Neptune's Staircase
A flight of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal, the longest staircase lock in Britain, with a great vantage point for views of Beinn Nibheis.
Neptune's Staircase is located at Banavie, on the northern edge of Fort William. Engineer Thomas Telford built it between 1803 and 1822. Its eight consecutive locks raise boats by about 19 m, and the full passage takes about 90 minutes. You can stroll along the towpath beside the locks to watch yachts pass through, and on clear days you can see the majestic profile of Beinn Nibheis. Entry is free, with a parking lot and a small café nearby. The West Highland Line trains also pass beneath the locks. You can walk or cycle along the canal towpath to nearby Corpach.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Old Inverlochy Castle
- Ben Nevis Distillery
- The Jacobite Steam Train
- West Highland Museum
- Nevis Range Mountain Gondola
- Ben Nevis
- Glen Nevis & Steall Falls
- Commando Memorial