Caledonian Canal Cruise.

Pete Gl

Pete Gl

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Family and friends are hiring a cruiser on the above in a couple of weeks time. We are flying up from Manchester to Inverness so have to be careful with weight. I'm definitely taking my 5D Mk3 with my trusty 24-105, and one other lens, but I'm in two minds about the 17-40 or the 70-300.

Any advice very much appreciated.

Pete
 
Easy, lose a few pair of shoes, limit the clothes and take both. But the 70-300 will be more useful!
 
Thanks for your reply SkiKing and Piotr. I'm leaning towards the 70-300 as the 24-105 is pretty wide on a full frame, but I was hoping for input from people that had actually been down the canal, as I'm led to believe some parts are very steep sided where the 17-40 would come into it's own.

Pete
 
Vistas are pretty wide for most of the route but I'd definitely go with the wider lens if you want to photograph passing through the locks at Neptunes staircase / Laggan / Fort Augustus.
 
Thanks for that Phil.
 
Many thanks for all your input guys, but have decided on the longer lens.

Pete
 
Like you say, you've already got a reasonably wide option with your 24-105

The longer lens will compliment that nicely and allow you to pick out some nice details along the route (y)
 
Hi Pete

I have been on the Caledonian Canal many times. I will be going again next month. The 24-105mm would be all you need IMO. Take the 17-40 only if you have room. Make sure that your camera bag is waterproof! It rains a lot!

I will be taking my D810 + 24-120mm + 58mm prime.

Edit, there are no steep sides, unless you are in a lock. You'll be needed then to help with the ropes!

Note that with a charter boat, you will not be able to pass through Neptune's staircase at Banavie. You will have the locks at Fort Augustus, but your crew who are pulling the boat won't appreciate you staying on board while they pull the boat along! ;)

(Full navigation along the canal is closed until 30th April due to the bank collapse.)
 
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Many thanks for your advice Orange. We’re hiring from Caley Cruisers, picking the boat up 9th May, you’re right, we can’t go any further than Banavie. Have you been to the Eagle Barge at Laggan, it comes recommended for an overnight stop, but they don’t seem to have a web site?

Pete
 
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Pleased to help.

Caley Cruisers are an excellent company. Well prepared & clean boats & good training for hirers. The navigation opens tomorrow so you'll be able to go right through: http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/our...es/caledonian-canal-stoppage-at-cullochy-weir

Which boat are you hiring?

Laggan is one of our favourite berths for the night. It can be a bit tricky in strong winds, but take it very slow (in winds). Very nice walks back down the canal. Out of season, Eagle Barge is very quiet & we've never been in there, although they are generally open. Lots of berthing space on both sides before the lock. Shore power on the port side pontoons. Water supply is on the starboard pontoons. So a good place to refill the water tanks. Try to refill the tanks every day.

Eagle Barge:
http://eaglebargeinn.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eagle-Barge-Inn-Great-Glen-Way/116328368444559

Anything else, just ask. :)

BTW Hope you like the back page of Caley's 2015 brochure! ;)
 
Thanks again Orange,

We're hiring a Highland Monarch, there are 5 of us. We deliberately picked that week, out of school holidays, hopefully it shouldn't be too busy then. We understand at the height of the summer holidays it's a bit of a struggle to find moorings.

We intend visiting the Ben Nevis distillery when we moor at Banavie, looking at the map it doesn't look too far away, within reasonable walking distance.

Pete
 
Hi Pete

I will be going the week that you get back. Not been in the Highland Monarch, but all the Caley boats are excellent. With a party that size, make sure that you plan your water fills - at least once a day. Also, yes, at this time of year, it won't be busy & the midges won't have woken up yet!

The Ben Nevis distillery is not far from the pontoons at Banavie, but it's not a pleasant walk. Dual carriage way. I'd take a taxi & maybe ask them to take you into Fort William for lunch somewhere afterwards? I've previously used Peter at peter@1daytours.co.uk or 01937 704901. A couple years ago, he was £6.50 each way to Fort William railway station. (Sorry, after the copy & paste, remove formatting doesn't work for we're bold italic now).

Have you planned your nightly berths yet? I can probably help with shore power location advice.
 
