Explore Scotland with Le Boat
It was exactly that. A Fairy Tale. My favourite place. Green rolling hills, rocky mountains, dramatic coastlines, gloomy castles, and warm-hearted people. Hundreds of years of rich history shaped this amazing place and its people.
Our long-awaited family holiday took us across the country, from the Scottish Highlands, down South, to London. Nearly 3 weeks of unlimited breathtaking views, cultural experiences, and miles of walking. We've done it all - bus, boat, plane, train, taxi, bicycles.
Le Boat was the perfect way to explore the Scottish Highlands. We arrived after 5pm on our first day. Our boat was ready for us to unpack and have a good night's rest. The next morning, the Laggan Locks team gave us a crash course on how to operate the boat, some good tips on where to moor for a night, and what sightseeing is worth visiting, and we were on our way.
TIP: make sure you arrange for some basic groceries to be delivered on your first day, as there are no shops near the Le Boat base.
Unfortunately, my hubby broke his hand 3 days before our holiday, so that has put a minor setback on certain things we wanted to do. Mooring was a bit of a challenge too, but between my teenager and myself, we managed quite right after all.
TIP: when renting a boat, make sure you get one with bow thrusters - mooring will be so much easier.
The best thing about choosing Le Boat holidays is that you'll move at your own pace. You'll have a certain number of days to complete your route/itinerary, and you can go as fast or as slow as you choose, moor where you like (there are plenty of mooring spots throughout the lochs), stay at one place for as long as you wish.
Our first stop once we left Laggan Locks was Fort Augustus - what a delight! A beautiful small village with 5 locks (a bit of a challenge to pass through). The lockkeepers were amazing. Kept a watchful eye on our boat since it was only my girl and myself who could operate the ropes while passing through the locks (quite an exercise, I should admit). Once through, we moored on the other side of the locks and explored the village. The Highland Club was rather fascinating. One can rent an apartment for a short or long term. Very well-kept historical fort, monastery, and Abbey.
TIP: When in Fort Augustus, indulge yourself and buy the best Fish and Chips you've ever tried at the small takeaway shop by the locks.
After spending a night at Fort Augustus, we carried on towards Inverness through Loch Ness. It takes about 4 hours and can be rather shaky, depending on the weather. We were lucky and only had 3 rainy days throughout our whole holiday. Most amazing views of the mountains and forest along the way.
Drumnadrochit was our next stop. Mooring might be a bit daunting, but worth the effort. Only 20 minutes walk from the mooring bay, the Loch Ness Centre welcomes you with its interactive and very captivating stories of the one and only Loch Ness Monster. Worth a visit. Just a short walk further up the road, and you will see a pretty village Drumnadrochit. A very pleasant place for a quick lunch. Thereafter, catch a bus to visit once one of Scotland's largest castles. Now Urquhart castle's ruins are greeting its visitors from its rocky promontory with an open view of Loch Ness.
TIP: get an Explorer Pass/Heritage Pass which will give you access to many heritage sites around the UK for one set fee. Entrance fees at the door work out to be rather pricey if you decide to visit a few sites during your holiday.
After a night's stay at the Drumnadrochit, we made our way to Inverness. To save time by not going through the 3 sets of locks by Inverness (can take about 30 minutes per lock, depending on how busy it is), we moored just before the swing bridge, which is only about a 15-minute walk from the city centre. There are no facilities at that mooring spot though, but luckily the boat offers small but functional bathrooms.
Inverness is a real gem. We used the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to get around and do sightseeing. Visited the Botanical Gardens, and Inverness Cathedral, and had lunch at Victorian Market (lovely choice of food there). Unfortunately, Inverness Castle was closed at that time for renovations. It promises to be something spectacular once completed.
TIP: take your time and enjoy a cup of something on a River Ness bank. Allow yourself to soak in the history and amazing atmosphere of the city.
If you are fascinated by a Highland's Coo, like my daughter (they call them Coo, not Cow), then a quick stop at Dochgarroch Lock (Hop-On-Hop-Off bus makes a stop there - about 15min away from the city centre) is the place to be. Food is delicious, and their souvenir shop offers a nice range of Highland memorabilia to take home. And, of course, an opportunity to take plenty of Coo's photos.
Since we didn't know when exactly we would be in Inverness, I couldn't pre-book some tours I had in mind, but if you are in Inverness, and especially, if you are an “Outlander” fan, book a tour to Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns.
On our way back we made a stop at Invergarry to explore a 17th century Invergarry Castle ruins. It had a short but eventful history, and finally, after it was burnt 150 years later, the new mansion (now known as Glengarry Castle Hotel) was built nearby. The building and gardens are very well looked after and open for visitors to explore.
Upon returning to Laggan Locks the Le boat team inspected our boat and left us to enjoy the last night before we carried on with our journey. You need to be at the base before the last lock closes for the day around 4 pm, as check-out time is 9 am.
It was an exciting journey full of new experiences, amazing sightseeing, and wonderful lifetime memories. Canal boating is a great alternative to a self-drive holiday, that requires a good bit of teamwork.
TO BE CONTINUED...
