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Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness is a navigable waterway constructed through the Great Glen, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea across the Scottish Highlands. The canal extends from Fort Augustus southwestward to Loch Ness, forming part of the larger Caledonian Canal system that connects the west and east coasts of Scotland. The route traverses Inverness-shire through challenging terrain shaped by ancient geological forces.
The bedrock underlying the canal's course consists of Neoproterozoic felsic igneous intrusions, rock types formed deep in the Earth's crust during the ancient construction of the Scottish mainland. These hard crystalline rocks presented significant engineering obstacles to canal builders, who had to cut through solid stone to create the waterway's navigable path. The canal's cutting and lock systems were precisely engineered to manage the dramatic change in water level between Fort Augustus and Loch Ness.
The canal section is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3614, recognising its importance as a major feat of civil engineering and its role in Scotland's economic and military history. The waterway remains in active use today, demonstrating the enduring engineering achievement of this Highland navigation route.
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3614. View the official record →
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness is a navigable waterway constructed through the Great Glen, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea across the Scottish Highlands. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3614.
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort augustus to loch ness. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM3614.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Kilwhimen Barracks, Fort Augustus (0.4 km), Cherry Island, crannog, Inchnacardoch Bay, Loch Ness (1.1 km), Caledonian Canal,Kyltra Lock to Fort Augustus (2.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Caledonian Canal, Fort Augustus to Loch Ness stands on Unnamed Igneous Intrusion, Neoproterozoic, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is felsic-rock.