| Taking a boating holiday in Scotland along the | | | | snow, in the spring and a wonderful range of |
| Caledonian canal is both relaxing and interesting. If | | | | colours. Every now an then you spot ruined |
| you start your vacation at Inverness, which is the | | | | castles. One of these castles is Urquhart Castle |
| most northerly point on the canal, you can easily | | | | which is well known as a regular haunt of the loch |
| spend a day exploring the city. The town of | | | | ness monster! A visitors centre has been built |
| Inverness, with 70,000 inhabitants, changed to | | | | with a cafe, shop and display of how the castle |
| city status in 2001, and is in the top five places to | | | | used to look before it was blown up in the late |
| life in Britain with regards to quality of life. It is | | | | 1600s. You could easily spend a few hours |
| also the fastest growing city, with new | | | | wandering around the interesting ruins. |
| technologies replacing traditional whisky distilling as | | | | Directly across Loch Ness is Drumnadrochit with |
| employment changes. | | | | moorings and access to restaurants, shops and |
| Places of interest include Inverness Castle, which | | | | pony trekking. This will provide an opportunity to |
| overlooks to city. Dating back centuries, the | | | | leave the boat and trek through the wonderful |
| present building was designed by William Burn and | | | | hillsides, then return back to a warm welcome in |
| built in 1836. It has served as a jail in the past but | | | | the village, before sleeping on board your boat for |
| now houses the Sheriff Courts. There is a link to | | | | a restful night. |
| Bonnie Prince Charlie, with a statue of the girl who | | | | Next morning you could travel down to Foyers |
| helped him, Flora MacDonald and her dog outside | | | | and see the hydro-electric scheme which used the |
| the court buildings. | | | | power from waterfalls to generate power, |
| If you hirer a Cabin Cruiser from Caley Cruisers in | | | | originally. The waterfalls around this part are still |
| Inverness, you are well equipped to set off down | | | | well worth a visit, as well as shops and the hotel. |
| Loch Ness to see other interesting places. The | | | | When travelling along the loch you should try your |
| boat hirer provides all the necessary gear you | | | | hand at fishing. The boat hirer may have rods |
| need for your holiday cruise. Their boats are not | | | | onboard or you can buy some locally. Fresh water |
| your usual canal boats but are designed for open | | | | trout, sea trout and salmon can all be caught in |
| waters with short waves and wind that you | | | | the loch. |
| might encounter on Loch Ness and the other | | | | At the south end of Loch Ness is Fort Augustus |
| lochs in the Great Glen. | | | | and the Inchnacardoch Hotel, with moorings to |
| Once you leave the narrow stretch of the canal | | | | allow you to tie up for the night. Here you will find |
| you are out into the wide loch heading south. If | | | | loads of interesting places to visit. Fort Augustus |
| you keep to the right hand side (west side) you | | | | itself was built as a result of the Jacobite uprising |
| can moor up at the marina near the Clansman | | | | in 1715 and named after the king's son. The son, |
| Hotel. Not only can you enjoy the food and | | | | later called the Duke of Cumberland, became |
| entertainment here but also visit the Loch Ness | | | | infamous as the slayer of Bonnie Prince Charlie's |
| Monster Exhibition to learn all about Nessie! This is | | | | men at Culloden in 1745. A very good heritage |
| a really interesting exhibition which uses lasers, | | | | centre tells you all about that time and how the |
| digital projection and loads of special effects to | | | | clans lived around this area. It is well worth a visit |
| bring you the history of the loch. Well worth a | | | | as is a wander around the well kept houses of |
| visit! | | | | the village. The canal goes right through linking |
| As you move along the loch on board your cabin | | | | Loch Ness to another, Loch Oich which provides a |
| cruiser, you see scenery of hillsides covered in | | | | great place to view all the sights. |
| woodland, mountains with their tips topped with | | | | |