pass through:
From 1 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Bridges and locks:

  • Neptune’s Staircase
  • Banavie Swing Bridge

Attractions:

Neptune’s Staircase

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis distillery

Jacobite Steam train (Hogwarts express)

Camusnagaul Ferry

West Highland way

Inverlochy Castle

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Corpach