Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal
Highlands
Neptune's Staircase at Banavie, just outside Fort William, is a flight of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal, the waterway planned by Thomas Telford and opened in 1847 to link the Atlantic with the North Sea through the Great Glen. The towpath crosses a busy road and railway line twice and runs beside deep lock chambers, so this flat walk suits a dog kept on the lead. The locks lift boats 19.5 metres over 457 metres, and a passage takes about ninety minutes, so there is usually something moving. This 4.5km loop follows the towpath from the car park down the canal to the double lock at Corpach and the sea lock where the canal meets the salt water of Loch Linnhe, with Telford-designed lock-keepers' houses, a small beacon and a picnic area looking across to Fort William and Ben Nevis. It returns along the opposite bank, crosses at the swing bridge and climbs beside the whole staircase to the top lock before coming back down. It is almost completely flat, with just 25 metres of climbing, on wide canal-side paths.
This dog friendly walk is an easy, level stroll that suits older dogs and short legs, with no livestock anywhere on the route. It does need a lead for much of the way, though: the loop crosses the busy A830 and the railway line twice, the canal has deep water and open lock chambers, and the towpath is part of the Great Glen Way, shared with cyclists. There is a cafe on the canal bank by the car park.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.5 km (2.8 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Canal, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Cafe on the canal bank by the car park (dog policy not confirmed); picnic area at Corpach sea lock.
- Parking
- Neptune's Staircase car park, off the A830 at Banavie.
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Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Mountain View - Kinlochleven
Sleeps 6 · 3 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,294 / 7 nights
Shepherds Cottage - Loch Linnhe
Sleeps 6 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £478 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in HighlandsDog Friendly Hotels Nearby
The closest dog friendly hotels to Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal. Every dog fact comes from the hotel's own website.
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All dog friendly hotels in HighlandFrequently Asked Questions
Is Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal dog friendly?
Neptune's Staircase is a welcoming spot for dogs, earning a 7/10 dog friendly rating. The 4.5km loop is almost completely flat with just 25 metres of climbing, there's no livestock anywhere on the route, and the wide canal-side paths make it a comfortable outing for dogs of all sizes, including older dogs and those with short legs. There's also a picnic area at Corpach sea lock and a cafe by the car park for a post-walk rest.
Can dogs be off lead at Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal?
Dogs will need to be kept on the lead for much of this walk, so it's not the place for a free-running adventure. The route crosses the busy A830 and the railway line twice, runs beside deep lock chambers and open water, and shares the towpath with cyclists as part of the Great Glen Way — all good reasons to keep your dog close.
What should I know before visiting Neptune's Staircase and Corpach Sea Lock, Caledonian Canal with my dog?
Come prepared to keep your dog on the lead throughout, particularly near the road, railway crossings, and the deep canal lock chambers. The towpath is shared with cyclists, so it's worth keeping an eye out as you walk. On the plus side, there's no livestock on the route, the terrain is pleasingly flat, and there's usually a boat or two moving through the locks — the staircase takes boats about ninety minutes to pass through, so there's plenty to watch while you're there.
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