This voyage has her main goal of sailing through the Caledonian Canal. But before entering the Canal you will spend about two or three days exploring the Inner Hebrides. Spend a night on Mull, anchored at Tobermory, get a taste of their whiskey or set off for a walk into the woods.
As we start making our way to the Caledonian Canal a night can be spend at Fort William, at the foot of the Benn Nevis. The Caledonian Canal consists of lochs and man made pieces of canal that connect them. Only 1 third of the canal is man made and was finished building in 1822.
Wikipedia
The canal was conceived as a way of providing much-needed employment to the Highland region. The area was depressed as a result of the Highland Clearances, which had deprived many of their homes and jobs. Laws had been introduced which sought to eradicate the local culture, including bans on wearing tartan, playing the bagpipes, and speaking Gaelic. Many emigrated to Canada or elsewhere, or moved to the Scottish Lowlands.[2] The canal would also provide a safer passage for wooden sailing ships from the north east of Scotland to the south west, avoiding the route around the north coast via Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth.
The whole canal is over 60 miles long and has 29 locks. In a speedy crossing you can get through the Caledonian Canal in about 2 days. But don’t get stressed if you are left in your lock when the lockmaster takes his lunch break, it is a beautiful trip, so take your time.
The idea for this voyage is to combine sailing with walks and hikes into the interior of Scotland. Along the canal and into the rugged surroundings there are several planned walks as well as the possibility to plan your own track. This way some of the pieces of canal that can not be sailed through, are spend walking along the canal or with a big circle to the next town where the Tecla will be waiting for you.
Some of the walks will take you along the towpaths. From Torbeck on the edge of Inverness to Loch Tarff (or the other way around) there is a 28 mile long track called the South Loch Ness Trail that was launched in 2011 and should be suitable for all kinds of users.
Neptune's Staircase : This is a ladder of eight locks that raises vessels to a height of 21 meters above sea level over a distance of 183 meters.
After the Caledonian Canal you will set sail for the Netherlands. Crossing the North Sea towards the Netherlands will all depend on weather. Starting off in Inverness we can make our way out to the Petershead where we have a perfect spot to either set sail for the Netherlands or make our way South if the winds are not favorable. We have 6 days to make it across, which is enough for the 350 miles we need to cross. If at all possible, a beautiful stop over would be the Wadden Islands on the Dutch North-West coast. Terschelling offers beautiful walks, a beach close to the harbour and a pub located on the beach with a beautiful panorama view.
After Terschelling we will make for Harlingen, a day sailing and very much worth it! This day will take you across the Waddenzee, tides and currents will dictate your time of departure. This bit can be done in 2 hours, or can take all day, tacking up and down the narrow bits of the Waddenzee.
Oban - Harlingen
Getting to Oban can be done best by train or bus. Making your way home from Harlingen, is a train ride to Leeuwarden, connecting you with train to Schiphol Airport, or maybe even a short stay in Amsterdam? You will disembark the Tecla at 10:00 in the morning of the 29th of October, the train ride will take you about 3 hours to get to Schiphol. Or to Amsterdam in about 2,5 hours.
Sail through the Caledonian Canal
15 - 25 years old €1.750 25>years old €2.100
