The Caledonian Canal
Opened in 1822, the Caledonian Canal stretches approximately 60 miles along the Great Glen Fault line from Corpach Basin to Muirtown Basin in Inverness. The canal consists of a series of man-made sections, measuring 22 miles in total, connecting Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour. The canal was originally planned to provide a safer and more direct route for shipping, avoiding the Pentland Firth and around Cape Wrath. Thomas Telford, famous Scottish architect, canal and bridge builder, was commissioned to design and build the canal in 1803 with the help of fellow civil engineer William Jessop. The construction, which provided much-needed employment for the area following the Highland Clearances, was completed after 19 years at a cost of £910,00 and the canal was opened in 1822. In 1843 defects in the construction material resulted in a partial collapse of the Corpach locks and the canal bank at Cullochy, meaning the canal had to be temporarily closed and the defects addressed by Telford’s associate, James walker, During the first world war, traffic on the canal increased in a bid to avoid the German Navy who were patrolling the Northern Coasts of the country. The Ministry of Transport took ownership of the canal in 1920 and paddle steamer passenger services started up in the 1930s. the 1960s saw the lock and bridge operating system becoming mechanised, replacing manpower with hydraulics and in 1962 the newly created British Waterways took over the ownership and it is now operated by them under the name Scottish Canals. Major restoration works took place over 10 years between 1995 and 2005. Today the canal is a scheduled ancient monument, meaning it is protected against any unauthorised change and it is used mainly for commerce and leisure activities both on and of the water. The canal is popular with canoeists and kayakers as well as for boating on. There are a range of companies offering boat hire and also running trips on the canal. Scottish Canals produce a comprehensive Skipper’s Guide for the Canal, giving safety information as well as instructions for gong through locks etc. This is available on their website. The Great Glen Way, one of the four official long distance routes in Scotland is popular with both walkers and cyclists. Salmon and Sea Trout fishing is another
popular past time along the canal and lochs. Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie is a popular tourist attraction and one of the most impressive architectural features on the canal. It is the longest staircase lock in the UK, containing eight locks and it takes approximately 90 minutes for a boat to reach the top. In 2013, the Scottish Government launched the Scenic Routes Initiative with the aim of enhancing visitor experiences through innovative design. The Harbour Rest at Laggan Locks was a winning design in the Scottish Government’s second competition. Designed by architects Sean Douglas and Gavin Murray with support from Oliver Chapman, this is a stop-off for visitors to the canal and contains a seasonal kiosk and a covered viewpoint. They duo say of their design: ‘The materials palette was picked out to playfully engage with the existing monochrome palette of the Caledonian Canal. Crucially we used a timber structure and timber cladding throughout as a responsible sourcing of materials has been crucial throughout the Scenic Routes Initiative. Using methods such as charring the timber means that it has a longevity and robustness that surpasses that of stained or treated timber.’ Harbour Rest was shortlisted for RIAS 2016 (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland). Another Scenic Routes Initiative creation, designed by architecture students Angus Ritchie and Daniel Tyler, is Neptune’s Mirror, a temporary mirrored, wood-framed cabin which will be on the banks of Neptune’s Staircase all summer. This features benches built at various heights to allow several unique views of the surrounding landscape and the exterior of the installation is clad in mirrored stainless steel, creating shifting reflections that further create further views and allow the structure to blend in with the environment. Helena Huws, Architect at Scottish Canals, said: ‘The new viewpoint is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and watch the world – and one or two boats – pass by. We hope it will encourage even more people to pay a visit to Neptune’s Staircase this summer.’