Our Loch Linnhe, Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness 6-night cruise is a relaxing, sheltered water cruise which journeys through the very heart of Scotland, through outstanding scenery. The cruise is a luxurious experience aboard Emma Jane, with ensuite cabins, spacious saloons and decks, a gourmet menu, accompanied onshore excursions, lots of wildlife and even a hot tub! Book Now!
Cruise availability
Our 2019 cruises are fully booked apart from one cabin on our Loch Linnhe, Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness 6-night cruise. This cruise has two departure dates for 2020 on September 19th and 26th. These dates are currently also available for private cruise charter at a 10% discount.
Here is a typical itinerary for the Loch Linnhe, Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness 6-cruise, which may change a little depending on cruising conditions. The itinerary is reversed on September 26th 2020, departing from Inverness. Guests can bring their own cycles on board as there are excellent cycling opportuntiies.
- From Oban, Cruise Loch Linnhe, a stunningly beautiful west coast sea loch, passing the picturesque and quintessentially Scottish castle, Castle Stalker, watching out for dolphins, eagles, seals and otters.
- Anchor off the Island of Lismore, good for sunsets and a coastal stroll.
- Cruise through the Corran Narrows with a “tide race” of fast moving currents. There are stunning views across to Glencoe and Ben Nevis with possible sightings of deer, otters and golden eagles.
- Enter the Caledonian Canal at Corpach and navigate Neptune’s Staircase, just one of the many amazing feats of engineering that make up the Canal. The Staircase is a series of 8 locks and travels up 70 feet in height, the longest staircase lock in the UK..
- Take a shore trip to Clan Cameron Museum and Achnacarry Castle with its lovely gardens and turbulent Ka-Aig Falls.
- Cruise Loch Lochy and into Laggan locks, before entering beautiful Loch Oich. Overnight as Aberchalder, and enjoy a shore side stroll, watching out for pine marten.
- Cruise to Fort Augustus and enjoy the impressive canal lock in the centre of the village. Explore this delightful village which has lots to see, or enjoy a beer watching the boats manoeuvre through the staircase.
- Enjoy an evening walk at Foyers with fabulous views to the west across Loch Ness to watch the sun setting below the hills and maybe a dram at the famous Graigdarroch Inn.
- Cruise across Loch Ness to the famous Urquhart Castle, one of the largest castles in Scotland, with one of the bloodiest histories. The castle ruins are very evocative with a very good audio/visual display and excellent visitor centre. Nessie hunters might want to visit the centre at nearby Drumnadrochit with lots of woodland walks. Anchor at Dochgarroch lock, which is very picturesque with many boats and yachts.
- Cruise Loch Dochfour with a walk ashore along a woodland path redolent of “Swallows and Amazons”, then onwards to Inverness and into the Muirtown basin at the very north end of the Canal for the final night anchorage.
We set off from Oban in the Elizabeth G under the expert skippering (is that a word ?) of Alistair, Bosun Craig was ever attentive providing drinks and excellenttable service, Zoe our guide pointing out various wildlife species and Charle our Chef providing delicious meals and snacks all throughout the cruise. I would nominate Charlie for Master Chef. Alistair plotted our course northwards, we saw Dolphins on our first day, poor Zoe couldn't get me to say pods, "herds of them" was my cry, it was amazing that these highly intelligent creatures would actively go out of their way to interact with us, it happened every day and our faces ached with the smiles these fantastic animals generated. We saw Minke whales almost every day as well The Elizabth G may be 60 years old but she is in excellent condition, strong, reliable, steady in a strong wind and swell because of her stabilisers, she has character and a beauty all of her own. She is big enough to give you confidence that she can tackle what mother nature throws at her but small enough to anchor in some truly amazing places. Every day you go ashore and explore another new location. (Weather permitting) Every member of the crew is dedicated to making sure you get the most out of your cruise, excellent food, excellent care, super knowledge of the flora and fauna. You go to bed every evening with your knowledge expanded, your spirits lifted. If you want to see Dolphins, Whales, Harbour Porpoises, Eagles, Shags, Gannets, Manx Shearwater, Gulls of every type, the list of encounters is limited only by the time/length of your cruise, sign up for a cruise as soon as you can. Alistair, the skipper has the utmost respect for the wildlife you encounter, every encounter is on the animals terms, their safety takes priority, he lets the wildlife come to the boat rather than pursuing it. His storytelling is wonderful, every evening he and Zoe join you and he shows you where you have been, where you are going and what weather to expect, there is even a knowledge test at the end o
David and Tracy Woods-Thomas: 28 August 2023Whale watching in the Northern Minch