Latest News from the Great Glen Canoe Trail team

Canal Now Open

Canal Now Open

Tue 23 Apr 2019

*Canal still closed Aberchalder to Fort Augustus*

*Canal still closed Aberchalder to Fort Augustus*

Mon 15 Apr 2019

Towpath to reopen at Kytra

Towpath to reopen at Kytra

Fri 05 Apr 2019

Delay to  re-opening of the Caldonian Canal

Delay to re-opening of the Caldonian Canal

Thu 21 Mar 2019

Winter Paddling Arrangements

Winter Paddling Arrangements

Fri 14 Dec 2018

Don’t Get Caught Short this Winter

Don’t Get Caught Short this Winter

Wed 07 Nov 2018

Underwater examination of the Rail Bridge

Underwater examination of the Rail Bridge

Mon 24 Sep 2018

Foyers Trailblazer Rest Site closed

Foyers Trailblazer Rest Site closed

Wed 11 Apr 2018

Ness Weir fish pass installation 5th Sept

Ness Weir fish pass installation 5th Sept

Fri 01 Sep 2017

Marine traffic passing Ness Weir restricted Tuesday 5th September

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Foyers Trailblazer Rest site under threat

Foyers Trailblazer Rest site under threat

Tue 11 Jul 2017

Plea from landowner to respect neighbouring campsite

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Ness Weir closed to paddlers

Ness Weir closed to paddlers

Wed 05 Jul 2017

Major engineering works at Ness Weir temporarily closes access for paddlers

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Change to Gairlochy paddlers’ access

Change to Gairlochy paddlers’ access

Mon 27 Mar 2017

Embankment stabilisation - temporary change to paddlers’ access

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Winter works at Aberchalder and Laggan bridges

Winter works at Aberchalder and Laggan bridges

Fri 06 Jan 2017

No access for boaters or paddlers at Laggan and Aberchalder swing bridges

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Closure of River Ness at Rail Bridge 28th & 29th August

Closure of River Ness at Rail Bridge 28th & 29th August

Tue 25 Aug 2015

Further rail bridge inspection closes River Ness to paddlers temporarily

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River Ness closed to paddlers at Rail Bridge 22nd/ 23rd July

River Ness closed to paddlers at Rail Bridge 22nd/ 23rd July

Mon 13 Jul 2015

Bridge closed to paddlers during underwater inspections on 22nd and 23rd July 2015.

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Canoe Trail reopens at Aberchalder

Canoe Trail reopens at Aberchalder

Mon 27 Apr 2015

Paddle access restored between Loch Oich and Cullochy

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Breach update 31st March

Breach update 31st March

Tue 31 Mar 2015

Piling works close breach at Cullochy

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Cullochy breach update

Cullochy breach update

Wed 18 Mar 2015

Temporary dam allows weir and embankment reinstatement to begin.

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Breach - update for paddlers

Breach - update for paddlers

Wed 11 Mar 2015

New advice for paddlers travelling between Loch Oich and Cullochy

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Breach at Cullochy Weir

Breach at Cullochy Weir

Tue 10 Mar 2015

Canal breach at Cullochy temporarily closes canal to paddlers

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Ice affecting large areas of the Caledonian Canal

Ice affecting large areas of the Caledonian Canal

Wed 21 Jan 2015

Canal reaches frozen in places. Towpaths icy

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Winter engineering works to look out for

Winter engineering works to look out for

Mon 15 Dec 2014

Major works to towpaths and canal bridges mean that paddlers’ expeditions may sometimes be affected

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Cullochy Lock - Kytra Lock drained 6th - 14th December

Cullochy Lock - Kytra Lock drained 6th - 14th December

Fri 05 Dec 2014

Canal reach drained to allow emergency repairs to the lock gates at Kytra.

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Flood conditions in West and Middle Districts

Flood conditions in West and Middle Districts

Tue 28 Oct 2014

Paddlers are advised to exercise caution due to flood conditions as a result of recent heavy rain

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What’s made paddlers visits most memorable this year?

What’s made paddlers visits most memorable this year?

Tue 14 Oct 2014

Paddler surveys tell what’s most enjoyable about a Great Glen paddle expedition…...

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Go Wild on the Canal this Saturday…...

Go Wild on the Canal this Saturday…...

Wed 20 Aug 2014

Join us for our fun Inverness event. Loads of great water-based activities to watch and try. 10am - 4pm Saturday 23rd August.

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No more scratched bottoms!

No more scratched bottoms!

Tue 01 Jul 2014

New edging strips for canoe trail pontoons stops canoes and kayaks getting scratched

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Busy, busy, busy 30th June!

Busy, busy, busy 30th June!

Mon 23 Jun 2014

Exceptional numbers of paddlers registering to start the Great Glen Canoe on 30th June.

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Muirtown Basin hosts canal’s first canoe polo tournament

Muirtown Basin hosts canal’s first canoe polo tournament

Tue 13 May 2014

Saturday 10th May saw Nairn Kayak Club hold their first canoe polo tournament on the Caledonian Canal

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Interruption to canal traffic south of Fort Augustus 14th - 16th May

Interruption to canal traffic south of Fort Augustus 14th - 16th May

Mon 12 May 2014

SSE’s high wire act!  Powerline installation by helicopter causes temporary disruption to canal & towpath traffic

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Check out our vital statistics!

