Banavie is a small centre but in in all its beautiful essence is a great stunning representative site showing the most enchanting wild and picturesque image of Scotland, a very scenic place offering the unique opportunity to spend exciting stays close to Ben Nevis and Neptun´s Staircase on the iconic Caledonian Canal respectively the highest peak and the longest staircased lock of Great Britain.
That splendid Scottish village situated at 178,0 kilometres north of Glasgow and just 6,0 kilometres from Fort William is one of the most attractive small places of that striking land,the boasting a stupendous scenery reflecting in a nutshell all the beauty and charm of a territory packed by natural attractions unforgettable landscapes and reminding the epic and suggestive stories, narrations and legends of a land among the most fascinating and captivating of the world.
That splendid Scottish village situated at 178,0 kilometres north of Glasgow and just 6,0 kilometres from Fort William is one of the most attractive small places of that striking land,the boasting a stupendous scenery reflecting in a nutshell all the beauty and charm of a territory packed by natural attractions unforgettable landscapes and reminding the epic and suggestive stories, narrations and legends of a land among the most fascinating and captivating of the world.
The Gaelic name of Banavie is Bainbhidh, it was since many centuries ago a relevant stronghold of the Picts, an ancient Celtic population who established in its current boundaries one of their most important cultural seats, confirmed later by the presence of descendants as the powerful Clan Cameron who according to historic documentations was also linked to the Royal family of Denmark with a son of that noble Ecandinavian Monarchy who assisted the restoration of King Fergus II of Scotland.
Those old rulers established a strong influence in a large territory in Lochaber and in the major parts of the lands surrounding the Ben Nevis and at less than 2,0 kilometres from the village you can admire the ruins of the iconic Tor Castle.
Also that former medieval fortress is closely related to that, originally held by the Clan Mackintosh but seized, conquered and rebuilt by the Camerons in 1530 using it as defencive bastion against the several attacks of one of their historic rivals, the famed Clan MacDonald of Keppoch direct descendant of the emblematic Alistair Carrack MacDonald son of John Isley King of the Scottish Isles.
That site for all the events in which was protagonist became a sort of icon all around Scotland because was the emblematic symbol of one of the most distinguished dynasties of that land and desired by another and once in that area you can also enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Loch Lochy which extends up to South Laggan another image to keep imprint in your most pleasant memories.
All the historic stages of that hamlet which was in that suggestive past a focal point of the marvellous Gaelic culture has always been linked to the most important chronological events of Fort William and the other nearest small centere called Corpach including to the famous and legendary trip by train connecting Fort William to Mallaig on which Banavie is one of the great intermediate stops along that spectacular iconic journey. (I wrote posts about those two other destinations)
If the nearest and bigger centre of Fort William is linked to many legends, epic and historic narrations also Banavie despite its reduced size next to the famed previously mentioned historic events has others. One in particular says that it is the birthplace of St.Patrick emblematic Religious figure who is especially linked as an icon to the marvellous Republic of Ireland where he spent many years of his life but that village in 389.
The legend is connected to a possible presence of a hypothetical or real father of Roman origin, an officer of the Empire sent to Scotland as diplomatic before that the Legions of the Roman Emperor Flavius Honorius Augustus left the old Britannia 21 years later in 410.
The dilemma between true history or legend with tangible evidence turning it into reality was documented by some recorded scripts with a pretty detailed explanation in the 19th century in the History of Celtic Placenames redacted by William J. Watson, a famous historian and toponomyst from Milton, Easterrn Ross.
That eminent figure specialist in Gaelic history and former excellent student in prestigious Universities as Aberdeen and Oxford confirmed that the Saint was born in a concrete site called Bannah-Venta which was the ancient name of Banavie enhanced by an original letter of St. Patrick who mentioned that settlement of the Scottish Highlands at the foot of the Grampians.
The centre of the village is developed in proximity of the shore of the Caledonian Canal and along the Road A 830 which entirely crosses its boundaries. North from there is situated Old Banavie Road and along that artery you can find some accommodations while south of the waterway at the corner of Ardgour Road and Kilmallie Road is situated the Railway Station.
That latter road also corresponds to the main exit to the southern side of Banavie continuing running along the River Nevis and reaching the outskirts of Inverlochy and Fort William.
