WATCH: How will Caledonian Canal mark its 200th anniversary?
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caledonian Canal will go under the spotlight for its 200th anniversary with landmarks being illuminated for the first time.
As part of a year-long calendar of activity, to celebrate the Union and Caledonian Canals’ turning 200, Scottish Canals and Mackenzie Construction will be lighting up iconic structures across the waterways to capture new and unique images.
Next Saturday, Neptune’s Staircase, Banavie and Gairlochy Lighthouse will be lit up as a part of Scottish Canals ‘Canal illuminations’. Boaters, cyclists, walkers, local residents and paddlers in the area between 7pm and 10pm are encouraged to watch out for some #canalmagic and share their images online.
On the following day – October 23 – Scottish Canals and Mackenzie Construction in partnership with Circus Artspace will host `Bridging Water’ at Tomnahurich Bridge in Inverness, where a special guest will switch on the lights.
People are invited to head to Tomnahurich Bridge, to watch the Kommandoren boat sail down the canal recreating part of that historic journey, 200 years to the date the first boat sailed through.
Scottish Canals chief operating officer Richard Millar said: “This is a big year for Scottish Canals as we celebrate 200 years of the Caledonian and Union Canals. These important heritage assets have stood the test of time; providing important transport routes, bolstering the local and national economy and helping put Scotland on the map as experts in engineering and innovation.
"We’re grateful to Mackenzie Construction for partnering with us to celebrate this landmark year and these important heritage assets. Over the past 10 months we’ve supported a number of events across both canals for local people to enjoy but through ‘Canal illuminations’ we want to remind the world our canals are here for everyone to enjoy and benefit from both now and in the future”.
More than 1400 boats move along the Caledonian Canal each year.
In 2019, Scottish Canals invested £5.3 million in replacing the lock gates at Kytra and Fort Augustus to help safeguard the canal for future generations.
Mark Wilson, construction director at Mackenzie Construction, said: "Over the past 15 years we have worked closely with Scottish Canals to protect Scotland's canal heritage while transforming spaces along the network for future generations so we are delighted to be partnering with Scottish Canals to celebrate this milestone moment."
Across the weekend images and film will also be projected across the new canal boat tower at Tomnahurich Bridge.
This has been brought to life by Circus Artspace, with artwork created by young people from communities across the Great Glen.
A spokesman for Circus Artspace said: “You are invited to join us for this free outdoor event which will include a new commissioned and light projection from artist Sadie Stoddart, developed in collaboration with Wild Bird, and an artists film programme themed around waterways will be displayed on the new control tower, plus refreshments and a drop-in exhibition.
“Moored between the two Tomnahurich Bridges, the Loch Ness Barge – a historic Caledonian Canal dredger, will also showcase artwork made in collaboration with young people and communities across the Great Glen this summer during our Inland Navigation project support by Historic Environment Scotland. Aboard the boat there will be an interactive canal heritage display from Scottish Canals’ heritage officer and retired Tomnahurich bridge keeper.”
