Loch Ness

It looked as though Saturday was going to be driest in the morning, with heavy rain in the afternoon. So we thought we’d better head out early and cross Loch Ness before we got soaked. However, as we girded our loins to leave Dochgarroch, we realised that it was rather misty, and by the time we got out onto Loch Ness, there was very thick fog, with at times less than a quarter of a mile of visibility.

Fortunately, I had already planned a reasonably accurate course on the chart plotter. Nothing at all was visible on AIS, which might have meant that nothing was moving, or might have meant that AIS was not working properly – there was no way to tell. Anyway, we continued on our way rather slowly and optimistically, as we could see blue sky above us even though nothing was visible around us. 

Around 0845 we were treated to the site of a fog bow, not something that you often see on land, and then it was as if the curtains were lifted, and Loch Ness became visible in all its beauty. Soon after 1000 we were able to deploy the jib and sail very slowly under foresail alone. We really weren’t in a hurry and it gave us plenty of time to appreciate the scenery, and of course the Scottish sunshine.

Waiting for the locks in Fort Augustus

Around 1330 we reached Fort Augustus, by which time quite a surprising amount of wind was behind us, and I did a pretty poor job of coming into the pontoon, rescued by David who managed to pull us in in spite of my inadequate instructions. Then we had a long wait for the Fort Augustus lock flight, finally reaching the top and mooring up about 1630. Lara, which we had previously met in a lock the day before, was on the long pontoon, and very kindly made space for us, subsequently managing to fit a large hire boat into the even smaller gap between us.

Fort Augustus is pleasant but extremely full of tourists and gongoozlers, especially in the lower reaches of the lock flight. Fortunately, by the time we reached the top they had all lost interest and gone elsewhere.

At the top, and right beside our mooring, was a pleasant toilet block with the worlds loudest extractor fan, and a very spacious and hot shower. We all managed to make use of it before going out for a good dinner at the Loch Inn, and once more an early night – I have no idea why we were so tired, but we certainly all were. 

Distance run: 21 miles

Fort Augustus flight

Toilet block