From an overnight stop at Corpach, today the Lord of the Glens commenced its transit from south to north, through the Caledonian Canal. This protected waterway is an engineering marvel of the early 19th century, constructed under the supervision of Scottish engineer Thomas Telford. The canal connects the west and east coasts of Scotland via the geological fault line known as the Great Glen, thus enabling ships to avoid rounding the treacherous north coast. A series of locks allowed the Lord of the Glens to safely defy gravity as we sailed “uphill,” against the flow of water as it drops from the terrain’s high point. In the afternoon many guests disembarked at Kytra lock to walk the last part of today’s journey to the dock at Fort Augustus. There was also plenty of time for guests to enjoy this charming town at the southern end of Loch Ness.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 02 Sep 2023
Caledonian Canal and Fort Augustus, 9/2/2023, Lord of the Glens
- Aboard the Lord of the Glens
- Scotland
Andrew Peacock, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Andrew was born in Adelaide, South Australia and (mis)spent his youth surfing and kayaking in the ocean, as is the case for many Aussies! After graduating from medical school, he spent a year working as a surgical resident in Santa Barbara, Californi...
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Scotland's Highlands and Islands Aboard Lord of the Glens
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8/31/2024
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Lord of the Glens
Corpach, Neptune’s Staircase, and Fort Augustus
Today, we started our journey up the Caledonian Canal, leaving the ocean behind. The 60-mile-long canal follows the Great Glen, a fault line that began forming 430-390 million years ago. We will sail within the canal to our final destination at Inverness. Our canal venture began with a morning climb up Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks that raises the canal by 19 meters. Almost two thirds of the canal consists of freshwater lochs. Today we crossed over several of these, including Loch Oich, the canal’s high point at 106 feet above sea level. After lunch, we had a chance to stretch our legs with the opportunity to disembark and walk the last couple of miles into Fort Augustus, our berth for the night. The activities weren’t over though. Just before dinner some headed off for another walk, looping through the outskirts of Fort Augustus, while others explored the town on their own. The day was capped off with a presentation on the Scottish kilt and plaid.
8/30/2024
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Lord of the Glens
Oban, Corpach, Glenfinnan
Oban is a bustling town that provides services for surrounding communities as well as transportation for visitors and locals alike. Ferries, busses, and trains all leave from here. We had the morning to explore Oban before setting sail onto Loch Linnhe, heading towards our day’s destination at Corpach at the beginning of the Caledonian Canal. The ship tied up at Corpach, with the UK’s highest mountain Ben Nevis rising above. From there, many disembarked for Glenfinnan Estate, historically significant as the point where Prince Charles landed in the 1745-46 Jacobite rebellion. A few ventured out to kayak in Loch Linnhe, while others walked the canal bank. All of us enjoyed the sunny, calm weather. Glenfinnan’s Estate Manager Alistair Gibson joined us after dinner, providing a bit of insight into what it takes to run an estate like Glenfinnan.