Canalside Cottages

Canalside Cottages are former lock keepers’ and canal workers’ cottages on the canal bank which have been restored by Scottish Canals in partnership with the since liquidated Vivat Trust which worked to preserve buildings. Each property has been carefully converted into luxury self-catering holiday accommodation, with period features restored. Through this work, the buildings remain in public ownership, meaning they are available for all to enjoy and to learn about the history of the canal. Scottish Canals use the rental income from these properties to aid in their quest to be self-funding in order to maintain the canals in a good condition for future generations. Telford House West and Telford House East are two such beautifully-restored properties. Located alongside Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie, this former lock keepers’ cottage was built by the canal’s designer Thomas Telford. It is now a luxurious semi-detached two-bedroom holiday rental which sleeps six and boasts impressive views of Ben Nevis. There is also smaller, two-person lock keepers’ cottage at Gairlochy and a four-person one at Dochgarroch near Inverness. Vatersay cottage, at Kyra Lock outside Fort Augustus is one of three former canal workers’ residences that can be rented out individually or together to accommodate up to 13 guests. Bona Lighthouse in Lochend near Inverness was built in 1815 to guide vessels between the Canal and Loch Ness and was the smallest manned inland lighthouse in Britain. The lighthouse and its stables were restored and converted into cottages, that sleep six and four respectively, in time for their 200th birthday last year. The cottages were officially opened by the then Transport Minister Derek Mackay in December 2014. Original features such as the bay window that formerly housed the light still remain. Tomnahurich Bridge House, one mile out of Inverness, is a listed house of special architecture and used to house a bridge keeper. It now sleeps up to four holidaymakers. There is another bridge cottage at Laggan which dates from the 18th century.