Today we continued southwest down through the Caledonian Canal. Our morning sail took us over the highest point of the Canal at Loch Oich, 106 feet above sea level. The journey included the narrow, tree-lined stretch of Laggan Avenue, and the Moy Swing Bridge, the last hand-cranked bridge along the canal. The weather remained nice enough so we could enjoy the sights from the deck, although not quite as warm and sunny as yesterday.
As we sailed Robin gave a presentation called “Natural Scotland”, which was an overview of the natural environment of the country: flora, fauna, and the nature-culture connection. Stewart followed with a presentation on digital photography, providing all the basic information to get the most out of any kind of digital camera.
After lunch we navigated Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks that took the boat almost to the edge of the open sea. Fort William was visible across the bay, and Ben Nevis towered above, its summit shrouded in cloud. We disembarked at the bottom of Neptune’s Staircase and headed off to Glenfinnan Monument, the site where Prince Charles landed in 1745 and raised his standard to begin the campaign to restore the Stuart dynasty, which ended in the disastrous defeat at Culloden. A hiking group was dropped off above the Monument to walk across the hills back to Glenfinnan. The route provided the hikers a view of the train viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter movies, and the dramatic Highland scenery around Loch Eil. Others chose to spend their time at the Monument itself on the shores of Loch Eil, where a pleasant nature trail allowed for a stroll through birch forests.
Before dinner, David gave a talk about Thomas Telford, describing his life and engineering accomplishments, of which the Caledonian Canal is one of the most spectacular. Telford was a hugely productive engineer and he was involved in everything from roads and canals to small bridges on the Isle of Mull, leaving his mark across Great Britain.
Our day ended with a visit from Alistair Gibson, the Estate Manager for the Glenfinnan Estate, who joined us for dinner. After our meal, Alistair gave a talk describing the complex management of a modern-day Highland Estate. Deer stalking (aka hunting), timber production, and tourism are all part of the everyday tasks on the estate. This informative evening program gave us an insight into the Highland culture of today.
