Caledonian Canal Skippers' Guide
Our Skippers' Guide tells you everything you need to know about boating on the Caledonian Canal.
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.
1. Corpach and Banavie
Bridges and locks:
- Neptune’s Staircase
- Banavie Swing Bridge
Attractions:
2. Gairlochy and Loch Lochy
3. Loch Lochy and Laggan Locks
4. Loch Oich – south-western portion
Bridges and locks:Â
- Laggan Locks
Slipways:Â
- Great Glen Waterpark - 01809 501381
Download a map for Loch Oich – south-western portion
5. Loch Oich – middle portion
6. Loch Oich – north-eastern portion
Bridges and locks:
- Cullochy Lock
Download a map for Loch Oich – north-eastern portion
7. Fort Augustus
On arrival at Fort Augustus, skippers should moor their vessel and check locking times with the lock keeper – VHF CH 74.
8. Loch Ness
Attractions:
9. Loch Dochfour
Bridges and locks:
- Dochgarroch Lock
10. Muirtown and Clachnaharry
Bridges and locks:
- Clachnaharry Sea LockÂ
- Clachnaharry Works LockÂ
- Swing Bridge (please keep close to the boat in front to minimise road traffic delays. Opening is restricted during peak hours)Â
- Muirtown Flight
Seaport Marina:
Canal Office 01463 725500
Slipways:
Seaport Marina - 01463 725500
Caley Marina - 01463 236328
11. Clachnaharry
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.
