Laggan to Fort Augustus

A less than early start from Laggan took us across Loch Oich, through the swing-bridge and lock at Cullochy and onto a mooring for lunch to avoid arriving at the next lock during lunch time. Also to let 3 hire cruisers get ahead of us – somehow you never quite trust them when you are hemmed in on all sides by homicidal scuffed fibreglass helmed by novices with no real understanding of how much of a problem a deep gouge in your hull causes.

A nice spot for lunchtime though:

The next lock, Kytra was run by a very friendly lady Linda Moore and her ageing dog. This was our first lock when we were totally alone in the lock designed to fit old Navy frigates. We had some room….

Arriving at the Fort Augustus flight of 5 locks, we discovered that the next downward passage (yes, it was all downhill now, Loch Oich was the summit at 106 feet above sea level) was not until the next morning. Luckily there was one small space on the end of the pontoon. We then found it had a “reserved berth” plaque on it but the crew checked with the lock staff and was told it was OK to stay there. Strange use of reserved plaques here….

The reason there were no more downward lock passages was because they had to wait for the hotel boat, the “Lord of the Glens” to arrive and then lock through upwards. It was a serious chunk of boat to manage through there as you can see, if a little lacking in the glamour stakes:

Dinner was at the Bothy restaurant in Fort Augustus as recommended (unofficially of course) by the Waterways museum lady. A good spot – go and have the steak pie and then a little sleep to recover.