The Ben Nevis is certainly the most important attraction of Banavie,the giant of the Highlands and Great Britain and that tiny centre is the closest agglomeration to that high peak which does not need any introduction for its iconic name and for the stunning silhouette well known all around the United Kingdom to be the highest mountain of the British islands.
With its 1344,0 metres of altitude, Behinn Nibheiss as it is called in Gaelic language, that denomination means the mountain of the sky a name probably took by the ancient Celtic pagan tribes believing in different divinities including related to nature and they had the habit in several occasions to compose determined words naming concrete places.
Apart its charm and captivating silhouette conquering in a while many people for a scenic shape unique in its kind, the Ben Nevis offers several chances to practise many activities such as trekking, hiking,skiing and the opportunity to enjoy several wild and captivating paths such as the Touristic Route, Pony Track,the Mountain Track.
You can get up to the CIC Hut a shelter located at 680,0 metres of altitude and that term CIC means Charles Inglis Clark Memorial. The building is a property of the Scottish Mountaineering Club which organises several interesting activities, it provides advises and suggestions depending your plans of visits and itineraries and all the information you need about that mount and its immediate surroundings.
The giant of the British country is located at the end of eastern side of the Grampian mountains in the Lochaber and its summit is characterised by a sort of cupola, a collapsed domed section of a volcano. On the top you can see the rest of a former Observatory which started its activity in 1883 but ended to te functional just 21 years later.
The first recorded ascent is dated on 17th August 1771 performed by an Edinburgh botanist called James Robertson who wanted to reach that summit simply to collect some botanical specimen useful for his profession and the second climb took place three years later by John Williams, a climb mainly focused to a specific study of the geological formation of the mountain.
The Ben Nevis a massif which also included other "little sisters" called Munro´s Tables located at 1221,0 metres of altitude and the Càrn Mòr Dearg with an altitude of 1020,0 metres and also those places offer the opportunity to ski,climbing and ideal destination for trekkers.
At the foot of the mountain inLochy Bridge worth a visit the famous Whisky Distillery Ben Nevis one of the most legendary and famed establishments of Scotland considering that traditional drink was created in 1825 by that famous figure John McDonald well known with the nickname Long John.
The history of that iconic establishment started in the 19th century when the water for the production of that distinguished liquor was collected by the flows of the waters of the Allt a Nhuilln which has its source from the glacier of the Ben Nevis and it is still used today.
A visit to that place is something unique for its position,history and because it is a very distinctive symbol of Scotland, an emblem extremely rooted in the local culture which has in that product the national beverage known worldwide and with centuries of traditions.
Banavie is situated on the famous Caledonian Canal,that masterpiece of engineering developed to link several places through approximately 100,0 kilometres of waterways flowing across different basins such as the Loch Ness, Loch Lochy,Loch Oich and Loch Dochfour connecting the west coast of the West Highlands from Corpach in proximity of Banavie to the city of Inverness in the East Coast.(I wrote a post about that destination if you are interested)
That superb creation was by a Scottish engineer, Thomas Telford the inventor and who designed, projected and arranged that incredible master work with a study focused on connecting lakes and waterways through 29 locks,10 bridges and 4 navigable canals something simply great in its kind if you take a look to a geographic map of Scotland or simply thinking in the conformation of its territory and also the difficulties related to the formation of the territory.
The result of that "chef d'oeuvre", was not an isolated case because another superb work by Telford was made in Scandinavia consisting in the famous Gota Canal in Sweden which connects the city of Göteborg on the western coast of that huge Nordic Peninsula to the Baltic Sea through two lakes as the Vanern and the Vattern,one river the Göta and crossing a canal called Trolhattan.
A visit to that place is something unique for its position,history and because it is a very distinctive symbol of Scotland, an emblem extremely rooted in the local culture which has in that product the national beverage known worldwide and with centuries of traditions.
Banavie is situated on the famous Caledonian Canal,that masterpiece of engineering developed to link several places through approximately 100,0 kilometres of waterways flowing across different basins such as the Loch Ness, Loch Lochy,Loch Oich and Loch Dochfour connecting the west coast of the West Highlands from Corpach in proximity of Banavie to the city of Inverness in the East Coast.(I wrote a post about that destination if you are interested)
That superb creation was by a Scottish engineer, Thomas Telford the inventor and who designed, projected and arranged that incredible master work with a study focused on connecting lakes and waterways through 29 locks,10 bridges and 4 navigable canals something simply great in its kind if you take a look to a geographic map of Scotland or simply thinking in the conformation of its territory and also the difficulties related to the formation of the territory.