Check out our vital statistics!

Thu 20 Mar 2014

Find out how many people have paddled the Great Glen Canoe Trail since 2011

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Last chance for challenge entries

Last chance for challenge entries

Fri 21 Feb 2014

The clock is ticking….....don’t miss out on your chance to take part in a unique paddle challenge.

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Visit our stand and win a free cruise!

Visit our stand and win a free cruise!

Sun 09 Feb 2014

Come to the Outdoors Show and enter our competition - you could win your next Highland holiday!

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Plan your paddle at The Telegraph Outdoor Show 12-16 Feb

Plan your paddle at The Telegraph Outdoor Show 12-16 Feb

Fri 17 Jan 2014

Visit us at the Great Glen Ways stand

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Join us for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming

Join us for Scotland’s Year of Homecoming

Fri 17 Jan 2014

Planning to paddle the Great Glen Canoe Trail this year? Combine your visit with some of the other exciting Homecoming events…

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Winter engineering works to watch out for

Winter engineering works to watch out for

Thu 12 Dec 2013

Canal closure 11th January - 16th March 2014

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Burn off the Christmas Calories…

Burn off the Christmas Calories…

Thu 12 Dec 2013

Indulged over the Festive Season? Got a few calories to lose? Join the Great Glen Paddle challenge…..

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Send us your best Trail pics

Send us your best Trail pics

Thu 10 Oct 2013

Got some great pics of your Trail trip that you’d like to share?

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Wild campers urged to have ‘Plan B’ options

Wild campers urged to have ‘Plan B’ options

Fri 12 Jul 2013

Beautiful weather brings a boom in campers but waterside space is limited…......

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Loch Ness welcomes a new waterside campsite from 12th July

Loch Ness welcomes a new waterside campsite from 12th July

Tue 18 Jun 2013

Book your pitch now at the beautiful new lochside campsite on Loch Ness

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Join the midsummer Clean Up

Join the midsummer Clean Up

Thu 06 Jun 2013

If you’re getting out on on the longest day of summer pick up some litter and take it home

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2013 Great Glen Paddle Event Film

2013 Great Glen Paddle Event Film

Thu 30 May 2013

Check out the fantastic footage of April’s Great Glen Paddle event

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Portage trolleys withdrawn

Portage trolleys withdrawn

Mon 13 May 2013

Paddlers asked to bring their own portage trolleys in 2013

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Be part of the solution to Poo-llution!

Be part of the solution to Poo-llution!

Sun 12 May 2013

How to be responsible when you have to ‘go’.............

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Catch up with Great Glen Paddle event results

Catch up with Great Glen Paddle event results

Sun 28 Apr 2013

Find out who set the unofficial record for the fastest paddle transit of the Caledonian Canal

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Inflatable canoe incident - Loch Lochy

Inflatable canoe incident - Loch Lochy

Sun 21 Apr 2013

Paddlers are strongly advised against the use of inflatable and ‘sit on top’ canoes on the Canoe Trail.

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Visit us at Outdoor Pursuits 2013

Visit us at Outdoor Pursuits 2013

Tue 16 Apr 2013

Come to visit us at the Outdoor Pursuits 2013 show in Edinburgh this weekend.

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Winter is still with us

Winter is still with us

Thu 28 Mar 2013

Sections of the canal freeze due to recent cold weather

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Celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland

Celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland

Wed 13 Mar 2013

Join the celebration of the Year of Natural Scotland by planning your human-powered journey through Scotland’s Grand Canyon

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Check out our Trailblazer’s shelter

Check out our Trailblazer’s shelter

Wed 13 Mar 2013

Paddling past Glas Dhoire on Loch Lochy? Take a break and check out the new shelter and fire pit at the Trailblazer Rest site.

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Composting toilets on their way

Composting toilets on their way

Wed 13 Mar 2013

The composting toilets installed at four of the Trailblazer Rest sites should be ready for use by Easter.

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Winter Engineering Works

Winter Engineering Works

Mon 10 Dec 2012

Restricted access under Laggan and Aberchalder Bridges from January to March 2013

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Meet us at The Outdoors Show in January!

Meet us at The Outdoors Show in January!

Wed 28 Nov 2012

We’ll be at The Outdoors Show Excel London January 2013

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First Mass Paddle Event for Canoe Trail!

First Mass Paddle Event for Canoe Trail!

Tue 27 Nov 2012

Exciting new event announced for April 2013. Challenge yourself and your friends….....

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Trail Joins a New Family

Trail Joins a New Family

Thu 25 Oct 2012

The Great Glen Canoe Trail becomes one of Scotland’s Great Trails

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Looking for Christmas Present Ideas?

Looking for Christmas Present Ideas?

Tue 23 Oct 2012

Why not treat your paddler-friends to a copy of the Great Glen Canoe Trail Guide?

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Tourism Award Finalist!

Tourism Award Finalist!

Tue 23 Oct 2012

Best Nature Experience runner up

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More News
Trail Map

Trail Guide Map

map of scotland showing the trail

60 miles in 5 days

It is an epic 60 mile (95km) journey crossing Scotland in 5 days and conquering the formidable open waters of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness, a challenge in itself.

From South to North

It is normally easier to paddle the Trail from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east with the prevailing wind behind you.

Download the map