Lizzie May - 3 day Classic Passage through the Caledonian Canal

Voyage Number	LM1002
Voyage price	£375 for 3 days
Voyage Dates	09/04/2010 - 10:00 - 12/04/2010 - 15:00
Depart from	Inverness
Finishing Port	Oban
Voyage area	Scotland
Voyage type	Beginners , Short Breaks and Tasters , Weekend Voyages
Vessel	Lizzie May
Availability	Fully booked

Voyage Description

 Inverness - Loch Ness "Nessie" Caledonian Canal - Oban

The whole trip from Inverness to Oban is completed in an incredible deep and long geological fault line that starts near the island of Islay in the south west going right up through Loch Lorne and Loch Ness and forms the shore line right up to Tarbat Ness north of Inverness.

It is a very unusual way to see the Lochs of this great rift valley. There will be time to stop and explore on the way and a lot of fun to be had at the canal locks on your way.

This first part of the voyages goes through the beautiful Glen More down the full length of Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle shown above. Loch Ness is famous for its depth that allows the Loch Ness Monster to hide away for centuries at a time. Well that's the myth of Nessie but you will have to make up your own mind about it.

Loch Ness is certainly deep very long and very scenic.
At the south west end of Loch Ness you come to Fort Augustus where Leader will enter a stretch of man made canal forming one of the links in Caledonian Canal. There are five locks (not to be confused with Lochs) to go up to the level of Loch Oich.

At the south end of Loch Oich there are two more locks to reach the level required for Loch Lochy, what a lovely name. At the south end of Loch Lochy are seven locks to go back down again.
Then right at the southern end of Caledonian Canal a few more locks to descend to sea level and enter the tidal waters of at the northern end of Loch Linnhe near Fort William.

A short sea passage and you are in Oban.
 

Loch Lochy

Inverness to oban via the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness

Day One

Inverness

This is the last city as you head north in Scotland.

It is ideally placed for access down the Caledonian Canal to the West Coast of Scotland and into the glens out towards Torridon. Further north you will find Wick and eventualy John O'Groats.

It has good rail, coach and air connections and the A9 will take you all the way back to Edinburgh.

It has good restaurants and local accommodation.

Photo cuortesy Fr Paul Hackett

Oban
 

Oban has been described as one of the most scenic travel destinations. The sheltered port of Oban (“little bay” in Gaelic) is surrounded by views of earth, sea and sky, which have enthralled artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries.

Known as the gateway to Argyll and the Western Isles, Oban is the perfect origin for your own journey to discover the enchantment of the west coast of Scotland.

Oban has always been known as the traveller’s rest. As a small town with a resident population of 8,500 this unofficial capital of the West Highlands often swells with large numbers of visitors.

Oban is renowned for its glorious gardens, its fabulous views, the ocean promenade, islands all around, ancient monuments and castles, and outdoor activities such as diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching – even whale spotting - especially from pilot cutters and tall ships.

Queen Victoria visited the town and gave it the royal seal of approval when she described it as "one of the finest spots we have seen".
 

Getting to Oban

By Road
Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch Lomond and its steam ships. When you get to Tyndrum turn to port (left) onto the A85 for Oban. Find the North Quay and then further into Town and near Tesco you will find secure paid for parking at Oban Car Hire which does have to be paid for.

By Coach
CityLink offer connections from Glasgow Buchanan Street train and Bus Station and Glasgow Airport.

By Train
ScotRail has trains for Oban that also leave from Buchanan Street Station.

By Plane
You can fly from Central Glasgow to Oban on Loch Lomond Seaplanes - probably the most dramatic way to arrive - certainly the quickest from Glasgow.
 

Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Oban, The Official Oban Tourist Office has the best local directory.
 

Lizzie May sister ship to Eve of St Mawes sailing together in the Fal with St Mawes in the background.

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010

Lizzie May—Specifications

Lizzie May was built new in 1999 by Luke Powell of Working Sail using traditional construction techniques to create a wooden pilot cutter with real character. Her frames are oak with larch planking and hardwood deck. Lizzie is 42ft on deck with a long 13ft bowsprit and lofty topmast. Her beam of 12ft gives her plenty of flat deck space and her low profile coach house is barely visible so all onlookers see is a traditional boat with lovely sheer lines.

The coach house also provides outward facing seating so you wont miss the scenery. All the rigging is ash blocks and tackles so you wont be sitting down for long.

There are no winches on board so everybody keeps warm and active pulling together. Sailing in Scotland requires a good anchor and true to her working boat origins Lizzie May has a barrel windlass to raise the anchor.

The vessel weighs 18 ton with a long deep keel—ideal for open sea sailing. The large mainsail can be slab reefed and even the staysail can be reefed in strong winds, so with a storm jib too she can make the most of the wilder days.. On light wind days she can glide up the lochs and narrows with a large flying jib and gaff topsail. 

Below Decks

Below decks is very light with loads of character and varnished wood. There are two single berths in the forepeak, three berths in the saloon and a double berth in the starboard quarter with limited headroom (back of the boat). Please remember this is only a 42ft boat with an elegant raked stern so spaces are communal, there are a few low beams and limited storage.

Lizzie has a lovely oak table, a small heater in the saloon, hot and cold water and WC, galley and modern navigational equipment. She carries all safety equipment required for her commercial coding under the MCA (Marine Coastguard Agency) and licensed to sail offshore up to 60 miles from a safe haven.

Lizzie May Skipper Jerry & Skipper- Chef Laurie

Jerry Headley bought Lizzie May in 2007- with the intention of setting up his own charter company, after a rather life changing voyage to Paimpol Shanty Festival on 'Eve of St Mawes.' He was not the only Eve crew on that voyage to find themselves owning a classic wooden boat. (Classical Guitarist James Boyd bought classic yacht Concord - currently nominated for Classic Boat Magazine Restoration of the Year)
 

Jerry's enthusiasm for pilot cutters shone through and it was evident he would make a sociable and relaxed charter skipper. Classic Sailing were thrilled to work with Jerry to establish Eve's  'sister ship' on the West Coast of Scotland, near Jerry's home.  Either Jerry or Laurie Mills will usually be your skipper on Lizzie May.

Skipper Laurie is also a chef. When he is not on Lizzie May he has his own company cooking private dinner parties and performing chef cooking demonstrations at farmers markets with fresh organic produce. Laurie is a former restauranteur and made his name running an award winning restaurant in Royal Deeside.

Photo: Jerry - mid English Channel on Eve's bowsprit  2007

What to bring

Boats have very limited stowage space so please limit yourself to one soft collapsible bag or rucksack (not a suitcase).
Bring a sleeping bag (we provide pillows and pillow cases).
We can supply waterproof jackets and trousers but you may prefer to bring your own if you have them.
A hat for sun or cold weather.
Swimsuit, towel and sun cream.
Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or deck shoes. Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can wash over the deck (an alternative to boots in the summer is another pair of trainers in case the first pair get wet).
A small rucksack is useful for going ashore.
Camera, binoculars, sketchbook and a good read.
Any medication, spare spectacles, seasick tablets (check which brand with your doctor if you are on any medication)

RYA Cruising Logbook if you are keeping a record of your experience for qualification purposes.

Musical instruments are most welcome.
 

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010