Distance 7 miles oneway
Time cycle 1.5 hours
Time walk 3+ hours
This is a great cycle or walk along the towpath from Neptune's Staircase to Loch Lochy. Begin at the carpark at Banavie. Cross over to the opposite side of the canal via the swing bridge or lock gates and follow the towpath the 6 miles to Gairlochy. The hill views, including the Nevis range, are spectacular, and there are great views of the river and some interesting trees and woodlands along the route. There are also a number of interesting water management features to look out for.
Keep a look out for the sign for the Shengain Aqueduct, which can be accessed via a short detour. It consists of 2 archways, which accommodate the river, and a 3rd spans a minor track. Continue back on the towpath until the Loy sluices are reached. These sluices were designed as an overflow system to allow excess water to be drained from the canal to the River Loy below. A bit further along there are more interpretation boards providing information on the building of the aqueducts and canal. Just past the information point there is a farm track on the right where it is possible to go down and view the Glen Loy Aqueduct. This is the largest of the aqueducts on the Caledonian Canal. It has 3 arches over 76m long; the central arch spanning 7.6 metres to accommodate the River Loy, and the side arches spanning 3 metres each for pedestrian and animal use. Up to 100 men worked on its construction in the summer of 1806, using local timber and stone.
The hill views, including
the Nevis range, are spectacular. There are great views of the River
Lochy with its shingle banks and islands as it runs parallel to the
canal from Loch Lochy into Loch Linnhe. There are many
interesting woodlands along the route, with great specimens of old
oak, beech, Scot's pine, birch, hazel, sycamore, holly and hawthorn.
Continue
along the towpath to reach Moy Swing Bridge and Bridge Keeper's
Cottage. The bridge is now the only original cast iron swivel bridge,
which opens one half at a time, by hand. This bridge is unique on the
canal and was constructed in pieces in North Wales before being
assembled on site in 1821. In order to open it, the keeper has to
open the south leaf first and then row across the canal to open the
remaining section - a time-consuming job that is still carried out
today.
A little further on, the
Moy Burn flows into the canal. Instead of building a further aqueduct
at this point, Jessop and Telford decided to allow the burn to flow
into the canal, with an overflow on the other side. A series of
waterfalls and pools were designed to trap stones and gravel to
control the amount of debris entering the canal. Look out for the 5
arched inlet, built in 1813 on the opposite bank.
Its
just a short journey from here to Gairlochy locks, where it is
necessary to cross over the road way and then continue on passed a
Telford House, Gairlochy top lock, and then on to the pepperpot
lighthouse. This is a lovely peaceful spot with magnificent views
along the length of Loch Lochy.
4 aqueducts
Upper Banavie -single arch (mount Alexander?)
Shengain - 3 arch accomodating the road and river
Muirshearlich
Glen Loy - largest with 3 arches
Loy Sluices
Moy Swing Bridge
Moy Burn - flows into the canal with an over flow weir on the otherside.
Gairlochy - a regulating lock built on solid rock
Pepperpot lighthouse
Other published walks
Gairlochy to Moy walk
Aqueducts walk
