Just as we sat down to breakfast, Lord of the Glens pulled out of Fort Augustus and headed down the Caledonian Canal. The morning was a mix of sun and cloud, providing beautiful lighting across the surrounding green landscape as we journeyed southwest towards our mid-day destination of Corpach. Along the way, we passed through Laggan Avenue, a narrow tree-lined stretch of the canal, with reflections below and mountains above creating a photographer’s dream. We reached the highpoint of the canal at Loch Oich, 106 feet above sea level. During our morning voyage, Carol presented the history of the Jacobite uprising, describing the civil war between the existing government and the Jacobite rebels who supported Bonnie Prince Charles.
We reached Corpach after navigating Neptune’s Staircase, a series of eight locks, ending in Loch Lochy. Ben Nevis towered above, the highest mountain in the UK. Cloud and mist shrouded the summit, making the 4406’ peak look like a mighty massif.
After lunch, our group set off towards Glenfinnan, where Prince Charles arrived in 1745 to begin his campaign to claim the crown in the last of the Jacobite uprisings. The uprising ended in the disastrous defeat at Culloden, the battlefield where we walked yesterday. Glenfinnan is a picturesque location, with a towering monument standing at the head of a loch surrounded by the green mountains of the glen. Options for our afternoon there included a photo walk with Krista, exploring the overlook and nature trails or a more vigorous hike with Robin and Carol, up to the impressive Glenfinnan railroad viaduct then over to the train station. The hearty hikers walked the rough trail through some heavy showers, but enjoyed the beautiful views. The bus brought those who remained at the Glenfinnan visitor centre up to the station, and we all rode the train back together, crossing the viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films. Those who wanted a bit more time outdoors got off the train one stop past Corpach, walking back to the boat along the canal bank.
During Recap, Krista provided insights on photography, Carol spoke about the fascinating life of Thomas Telford, the man behind the Caledonian Canal, and Robin told us about the Monkey Puzzle tree, brought into Britain in the 19th century. The evening ended after another delicious meal, complete with a birthday celebration for one of our group.
