Your questions answered
What type of boat should I book?
As you can see on our site, we do have quite a range of different boat classes to choose from so it is understandably difficult to make the right choice.
We would recommend you take a boat larger than you actually need - the extra space certainly won't go amiss. For example, if there are 6 adults in your party, opt for Highland Monarch, Highland Commander or Taransay. If possible avoid having to convert the table into a berth. The smaller vessels such as Iona will be cramped if you fill them to capacity.
Is this holiday suitable for me?
Boating on the Caledonian Canal is different from other inland cruising areas. A certain amount of physical activity is involved when locking and berthing, therefore we require that you have a minimum of 2 reasonably fit and active adult crew members in your party. When disembarking from the vessel onto a pontoon, the height difference can be approximately 3ft. This sometimes causes difficulties for elderly or disabled customers. Should this be a problem for any of your crew, or indeed if you have any queries or concerns, please discuss them with us prior to booking.
Do I need to take anything with me?
All of our boats are fully equipped with all galley utensils, crockery, pots and pans and basic cleaning supplies. Safety equipment & life jackets are also included. Freshly laundered bed linen and towels are provided - we supply duvets for all fixed berths and sleeping bags for the convertible berths. Blankets and pillows for everyone are on board. Please advise of any allergies prior to arrival.
There is no first aid kit supplied with the boat so please bring your own and please also remember to bring gloves as they are very important for rope work!
When is the best time to come to Scotland?
Scotland is beautiful in every season although, as its reputation suggests, it can sometimes be unpredictable.
May, June and July benefit from long daylight hours - in mid June it doesn't get dark until approximately 11.30 pm!
The beautiful colours of Spring delight the customer - the canal banks are lined with yellow of the Broom and Loch Oich is ablaze with Rhodondendrons.
During September and October you will be treated to the wonderful colours of Autumn but the weather does tend to get slightly cooler then too!
For seasonal weather averages visit www.wundeground.com.
How long can I cruise?
The official stopping time is dusk - however cruising is mainly restricted to the British Waterways Caledonian Canal opening times. All of the bridges and locks are operated by keepers and the hours of operation are usually from 08:30 hrs until 17:30 hrs, 7 day operation from Easter to the end of October. They close for a 1 hour lunch break sometime between 12:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs. These hours of operation are subject to change each year.
Can I use electrical appliances on board?
The easiest and most convenient power source on all of our boats is the 12v cigarette lighter connection which is more than adequate for charging mobile phones and devices. All boats except the Mull of Kintyre class and the Iona class also feature a 240 volt inverter which means that mains power (3 pin plugs) can also be used onboard at any time (battery power levels depending). Electrical hook-up is available on all boats but please note that there are only a few electrical hook-up points along the canal, therefore we do not recommend that you rely on this. On all boats we request that no more than 1500w appliances should be used.
Is there mobile phone signal along the canal?
For the majority of the time you spend on the canal you will find the mobile phone signal is very good (especially 02 and Vodafone) but you will find one or two poor areas where signal will be either low or not available.
Can I stock up with grocery supplies along the canal?
There are various stops along the canal where you can stock up with supplies, the first one being the village of Drumnadrochit, accessible from the Urquhart Bay Harbour. But we do recommend that you purchase some basic supplies from Inverness prior to your departure from the boat yard just to get you started. There is a Co-op located close to the boat yard or Tesco supermarket will also do grocery deliveries direct to us in time for your departure, please contact our office for further information on this.
