Oban to Banavie – Caledonian Canal & Glencoe

Early in the morning we sail out of Oban bay past the island of Lismore and travel into Loch Linnhe. After Steve and Konia’s presentations we travel past Corran lighthouse, into the narrower part of Loch Linnhe. Once we are level with Fort William we are joined by a BBC film crew, recording the progress of the Lord of the Glens into the Caledonian Canal and up Neptune’s staircase. The footage will broadcast as part of the next series of ‘Coast’, a program about the shores of the UK. Right on cue, the sun comes out and highlights our journey into the canal, this marvelous piece of engineering. Neptune’s staircase is one of the most amazing feats – these eight locks raise the water level by 64 ft.

After lunch we board our coach to Glencoe. This was originally scheduled to be tomorrow’s excursion, but we have other plans – we are going to the Highland Games in Fort William tomorrow!!

The sun is picking out parts of the mountains in Glencoe, built of lava, carved by the glaciers and erosion. After our photo stop we study all the different aspects of Glencoe at the exhibition in the visitor centre. These include the massacre of Glencoe, where the guests murdered their hosts, as well as the people that live here, the geology, the nature and the mountain climbers.

A quick rain shower made the lovely scenery sparkle, and the sun stayed with us for the rest of the day.