Sail through Scotland’s Caledonian Canal to Oban
Sail and explore the Great Glen Way and the Caledonian Canal in Scotland aboard yacht Steady.
Sail with yacht Steady as she makes her way from Inverness to Oban, exploring the Great Glen Way and sailing the Caledonian Canal. Join Steady in Inverness on the shores of Loch Ness and begin your holiday on board with a hearty home-cooked meal and good wine, where you’ll get the chance to meet your fellow travellers.
The Great Glen Way is a beautiful valley walk stretching 72 miles through Scotland, from Inverness to Fort William. Offering sheltered inland sailing, this voyage is a sailing holiday you won’t forget, with beautiful canals, traditional lochs and ancient castles.
- Skippered sailing
- Sheltered waters
- Private cabins
- Great for couples & solo travellers
- Full board
- Wildlife watching
Need some help?
Talk to the team
Telephone: +44 (0)1872 487288
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7804 472592
Owned and skippered by husband and wife team Marielle and Jan-Willem, sailing with Steady is a relaxed and inspiring way to explore the Hebrides. With a real passion for nature, the landscape and living well, Marielle and Jan-Willem love to share their love of Scotland with their guests.
GETTING INVOLVED
Jan-Willem and Marielle can sail Steady comfortably on their own, but they invite and encourage guests to take part in all aspects of sailing. From taking the helm, sorting and setting the sails, basic navigation and rope work, Jan-Willem and Marielle provide a safe and supported environment for guests.
A Typical Day
The day starts with a hearty and wholesome breakfast to get ready for a day of sailing. Below decks, everything is cleared, and above deck, the sheets and sails are prepared before you get underway. Departure is around 9.30 am to make the most of the day. The skippers often have a destination in mind, but the weather will influence the decision, so they never guarantee an itinerary. As with all our fleet, the sails are used as much as possible, so Steady will go where the wind takes her.
Usually, lunch will be enjoyed outside when under sail and in good weather. You will then spend the evening and night in a calm anchorage. Being close to shore means you’ll be able to be dropped off by dinghy to stretch your legs and spend some time exploring the diverse landscape that the Hebrides have to offer.
The number of hours of sailing can vary between 4 and 7 hours a day, so you’ll be sure to work up an appetite ready for dinner to be served at around 7 p.m. The evenings are relaxed, with time to chat with new friends or find a quiet spot on board with your book.
Sleeping and Relaxation
Whatever the weather, it is wonderful to be out on the sea. Enjoy the beautiful views and the clean air that fills your lungs – not to mention the exhilaration of seeing Steady’s full rig being filled by the wind. Steady has a spacious deckhouse with views in all directions, so you can still enjoy the surroundings when the weather isn’t behaving. Below decks, there is a spacious, modern, fitted galley with a generous sofa area, dining table, and multi-fuel stove to keep out the evening chill.
After a full day in the open air, you can sleep peacefully in our cosy and comfortable private cabins, ready for a new day of seafaring adventure. There is a full-size domestic shower and a separate toilet for guests to use too.
Dining Aboard
Both Jan-Willem and Mariëlle love good food and cooking. The menu includes meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Throughout the day, guests are offered coffee & tea and soft drinks to keep hydrated in the salty sea air.
Breakfast is varied each day, often including bread, cheeses, jams and spreads in addition to yoghurt and porridge or granola – sometimes there are boiled eggs, or fried bacon and eggs on offer if you’re doing a longer sailing day.
Lunch is a relaxed affair on deck, usually consisting of soup or salad, served with a selection of different breads. Examples include pumpkin, tomato or lentil soup, fish chowders, tuna salad or couscous salads; all made with the finest fresh produce.
Dinner is heartier, really filling you up after a day in the fresh air. It’s really varied but uses the best ingredients and draws on cuisines from around the globe, from Moroccan lamb stew to a simple lasagne to an authentic chicken curry made with fresh herbs and spices. Sometimes, if the skipper has bought some fresh fish, it’ll be barbecued up on deck. Dinner is always served with a selection of vegetables or salad.
There is, of course, dessert, which includes Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit, a selection of ice creams or simply coffee and chocolates.
Sample menu
All food is freshly prepared on board using locally sourced produce as much as possible. Please note that this is an example of what you may be served.
BREAKFAST
- Scottish Porridge
- Fresh fruit, yoghurt
- Toast and preserves
- Eggs (how you like them!)
LUNCH
- Homemade pumpkin soup with naan bread
- Fish soup served with a canapé with smoked salmon
- Tuna salad with bread
DINNER
Appetisers: toast with different cheeses, nuts, olives
Mains
- Mussels from the Isle of Mull, served with bread, potatoes and mixed salad
- Lamb stew served with couscous salad and green beans
- Crispy-skinned salmon, served with sweet potatoes, bimi, salad and homemade mayonnaise
- BBQ with meat from Kerrera Balliemore Farm, served with baked potatoes, salad and fresh vegetables
- Pumpkin curry, Jack fruit with coleslaw (V)
DESSERT
- Homemade chocolate mousse and cream
- Homemade cheesecake with lemon sorbet
- Crepe with ice cream, fruit and chocolate sauce
After dinner, coffee/tea with chocolate or bonbons
Steady
Guest berths: 8 Rig: Staysail Ketch
Onboard Steady, most guests like to lend a hand with the sailing, and Jan-Willem and Mariëlle are excellent guides if you do want to get involved. They cater for all abilities and ages, so if you’d rather sit back and relax with a book, then that’s fine too! She has a modern rig and simple winch system, so she is a great boat to learn the ropes.
Steady’s voyages explore the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides and St Kilda; an area of unspoilt wilderness and breathtaking beauty in the Western Isles of Scotland. Her sailing adventures give you access to the most captivating and remote hidden secrets of this incredible and beautiful place. As you sail through this stunning marine landscape, you will likely be lucky enough to experience close encounters with rare wildlife and have time to soak up the unique and fascinating history and culture of the Hebrides and St Kilda.
Steady is true to her name, with a sturdy steel hull, and was initially built as a charter vessel, offering a considered layout below decks. Fitted with all the mod-cons and keeping guests’ comfort at the forefront, she sleeps eight guests in four comfortable twin cabins, with a shared shower and separate toilet. The galley and saloon area lives at the heart of the boat with a peninsula galley and plenty of seating alongside the cosy multi-fuel stove.
On the deck level, there’s a spacious cockpit with a navigation station and more seating, perfect for breakfast and morning coffee as the sun rises. There’s plenty of room on deck, too, to take in the surrounding views and learn the ropes alongside Jan-Willem and Mariëlle, who love sharing their passion for Scotland, the environment and nature with their guests.
Deck plan
More about Steady
More holidays in Scotland or UK
Discover the Inner Hebrides, Jura & Colonsay & Corryvreckan
Private Charter Sailing on the South Devon Coast
Tall Ship Sailing, Whisky Distilleries & Folk Music in Scotland
Sail through Scotland’s Caledonian Canal to Oban
More holidays on Steady
Remote Islands & Wonderful Wildlife: Sailing the Hebrides
Guided Sailing & Walking Holiday in Scotland: Mull and the Small Isles
Remote Scottish Island Adventure: Outer Hebrides & Shiants
Sailing the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen Way
Inspiration for your voyage
Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below. Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below.
JOURNAL
