The Old Boat of Caol – A Shipwreck, Ben Nevis and Lunch
A few hours.
The route
Just outside Fort William, where the Caledonian Canal meets the sea at Corpach, an old fishing boat lies on the shingle of Loch Linnhe with Ben Nevis rising behind it.
It's one of the most photographed spots in Lochaber, and a lovely short outing by the water, with the canal's sea lock beside it and a friendly café at the marina for lunch. It suits anyone with a couple of hours to spare, children and dogs included.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Woodlands Glencoe, 11 miles away. Sleeps 2.
The day
Corpach
An easy couple of hours by the water at Corpach. Wander round the sea lock, walk along the shore to the wreck and its view of the Ben, then settle in at the marina café for lunch.
About two hoursAbout 1 mile on foot
Corpach Wreck
An attraction
At Corpach, on the Road to the Isles, park in the car park beside Corpach sea lock, where the Caledonian Canal meets the sea, and check the parking signs there for how long you can stay. From April to October boats come and go through the lock; the canal closes to through traffic from November to late March. Then follow the lochside path east for about 5 minutes to the Old Boat of Caol, with Ben Nevis rising behind her across Loch Linnhe. She was built as a fishing boat in 1975, broke from her mooring in a storm in 2011 and has lain on the shingle ever since. At high tide it can be hard to get close, so check the tide times for Corpach before you go. The shingle is rough and slippery with weed, and the water is deep at the lock: keep small children close.
7 min on foot
An Cafaidh Mara
Lunch
It's 7 minutes' walk back along the shore to An Cafaidh Mara, a café by the water at Corpach Marina, where you can sit in or take away. It's known for its fish and chips, and it also does breakfasts, coffee, home baking and soup. It opens from 9am to 4pm, and children and dogs are both welcome. It is said to be step free. In winter its days can change, so ring 01397 523002 before going.
If it rains
On a wet day the walk to the wreck is short, and An Cafaidh Mara has tables indoors, so let lunch run long and watch the loch from the window.
Worth a detour
- Neptune's Staircase
Neptune's Staircase is at Banavie, a couple of minutes east of Corpach: a flight of eight locks that lifts the Caledonian Canal 19 metres in a quarter of a mile. Highland Council's car park at Banavie Locks is free, and a stroll up the towpath beside the locks and back takes half an hour.
Where to stay