As some of you may be aware there has been a delay in works on the Caledonian Canal, meaning the canal waterway is not able to open for navigation until over a month later than planned. Please see the press release from Scottish Canals.

On Wednesday 30th March I visited the Cullochy Locks works site and met with Scottish Canals site manager to discuss the possibilities of canoeists, kayakers, and paddleboarders using the temporary access created for walkers and cyclists taking on the Great Glen Ways route.

A number of options were discussed and a few are still pending however the main points are listed below to help planning over the next seven weeks.

Option 1 – The canal navigation channel is officially closed till approx. 20th May 2022 when the works are complete and the normal canoe portage route will be usable.

Option 2 – Paddlers who do still take on the Canoe Trail may be able to exit the canal bank and climb out onto the towpath opposite to the normal canoe portage route (south side), follow the walkers/cyclist diversion route around the worksite, and relaunch on a pontoon below the worksite.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ROUTE MAY BE CLOSED FOR SAFETY WHEN THE LOCK GATES ARE READY TO BE LIFTED BACK IN BY THE MULTIPLE CRANES NEEDED TO FINALISE THE WORKS. PLEASE LIAISE WITH SCOTTISH CANALS REGARDING THIS OPTION. LANDING AND REMOVING YOUR CRAFT FROM THE SLOPING CANAL BANK IS REQUIRED, AS WELL AS PORTAGING 260M ACROSS A NARROW WALKWAY (BUT WIDE ENOUGH FOR A CANOE) SO SOME MANUAL HANDLING AND LIFTING SKILLS ARE REQUIRED!

Option 3 – Paddlers who have experience paddling on moving water may also consider taking on a short section on the River Oich from below Old Oich Bridge to Kytra spillway. This section is grade one however does pose some risk to paddlers from trees, overhanging branches forming strainers on outsides of some of the corners.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT LOADED CANOES, KAYAKS, AND PADDLEBOARDS ARE MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL IN MOVING WATER. ONLY THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE PADDLING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS HAVING RELATIVE SAFETY & RESCUE EXPERIENCE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS ROUTE. HELMETS, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND SHORT PADDLEBOARD FINS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED!

 

 

 

 

Option 4 – For white water canoeists, the River Oich option is still available as per the guidebook. The river has some strong features to navigate both above the route described in Option 3 (Oich Weir and the shallow fast-flowing tight corner underneath the road bridge), as well as a number of grade 2 rapids immediately below the Kytra spillway takeout all the way to Loch Ness.