Thanks for all your help Orange, just looking at the map we would've walked to the distillery, but now we know....... Thanks for taxi No.
Our planned overnight says are, Sat, Urqhart Bay for Drumnadrochit, Sun, Fort Augustus, Mon, Laggan, Tue, Banavie. Not yet decided on Wed, Thu, playing it by ear, Fri night back at Caleys boatyard.
 
Hi Pete

Urquart Bay is a good easy stop for berthing. There's shore power for which you buy a ticket in a car park type machine. Also water there. Nice & sheltered if the weather is poor. The walk to Drumnadrochit is along a busy road, but safe enough if you watch out for yourselves. The Loch Ness Monster Museum just before you get into the village is well worth a visit. It also has a very good gift shop & a Whisky shop too. The afternoon that we get to Urquart, we like to tie-up at the castle moorings & visit the castle. You still need to pay & tie up on the side they ask you to (I think it's the starboard side). Plus point is that it's fun tying up inside the grounds, minus point is that you don't get much time before they close. Nice gift shop. Urquart Castle number is 01456 450551. We aim to get there just after 4pm, then have about 1.5 hours to wander around. It's not that big, but very good for some wide angle shots of Loch Ness.

Bear in mind Foyers, half way along Lock Ness to port. Lovely woodland walk, squirrels & a great waterfall. See the top & bottom of the falls. You need permission from Caley to berth there as it's difficult in winds. PM me your email & I can send you a map.

Fort Augustus is nice, you can spend a day there. Good food shopping to be had to the starboard side & over a bridge. Look for a petrol station - it's in there. Also a cute little animal rescue place tucked up the side of it. Cheap entry fee, slightly scruffy, but worth a quick visit & giving the lady who runs it a few pounds to look after the mostly rescue & orphaned animals. Long lens for some red deer perhaps. Very good fish & chips on the port side further up the locks. A good butcher along there too - port side.

You missed Kytra, our favourite place. Lovely walks around there & generally very quiet. Walk off the path towards River Oich. No water, but shore power on the pontoon on the far side of the lock.

Watch out for the lovely little houseboat near the Well of 3 heads at Loch Oich. You can berth nearby for photos.

Laggan, we've done.

Gairlochy is our 2nd favourite berthing. Red deer on the towpath late evening, Maybe otters too. No water. Shore power on the side you get to first. We like to wild camp on the far side of the locks. Good views of Ben Nevis.

On the way to Banavie, take some shots of Moy bridge. Very short pontoons at each side for a quick tie-up for photos. Difficult tie-up for newbies.

Banavie has water & shore power. Apart from Neptune's staircase, nothing much to see there really.

I generally take a bag of £1 coins to pay for shore power.

Good luck!
 
Many thanks for all this Orange, actually we hadn't forgotten Foyers. I'm aware of a two hours restriction on mooring there, I've already rung the Drumnadrochit Hotel and arranged to be collected and dropped off for Sun lunch, but wasn't aware of having to inform Caley Cruisers. I'll give them a ring to be on the safe side.

Thanks again Orange.
 
Actually, I think the Drumnadrochit Hotel is right next to the Loch Ness museum.

Do you're aiming for lunch at Drumnadrochit Hotel, then off to Fort Augustus to berth for the night? Bear in mind that from Urquart to Fort Augustus takes about 3 hours, assuming that you don't stop at Foyers. The lock keepers go home at 5pm, so if you want shore power, you need to get to your evening berth while the lock keepers are there. Note also that if you were thinking of "locking up" Fort Augustus, the approximate last locking up time is 15:30. (times can change). Shore power isn't essential, but without it, there's cold showers in the morning. You can run the engine for 20 mins or so, but that's usually enough for one shower. With 5 of you, you may need to get a system going. Usually my wife showers once we've got underway for the day. That way, we both have nice long showers.

About Foyers, ring Caley before you set off towards Foyers. They will check the forecast & weather conditions to advise you whether to go or not. (It's usually fine).

On the boat, there's condensation everywhere, especially in the morning. Have you thought how you'll protect the camera?
 
Sorry Nick, I meant The Craigdarroch Inn at Foyers, we plan on having Sunday lunch between 12 and 2, away latest 2:30. If we don't manage to get up the locks no big deal, we are only aiming for Laggan on Monday so a fairly relaxed day.

Pete
 
Not yet, another week at work to go.

Pete
 
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