The centre of Inverness marks the entrance to the Caledonian Canal. A stroll along the picturesque canal banks is a lovely and fitting way to start your trip. Boarding takes place at 7 pm. During the dinner that follows in the cosy saloon, you’ll get to know your fellow passengers and all the crew members. You’ll soon find your feet and feel at home on the decks of the Eye of the Wind and in your cabin.
The Caledonian Canal: 97 kilometres right through the heart of Scotland
The journey through the Caledonian Canal is a leisurely one, as the maximum permitted speed on the 97-kilometre-long waterway is 5 knots (approx. 9 km/h). On both sides of the canal, the landscape of the Scottish Highlands offers breathtaking natural scenery. The journey through the canal is particularly charming due to the contrast between natural bodies of water – such as Loch Dochfour, the legendary Loch Ness and the 50-kilometre-long Loch Linnhe – on the one hand, and the engineering structures and bridges on the other. The ship navigates through a total of 29 locks, ensuring that the canal journey is never dull. The spectacular highlight, just before the end of the crossing, is ‘Neptune’s Staircase’ in the village of Banavie, the longest staircase of locks in Great Britain. Eight consecutive lock chambers provide a total lift of 20 metres.
By the way … according to experts, an encounter with the legendary Loch Ness monster is certainly a possibility, as ‘Nessie’ – if it appears at all – generally only shows itself during the summer months whose names do not contain the letter ‘r’.
Scotland’s west coast
With a loud creak, the over-a-hundred-year-old lock gate at Corpach, at the western end of the Caledonian Canal, swings open. After what seems like an eternity of being raised and lowered through the canal’s locks, the boat is now back in its element. We glide leisurely past mountain ranges covered in lush greenery. On the southern shore of Loch Linnhe, Ben Nevis towers above us; at 1,344 metres, it is Scotland’s highest mountain. Lush green, undulating headlands and ridges lie in the blue-grey water like giant, furry soft toys. Now and then a solitary farmhouse or a castle ruin comes into view, or a few shaggy Galloway cattle or a flock of sheep. Otherwise, just unspoilt nature.
At the mouth of Loch Linnhe, the Scottish west coast and its archipelago lie before us, with such well-known names as Skye, Rhum and Mull. Here, we decide whether our schedule and the wind will allow for a detour to the harbour town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, or whether we should gradually make our way towards our destination, Oban. Situated at the very northern tip of the Isle of Mull, Tobermory is one of Scotland’s most beautiful harbour towns.
In the soft morning light, Oban seems peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. Now it’s time to say goodbye to the crew and your fellow passengers and leave the ship with a duffel bag full of lasting memories. Unforgettable days off the Scottish coast and on the Caledonian Canal are now behind you.
Six good reasons to join our sailing trip
- 100 per cent Scotland: the Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness, the Inner Hebrides
- A windjammer experience for beginners: a safe and leisurely sail close to the coast
- Attractive starting and finishing points in the heart of the Scottish Highlands
- Active sailing on a 100-year-old windjammer – you can join in!
- Excellent onboard cuisine with delicious meals from morning to evening
- Our friendly crew are familiar with this area from previous trips
