Laggan Locks to Banavie
The air was cool but soft as we left our moorings in Laggan Locks and headed down the length of Loch Lochy, steel grey in the morning light. Forestry plantations dominated the slopes leading down to the loch and a mountain soared above us on the starboard side. In the far distance, the peaks Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis came into view, still with a smattering of winter snow. Loch Lochy, the last natural loch on the canal route, eventually narrowed down into the man-made canal, and, after a sharp bend, we passed an open swing-bridge and two more locks. While negotiating the lochs, some hardy individuals disembarked and joined Brian for a cycle ride along the towpath.
The sun came out as we sailed down the seven-mile stretch of tree-lined canal from Gairlochy to Banavie and we witnessed the slow emergence of the summit of Ben Nevis from its blanket of cloud. This, of course, is the highest mountain in the British Isles, at 4406ft, not the highest in the world, but certainly majestic as it looms over the town of Fort William. James gave an introduction to the natural history of Glencoe and of Scotland generally, interrupted by our passage through the Moy swing-bridge: the only original bridge remaining on the canal. The bridge-keeper has to get in a boat to go from one side of the canal to the other in order to open each side of the bridge in turn. Konia informed us that previously the bridge keeper used to row across the canal but that this year he has got an outboard engine.
All too soon the canal came to an end as we moored at the top of Neptune’s Staircase, awaiting our descent on the morrow. However, with the sun shining, there was time before lunch to get off the boat and admire the suite of eight locks leading down to the sea, an engineering feat for its day.
After another excellent meal, Konia provided us with commentary as we travelled by coach through Fort William to Glencoe. We started at the head of the glen and got out to admire the rocky ramparts of The Three Sisters. We were lucky enough to see a golden eagle soaring above the ridge of the Aonach Eagach and also a couple of red deer grazing amongst the bracken below. And then to the excellent and informative National Trust for Scotland visitor centre, followed by a walk to the ruin of one of houses where the Macdonalds were killed by the Campbells during the infamous Massacre of Glencoe.
During the evening recap David mentioned the Jacobites for, he said, the last time, and James ranted against Rhododendron ponticum!
The air was cool but soft as we left our moorings in Laggan Locks and headed down the length of Loch Lochy, steel grey in the morning light. Forestry plantations dominated the slopes leading down to the loch and a mountain soared above us on the starboard side. In the far distance, the peaks Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis came into view, still with a smattering of winter snow. Loch Lochy, the last natural loch on the canal route, eventually narrowed down into the man-made canal, and, after a sharp bend, we passed an open swing-bridge and two more locks. While negotiating the lochs, some hardy individuals disembarked and joined Brian for a cycle ride along the towpath.
The sun came out as we sailed down the seven-mile stretch of tree-lined canal from Gairlochy to Banavie and we witnessed the slow emergence of the summit of Ben Nevis from its blanket of cloud. This, of course, is the highest mountain in the British Isles, at 4406ft, not the highest in the world, but certainly majestic as it looms over the town of Fort William. James gave an introduction to the natural history of Glencoe and of Scotland generally, interrupted by our passage through the Moy swing-bridge: the only original bridge remaining on the canal. The bridge-keeper has to get in a boat to go from one side of the canal to the other in order to open each side of the bridge in turn. Konia informed us that previously the bridge keeper used to row across the canal but that this year he has got an outboard engine.
All too soon the canal came to an end as we moored at the top of Neptune’s Staircase, awaiting our descent on the morrow. However, with the sun shining, there was time before lunch to get off the boat and admire the suite of eight locks leading down to the sea, an engineering feat for its day.
After another excellent meal, Konia provided us with commentary as we travelled by coach through Fort William to Glencoe. We started at the head of the glen and got out to admire the rocky ramparts of The Three Sisters. We were lucky enough to see a golden eagle soaring above the ridge of the Aonach Eagach and also a couple of red deer grazing amongst the bracken below. And then to the excellent and informative National Trust for Scotland visitor centre, followed by a walk to the ruin of one of houses where the Macdonalds were killed by the Campbells during the infamous Massacre of Glencoe.
During the evening recap David mentioned the Jacobites for, he said, the last time, and James ranted against Rhododendron ponticum!
