Planning on taking on the Great Glen Canoe Trail, well you should look to plan to get a facilities key to allow you access to facilities along this amazing coast to coast route.

Scottish Canals who manage the Caledonian Canal have a number of facility blocks along this 60 mile route that will greatly support and help you enjoy the adventure.

Facilities at the different locations can include toilets, showers, water points, washing machines, tumble dryers, and at some, electrical sockets to top up you phones or cameras.

To access these facilities you can get a key in three ways;

1/ If starting your shuttle from Inverness, you can pop into the Scottish Canals office, Seaport Marina, just off Telford Street, Inverness. The office hours are 0900-1600 Monday to Friday. The office is not currently open at weekends and may not be open on public holidays.

2/ If heading direct to Fort William, you can also collect a key from the Scottish Canals West District Supervisors office, Corpach Sea Lock. This office is not the official start of the Canoe Trail so if you are looking at getting a key you ideally need to add additional time to drive (or walk) from top of Neptune Staircase, Banavie to the office at Corpach 1.4 miles/27 mins walking away. The Corpach office is staffed by the lockkeepers and they may be our at the lock gates letting boats through the system so you may have a wait till they are clear to sort out you a key.

3/ When planning your Great Glen Canoe Trail adventure in advance, you can contact the Scottish Canals office at Seaport Marina and pay over the phone to book your facilities key(s) for your forthcoming trip.

With advanced booking you can

A/ Request that the key(s) is posted out to you if you have a UK postal address.

B/ Request that the key(s) is posted out to your canoe hire & shuttle provider.

C/ Explore Highland being the most local hire canoe provider for the Canoe Trail being based in Inverness, Donald can pop in to the Seaport Marina office and collect it on your behalf. We will hand it over at the same time you collect your hire canoe & kit.

Explore Highland knowing the Canoe Trail inside out and backwards has compiled a complete facilities listing which is downloadable by all hire clients.

For more information on the Great Glen Canoe Trail facilities and how to book your key, please see – http://greatglencanoetrail.info/plan-a-paddle/facilities/index.html

Or drop Explore Highland an email.