Sailing the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen Way
- Vessel: Steady
- Where: Inverness, Scotland
- Duration: 7 days
- Embark: Inverness - 3 May 2023, 12:00
- Disembark: Oban - 9 May 2023, 10:00
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Sail and explore the Great Glen Way and the Caledonian Canal in Scotland aboard comfy 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 the 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
- All-inclusive sailing
- Sail area & highlights
- Gallery
- Life on board
- Sample menu
- Travel planning
- The boat
- FAQs
- What's included
- Boat schedule
YOUR SAILING AREA
SCOTLAND, UK
Explore the lochs of the Scottish highlands as you sail and journey through the Caledonian Canal from Inverness to Oban. This fascinating part of the world is the gateway to the highlands where mist shrouded mountains tumble down to meet the water’s edge. Experience the engineering feat of Neptune’s staircase and spend some time exploring the walking trails of the Great Glen way as you journey through the Caledonian Canal.
Steady will spend seven leisurely days sailing down past the Great Glen way and through the famous Caledonian Canal with plenty of chances to explore ashore or walk the Great Glen path and meet the boat later in the day. Below is a rough itinerary of what to expect but as with all our sailing holidays, changes can be subject to the weather and tides.
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Day 1–Â Start in the historic city of Inverness, a beautiful Scottish city with a lot of sights to visit. Steady will be moored in the Caledonian Canal in Muirtown Marina.
Day 2– Set the sails and cross to Loch Ness till Fort Augustus. This cosy village with nice pubs is the number one hotspot to spot the mythical Loch Ness monster!
Day 3– Spend a longer day on the water with steady as you explore all the local lochs. Steady’s skippers think this is one of the most beautiful parts of this route and love to share their knowledge with guests. Anchor for the night in Gairlochy.Â
Day 4– One more day of sailing on the Caledonian Canal, we will get a sight of the Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. At the end of the day, we will be at Neptune’s staircase, an impressive array of locks that will take us down a whopping 19 meters!
Day 5– Time to set sail! As Steady leaves the canal, we will spend the night anchored in Loch a’Choir, located in Loch Linnhe. The surrounding hills invite you to thoroughly stretch your legs and explore ashore if you wish.
Day 6– On our last day, set sail to the island Kerrera. Compared to the hustle and bustle of the nearby centre of Oban, Kerrera is very quiet, rural, and provides a stunning view of the surrounding coastal areas. Cars are forbidden on the island, except for locals, making it a hiker’s paradise. There is plenty of time for a walk in the afternoon. In the evening we will enjoy the Captains dinner all together.
Day 7–Â After an extensive breakfast, we sail the last bit to the marina of Oban.
Steady
Guest berths: 8 Rig: Staysail Ketch
Join husband and wife team, Jan-Willem and Mariëlle Kerkmeer aboard their 1993 Dutch ketch as they take guests on sailing holidays exploring the wonders of the Hebrides in Scotland.
Steady is true to her name with a sturdy steel hull and was originally built as a charter vessel giving 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 sharing two bathrooms with a generous shower. Newly re-fitted for 2022, the galley and saloon area live at the heart of the boat with a peninsula galley and plenty of seating alongside the cosy multi-fuel stove.
On 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 and sailing with their guests.
Onboard Steady, most guests like to lend a hand with the sailing of this eye-catching vessel, 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!
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.
Watch this short video of Steady sailing around Oban.
Steady Deck PlanÂ
Deck plan

Life on board
Steady has been sailed in Scotland by Dutch husband and wife team Jan-Willem and Marielle for over 10 years. Their love for Scotland, sailing and the natural world are clear for guests to see and they are well versed in all the secret hot spots.
Getting Involved
Steady is true to her name with her simple rig and winch system easy to navigate, providing a great base for guests to learn the ropes. 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
Set the sails after a hearty breakfast with the aim (depending on the weather of course!) to sail for 4-7 hours before finding a secluded anchorage away from the tourist hustle and bustle to settle down for the night. Lunch will either be served under sail or on anchor, made by Jan-Willem and Marielle in the spacious galley.
Spend a few hours exploring ashore in the afternoon before sharing a delicious freshly prepared meal aboard while sharing sea-faring tales and star-gazing on deck.
Sleeping and Relaxation
The main deck is well designed with plenty of open spaces and a cockpit for alfresco dining. The undercover deckhouse has 360degree windows so is great for morning coffee while watching the sunrise or some shelter if the Scottish weather takes a turn!
Below decks gives way for a beautifully appointed galley kitchen and generous, comfortable saloon which has been recently re-fitted to a really high standard. The fore leads along a small corridor where there are four well-considered twin bunk cabins with a toilet and separate shower for guests. The crew quarters are situated in the stern so have their own facilities.
Read more about what to expect from life on board Steady here.
What’s included
- All meals* are included in the price (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and hot drinks) *On a 7 day trip, there will be one dinner ashore at your own expense. On a 10-12 day trip, there will be two dinners ashore at your own expense
- All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
- Full crew plus tuition
- Marina and fuel fees
- All tender trips to and fro the boat
- Lifejacket
- Musto sailing waterproofs whilst on the boat
What’s not included
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- *On a 7 day trip, there will be one dinner ashore at your own expense. On a 10-12 day trip, there will be two dinners ashore at your own expense
- Any flights
- Transit hotels
- Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
- Travel insurance
- Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
- Crew tips
- Personal expenses
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be not more than 12miles offshore.
FAQ
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Are all meals included in the price?
Yes - meals are included in the price (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Hot Drinks)
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
We can cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy free diets.
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What language is spoken on board?
Jan-Willem and Mariëlle are Dutch, however they are fluent in English & Mariëlle can speak German.
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
4x twin bunk bed cabins.
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Are bedding and towels provided?
All bedding and shower towels are provided but please bring Swimming towels if you wish to swim in the sea!
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Is there an age limit for Steady's guests?
Yes, her maximum age limit is a guide of 75 years for most voyages. Some of her expedition adventures vary so please check each voyage or give us a call in the office. Please check if you have any under 18's.
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How many bathrooms/showers does she have?
Steady has a separate toilet and shower.
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Is there WIFI aboard?
No, but you should reach 3/4G from the shore.
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Are there Life Jackets provided?
Yes
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Are there Waterproofs available?
Yes, Steady has sailing jackets for each guest in average sizing while sailing.
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a love for adventure.
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Will I be seasick?
Everyone reacts differently but if you are unsure we recommend you take seasick tablets 24hours before you board.
Gallery
imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageTravel Planning
From: Inverness
To: Oban
To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.
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Inverness
BY RAIL:
You can travel by rail overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Inverness. Inverness station is right in the town centre with easy travel links from the ScotRail mainline. The station is about a ten minute walk to the Marina.
BY AIR:
Inverness Airport is a 15 minute taxi ride to the Wharf, or catch a bus to the town bus station. You can fly direct from airports across the UK.
STAY IN INVERNESS:
There are plenty of places to stay in Inverness. Try Trafford Bank Guesthouse, The Kemps Guesthouse or Kilcumin Guesthouse.
Oban
BY RAIL:
Oban station is a 5-10 minute walk from North Pier. Trains run 6 times a day to Glasgow Queen Street Station where there are good travel links to the rest of the UK.
BY AIR:
Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport both require taking a train from Oban which takes approximately 2-3hours. Flights go direct to Stansted Airport.
STAY IN OBAN:
There are plenty of places to stay in Oban. Try Witchwood House, The Scot or Perle Hotels Oban.