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Caledonian Canal Aqueducts

  • Sign to The Shengain Aqueduct
  •  Lochaber Geopark Interpretation Board at Glen Loy Car Park
  • Lovely tree lined section of road (B8004)
  • The Shengain Aqueduct with its three arches
  • Pedestrian tunnel under the Caledonian Canal-Shengain Aqueduct
  • The Caledonian Canal
  • The Loy Sluices design to remove excess water from the canal
  • A lovely clump of mature Scots Pine
  • The Loy Sluices taken from the River Loy
  • Track leading to Glen Loy Aqueduct
  • The Glen Loy Aqueduct with its three arches
  • Pedestrian tunnel under the Caledonian Canal- Glen Loy Aqueduct

Details

The walk includes a lovely section along the Caledonian Canal passing between two aqueducts (Shengain Aqueduct and Glen Loy Aqueduct), and incorporates part of the Great Glen Way. The road section provides good views of Caledonian Canal and the River Lochy, as well as some lovely hill views, including great views of the Nevis Range.  There are also some lovely sections of woodland by the road.  The Caledonian Canal was designed by Thomas Telford and constructed between 1803 and 1822, and the section of the canal covered is recognised as part of a Historic Scotland Scheduled Monument (Caledonian Canal: Banavie to Moy Bridge).

 The canal is lined with deciduous trees on route, including ash, sycamore, Scots pine, beech, oak, birch, hazel, willow, holly and hawthorn.  The canal skirts also some lovely woodland sections, whose ground flora is awash with bluebells, wood anemones, violets and primroses in Spring.  There is also a lovely cluster of mature Scots pine opposite Loy Sluices.  The Loy Sluices were designed to carry excess water from the canal to the River Loy below.

There are some interesting interpretation boards on route providing information on the nature and construction of Glen Loy Aqueduct and the Caledonian Canal. Another board details some short walks nearby (Erracht Oakwoods and Strone Viewpoint walks). 

The Glen Loy aqueduct is the largest aqueduct on the Caledonian Canal with three arches, the central arch spanning 7.6 metres and the side arches spanning 3 metres each. The central arch and tunnel was designed to cope with the River Loy in spate; whilst the cobbled side tunnels (over 76 metres in length) were constructed for pedestrian and animal use.  The aqueduct is of course rubble construction with some recent cement rendering and was constructed in 1806.

 The Shengain Aqueduct at Torcastle spans the Allt Sheangain, with three archways and tunnels of roughly equivalent size; two of arches span the river and one arch spans a the minor road/track.  The tunnels are 7 metres long and composed of ashlar paving stone.

Look out for dabbling and diving duck, herons, geese and swans along the canal. Scan the sky for raptors and the woodland fringes for a range of woodland specialists and hedgerow birds.

Route Details

  1. Park at the Forestry Commission Car Park at Glen Loy where there is a Lochaber Geopark Interpretation Board on 'Glaciers, Volcanoes and Drifting Continents'.

  1. Turn right and walk along the road (B8004), crossing a river and passing by various houses in the village of Muirshealich. Continue until you reach a cluster of houses just before you reach the river (Allt Sheangain) and a sign to Banavie. 

  1. Turn left into the track by Seangan Croft with a sign to Torcastle House.  The track follows the river (lined with hazel and oak) heading towards the first aqueduct at Shengain by the small village of Torcastle. Here the canal crosses over the River Sheangain on a three arched aqueduct. 

  1. Pass through one of the archways (the other two archways bridge the river) and turn immediately left following a path up to the Caledonian Canal. 

  1. Turn right and follow the towpath of the Caledonian Canal enjoying the lovely views.  

  1. Pass by Loy Sluices, shortly after which you come across some interpretation boards and a track that leads down to the Glen Loy Aqueduct. 

  1. Take the track down to the three arched aqueduct spanning the River Loy and go under the aqueduct following the track to the road, although take care as it can be flooded in sections.

  1. When you reach the road junction (opposite the road to Glen Loy), turn left and head back towards the Glen Loy Car Park.

If the tunnel is flooded and impassable, you have the option of either continuing on the Caledonian Canal until Moy Bridge and picking up the B8004 and returning to the Glen Loy Car Park from here by turn left.  Alternatively, you can return by the same route back along the canal.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NN144811

Links to useful information

  • Glen Loy Aqueduct-CANMORE
  • Glen Loy Aqueduct- Highland Council
  • Shengain Aqueduct-CANMORE

 

grade: 

  • easy

terrain: 

towpath and road

length: 

6.6 km (4.1 miles)

Type: 

  • circular

Map: 

OS Explorer 399 - Loch Arkaig

OS Map

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Google Map

Safety

Route details and information are provided in good faith.  All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively.  Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation.  Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy.  Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.

Walking

  • Walking Overview
  • Map of All Walks
  • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
  • Arisaig, Mallaig and Glenfinnan
  • Fort William and Glen Nevis
  • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
Booking.com
Booking.com

Holiday Cottages in Fort William and Lochaber

The Isles of Glencoe Hotel
The Isles of Glencoe Hotel

The Isles of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre nestles on the shores of Loch Leven a short distance from Ballachulish and the village of Glencoe.  The hotel offers some 59 rooms and has a leisure centre with a swimming pool on site.  There are a number of walks nearby including the Brecklet Trail and The Glencoe Lochans.  There are also a number of operators nearby offering boat trips on Loch Leven.

Fort William Walking Pages

  • Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve
  • Caledonian Canal Aqueducts
  • Cow Hill
  • Crofters Woods
  • Dun Deardail
  • Erracht Oakwood Walk
  • Fort William and Old Inverlochy Castle
  • Gairlochy Caledonian Canal
  • Glengarry Native Pinewoods
  • Glenloy Forest and Strone Viewpoint
  • High Bridge and The Commando Memorial
  • Killiechonate Woodland Walk
  • Loch Arkaig to Invermallie Bothy
  • Neptune's Staircase and Corpach
  • Nevis Gorge and An Steall
  • Roy Bridge and The River Spean
  • The River Lundy Trail
  • The Wee Minister

Glencoe

Discover Glencoe

Glencoe and Loch Leven

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Walking

Walking

Take a Walk on The Wild Side...

with over 100 wildlife focused walks across Lochaber, you'll be spoilt for choice

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Fort William

Fort William

Fort William, The Outdoor Capital

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Wildlife

wildlife

Wildlife

Home to Scotland's Big Five, red deer, golden eagle, otter, red squirrel, seals and so much more. A Wildlife Adventure Awaits.

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Ardnamurchan

West Highland Peninsulas

Ardnamurchan and The West Highland Peninsulas

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Activities

Activities

Activities

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Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

The Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

Day trips

Day Trps

Take off for the day to see the puffins on The Treshnish Isles, A Day trip to Mull, Skye, The Small Isles, The Most westerly point on the mainland and many more local ideas for a day out

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