Neptune's Staircase and the Caledonian Canal to Corpach

The walk starts from the Neptune's Staircase car park in Banavie, beside the bottom lock of the flight. It follows the canal bank south-west, crossing the main road and the railway, along the towpath to the double lock and the sea lock at Corpach, where the canal meets Loch Linnhe. The route crosses at the sea lock and comes back along the other bank past Caol, recrossing the railway and the road at the swing bridge. It then climbs beside the eight locks of the Staircase to the top lock, crosses and comes down the other side to the start.

It is 6.2 km with 33 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: almost level, on canal paths and tracks.

Thomas Telford planned the Caledonian Canal, built in the early 1800s. The Staircase lifts boats about 20 m in less than half a kilometre, and a boat takes around ninety minutes to pass through. From the sea lock there are views over Loch Linnhe to Fort William and Ben Nevis. Take care crossing the busy A830 and the railway at the swing bridge.

Parking is free. Banavie station is about 200 m away.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.