Change things up this year and go on an exciting canal boat vacation. Scotland has some of the best canal vacations in the world, and canal cruising is always romantic. Discover beautiful canal boat vacations in Scotland.
1. Caledonian Canal, Inverness
The Caledonian Canal, designed by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford, is regarded by many as one of the greatest waterways in the world.
The canal goes from the east coast of Scotland at Inverness to the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was built in the early 19th century to create a new waterway that cuts straight through the Highlands of Scotland. Only a third of the canal’s total length is man-built; the remaining two-thirds are made up of numerous lochs, notably Loch Lochy and Loch Ness. Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks, is located right in the middle of the canal.
The Caledonian Canal offers a unique canal boating experience. It offers a distinctive perspective of Scotland’s wilderness. Travel leisurely through the Great Glen, appreciating the historic castles perched on the shores of the water, including Urquhart Castle, as you pass heather-covered hillsides and cross picturesque lochs.
2. Forth & Clyde Canal, Glasgow
John Smeaton, an engineer, created the plans for the Forth & Clyde Canal, which was constructed between 1768 and 1790. The canal provides a path for seagoing vessels between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth as an alternative to the drawn-out and hazardous journey around the north of Scotland, crossing the Scottish Lowlands at its narrowest point.
Discover Scotland’s industrial core and thriving green corridors as you travel along the serene Forth & Clyde Canal. The Roman Antonine Wall, portions of which are still visible today, has a similar trajectory to this one.
The Kelpies, the largest equine sculpture in the world, are close by on this ancient path, and it also passes by the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotating boat lift of its sort in the world. Watch in awe as this engineering marvel lowers vessels to over the 35 m (115 ft) vertical chasm between the Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal.
- Suggested read Top 10 Largest Lochs by Surface Area in Scotland
3. Union Canal, Edinburgh
Hugh Baird, a Scottish civil engineer, created the Union Canal, which first opened in 1822. It is Scotland’s only contour canal, measuring 32 miles from Falkirk to Edinburgh, and is the only canal in Scotland to curve around hills rather than take a more direct path that would require building many more locks to raise and lower canal boats.
The Union Canal, which connects Edinburgh to the Forth & Clyde Canal at Falkirk and is one of only two Lowland canals in Scotland, offers a direct route between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
You may expect to unwind, take in the serene surroundings, and marvel at incredible feats of Victorian engineering as you travel down this wonderful waterway from Edinburgh. Before joining the Forth & Clyde Canal at the Falkirk Wheel, you’ll cross the impressive Almond Aqueduct at Ratho, which carries the canal over the River Almond, and the second-longest aqueduct in Britain, the Avon Aqueduct, which carries the canal over the River Avon near Linlithgow.
4. Crinan Canal, Crinan
One of the shortest canals in Scotland is the Crinan Canal. It travels over the Kintyre Peninsula, only 9 miles in length, from the settlement of Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp in the east to the Sound of Jura.
It was created by civil engineer John Reenie and finished in 1801, improving connectivity between the Western Isles and the industrialized area surrounding Glasgow. It also offered a safe transit path that avoided the tiresome, protracted trip around the Mull of Kintyre.
It’s understandable why the Crinan Canal has long been called “Britain’s most beautiful shortcut.” It meanders through miles of forest walks and bike paths as it passes numerous renowned historic locations, like Kilmartin Glen, and stunningly magnificent hills and mountains.
Did you realize? Due to Queen Victoria’s use of the Canal on her honeymoon, exploring the Crinan Canal was a very popular activity in Victorian times.
