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A landscape view of the Caledonian Canal lock, water pouring over the full width of the gates, a lamp post and hills behind.
Fort William

Caledonian Canal

Thomas Telford's 60-mile canal through the Great Glen from Corpach to Inverness, with 29 locks, Neptune's Staircase and the Fort Augustus flight.

Welcome

The Caledonian Canal runs for 60 miles through the Great Glen, from Corpach near Fort William to Inverness.

Visited and photographed by Jack Cairney

Thirty-eight of those miles are the lochs, Lochy, Oich and Ness, and only 22 had to be dug, but the canal still needed 29 locks to deal with the changes of level along the glen.

It was begun in 1803 to Thomas Telford's plans and opened in 1822, after 17 years and at more than twice the planned budget. Neptune's Staircase at Banavie, four miles north of Fort William, is a flight of eight locks that lifts boats 19 metres over a quarter of a mile, and at Fort Augustus another flight lowers them to Loch Ness. Both are good places to stand and watch the boats go by, and the Great Glen Way follows sections of the towpath, for walkers and cyclists alike.

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The Daily for 1 November, from Scotland with love. A misty lane runs past slate-roofed cottages toward a wooded hillside.
Before you go

The towpaths are open at all times, free, and shared by walkers, cyclists and boaters alike.

Where
Along the Great Glen from Corpach near Fort William to Inverness; Neptune's Staircase is at Banavie, four miles north of Fort William.
Open
Public access at Neptune's Staircase is available at all times, and the towpaths are open all year.
Price
Free to visit the locks and walk the towpath.
Dogs
Allowed at Neptune's Staircase on a lead and under control at all times; walkers with dogs are welcome on the towpaths, under control.
Access
The towpaths are mixed-use routes for walkers, cyclists, anglers, horse-riders and users with disabilities, so you will share them with others.
Getting there
Neptune's Staircase is signposted off the A830 Mallaig road just before Corpach; the West Highland railway line crosses the canal at the foot of the flight.
Food
The Caledonian Canal Centre at Fort Augustus has a café, a gift shop and information, open 8.30am to 3.30pm every day on its winter hours (October 2026).

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Did you know

Closer on the small white lighthouse, its black door and green window, the gravel path and fence leading up to it.
Did you know

Watt before Telford.

James Watt surveyed the route thirty years before Telford drew up the plans.

Water spilling over the lock gates of the Caledonian Canal into a dark chamber, iron rings set in the stone quay, white railings above.
Did you know

Eight locks in a row.

Neptune's Staircase, near Fort William, raises boats 19 metres over a quarter of a mile.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Lochaber

Thomas Telford's canal runs 60 miles through the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness, linking Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness. It opened in 1822, years late and well over budget, and boats still use it today. The place to see it at work is Neptune's Staircase at Banavie, a ladder of eight locks that lifts boats 70 feet up the hillside. Stand by the lock gates on a summer's day and watch the yachts climb, with Ben Nevis behind. The towpath makes an easy walk or cycle.

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Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Inverness-shire

Thomas Telford's canal cuts Scotland in two, running sixty miles through the Great Glen from Fort William to Inverness. Most of the way it follows the lochs, Lochy, Oich and Ness, and only twenty-two miles had to be dug, with twenty-nine locks to lift boats over the glen. Work began in 1803 and the canal opened in 1822, at more than twice the planned cost. The best place to see it at work is Fort Augustus, where a flight of locks steps down through the middle of the village to Loch Ness. Find a bench and watch the boats work through.

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Where it is

Along the Great Glen from Corpach near Fort William to Inverness; Neptune's Staircase is at Banavie, four miles north of Fort William, and the Fort Augustus locks lead down to Loch Ness.

Close byThe Great Glen.
  1. Fort AugustusFort AugustusThe village at the southern end of Loch Ness, cut in two by the Caledonian Canal and its flight of locks, named after a fort built after 1715.2 miles 3 min by road
  2. Aerial view of Fort William's river with a tour boat moored beside a parkCruise Loch NessCruises and speedboat trips on Loch Ness from Fort Augustus, run by a local family since 1968, from a gentle 50-minute cruise to a high-speed RIB ride.2 miles 3 min by road
  3. A sign reading Loch Ness, Welcome to Fort Augustus on the stony shore, the loch running north between wooded hills.Loch Ness ViewpointThe viewpoint at Fort Augustus where the Caledonian Canal meets Loch Ness, looking down the length of the loch from its south-western end.2 miles 3 min by road
  4. Station Road at The LovatStation Road at The Lovat2 miles 3 min by road
  5. Winding hill track above forestry and a distant loch under cloudy skiesSuidhe ViewpointA high viewpoint on the South Loch Ness Trail above the B862 beyond Fort Augustus, with views over South Loch Ness and Stratherrick.4 miles 6 min by road
  6. Invermoriston FallsInvermoriston FallsWaterfalls on the River Moriston just above Loch Ness, crossed by Thomas Telford's bridge of 1813 and watched over by a small stone summerhouse.5 miles 6 min by road
Directions
The Lovat at dusk: white front, slate roof and dormers, lit lamps and the glowing bay window, a planter on the drive.Fort AugustusThe Lovat HotelPlace to stay · 1.7 miles
Café counter with espresso machine, blue tiled wall and world map muralCafeGlen Rowan Cafe4.8 miles
The tall roofless stone walls of Invergarry Castle among trees under a bright sky.AttractionsInvergarry Castle9.6 miles
AttractionsWell of the Seven Heads10 miles
Wooden building with sign reading "The Camerons Tea Room & Farm ShopCafeThe Camerons Tea Room14 miles
Wooded gorge with rocky cliffs, forested hills and a mountain beyondAttractionsFalls of Foyers15 miles
Lichen-covered gravestone inscribed "Sacred to the memory of Jane, spouse of Thomas Fraser of BalnainAttractionsBoleskine Burial Ground17 miles
The board at the Roderick MacKenzie cairn, a map of Glenmoriston with a painted Jacobite officer holding a sword.AttractionsRoderick Mackenzie's Cairn18 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the canal, and when each is next free.

The Lovat at dusk: white front, slate roof and dormers, lit lamps and the glowing bay window, a planter on the drive.The Lovat Hotel
  • A hotel
  • In Fort Augustus
  • A mile from the Caledonian Canal
Check datesGlen Affric Estate, Inverness-shireGlen Affric Estate
  • Sleeps 24
  • In Cannich
  • 15 miles from the Caledonian Canal
Check datesLog cabin porch with lantern-lit door, snow falling on the wooden walkwayEagle Brae
  • To stay
  • In Struy
  • 17 miles from the Caledonian Canal
Check datesFrom above, Aquila's turf-roofed log cabin and wrap-around deck on the edge of the ridge, the glen stretching away in autumn colour.Aquila at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Struy
  • 17 miles from the Caledonian Canal
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in Fort WilliamAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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What we have written about it and more in Fort William.

ArticleScotland by Bike: 10 of the Best Trails to Ride
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For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .