Scotland Wednesday 14th May

Caledonian Canal

A fairly reasonable and dry Wednesday morning and once again we set off towards Fort William, this time with bikes on the back. The idea was to park at Neptune's Staircase locks on the Caledonian Canal, cycle the 7 miles or so along the canal then divert off at Gairlochy to follow the B8005, a single-track winding road we had followed the previous day in the car to Eas Chi-aig waterfall. Then head around in a loop to Achnacarry, rejoining the B8005 and then back along the canal. 

Neptune's Staircase is a section of the Caledonian Canal with 8 locks in sequence.
After a short incline up to the top lock the track levels and we followed this for around 6 miles to Gairlochy.

The track was gravelled, which after a short time became rougher with more ruts and stones. OK for hybrids like ours or mountain bikes. The views were nice of the canal and the surrounding Nevis mountains including Ben Nevis.

At Gairlochy lock the trail along the canal ended and we diverted off uphill along the B8005.
Care to be taken, its was not busy, but is a single track road with passing places and very twisty. A few inclines but nothing too bad. Knock it down a few gears Sue!!

The views along here were quite spectacular and very open.

After several miles we arrived at the waterfalls we had visited the previous day, and we stopped and ate lunch at a handy picnic table. The rain held off too!

From the falls we followed the same wide track we had walked before, but then instead of turnnig right we turned left following the sign for the Clan Cameron museum. 

A mile or so later we arrived at Achnacarry and the museum which was closed till later in the afternoon, though that did not bother us too much!

Another mile and a nice free wheel downhill we rejoined the B8005 and back to the canal track.

The weather had turned a bit by now and there was a headwind back with a few spots of rain.

Pedal into that headwind!

Then a free-wheel down to the bottom of Neptune's Staircase!.. nice!

There was a few boats going through the locks.

It was early afternoon, and with the ride finished at 23 miles we decided to see if we could catch a few pictures of that train we failed to shoot a few days earlier. It was due over the Glenfinnan viaduct just after 3pm, and we were not too far away.

After a quick hot drink in the cafe at the Glenfinnan vistitors centre we waited in light rain with many others at the car park fence line, for the Jacobite express to come steaming over on its was back from Mallaig. A few minutes late we heard it, then saw it, a few shutter clicks later it had gone!

By now the rain had set in a bit so we headed off back for an early bath!

Our Cycle Score: 9/10