The result of that "chef d'oeuvre", was not an isolated case because another superb work by Telford was made in Scandinavia consisting in the famous Gota Canal in Sweden which connects the city of Göteborg on the western coast of that huge Nordic Peninsula to the Baltic Sea through two lakes as the Vanern and the Vattern,one river the Göta and crossing a canal called Trolhattan.
Eight of the 29 locks of the Caledonian Canal were developed in the territory of Banavie and that group was called the Neptune´s Staircase,a well known mythological name connected to the name of the God of waters and seas worshipped in the Ancient Rome.
Telford projects and works started in 1803 and ended in 1822 and that masterpiece officially started to work and to be active in 1847 immediatelyly high regarded for the efficient system which since then permitted a comfortable navigation and those links among different sites of Scotland which just some years before nobody could think to connect.
A navigation on the Caledonian Canal is a must if you are visiting that corner of Scotland,it is to admire that territory from another perspective crossing four lakes,under the majestic silhouette of Ben Nevis,a unique experience very suggestive thinking that you are crossing four magnificent waters basin transmitting special feelings and for someone including exciting with that magnificent emotion that after one will come another.
All that is highlighted by unforgettable natural environment,a great experience to enjoy a land so packed of magic places which can be admired along that special waterway and appreciating that work which is unique in its kind in the entire country permitting people to live something of wonderful during that boat trip.
Beautiful is also to enjoy a walk along the shore of the Caledonian Canal if you spending a stay in the village with the chance to see the pleasant Banavie Marina Basin,the Swing Bridge and the locks all that alongside a relaxing straight with the opportunity to admire the structures and the boats in transit with their manoeuvres.
Telford projects and works started in 1803 and ended in 1822 and that masterpiece officially started to work and to be active in 1847 immediatelyly high regarded for the efficient system which since then permitted a comfortable navigation and those links among different sites of Scotland which just some years before nobody could think to connect.
A navigation on the Caledonian Canal is a must if you are visiting that corner of Scotland,it is to admire that territory from another perspective crossing four lakes,under the majestic silhouette of Ben Nevis,a unique experience very suggestive thinking that you are crossing four magnificent waters basin transmitting special feelings and for someone including exciting with that magnificent emotion that after one will come another.
All that is highlighted by unforgettable natural environment,a great experience to enjoy a land so packed of magic places which can be admired along that special waterway and appreciating that work which is unique in its kind in the entire country permitting people to live something of wonderful during that boat trip.
Beautiful is also to enjoy a walk along the shore of the Caledonian Canal if you spending a stay in the village with the chance to see the pleasant Banavie Marina Basin,the Swing Bridge and the locks all that alongside a relaxing straight with the opportunity to admire the structures and the boats in transit with their manoeuvres.
Around Banavie there are so many things to do and what it is more exciting and very pleasurable is its very calm and peaceful atmosphere,silent places and in many cases you will notice that the time stands still in those lands and also that transmits something of very suggestive and that is secret of the real, true and magic atmosphere which surrounds Scotland all around its magnificent territory bewitching a myriad of visitors.
Several are the outdoor activities to enjoy there apart the previously mentioned on the Ben Nevis, it is a great place for wonderful excursions cycling or walking along the legendary Great Glen Way a stunning route inaugurated in 2002 with also well known with its the Gaelic denomination Sligghe a`Ghlinne Mhòir.
Developed on a length of 127,0 kilometres it retraces the historic old path from Fort William leading to Inverness transiting for suggestive sites as Fort Augustus,Grotaig,Cluneg Forest and also for Drummadrochit the village which pay homage to Nessie the legendary monster of that iconic Scottish lake.
Along that route other sites of extreme fascination and extremely attractive are also Gairlochy Clunes and the Loch Lochy which are pretty close to Banavie and obviously the last section of that magnificent path ending in the city of Inverness after a scenic trip along all the the western coast of the wonderful Loch Ness.
Apart a visit to Fort William very recommended are also the villages of Corpach and Caol. The first place is very famous for a battle between the famed Clans Cameron and MacLean which took place which took place in 1470.
In a more contemporary era it was also a base of the Navy of the United States of America and seat of the HMS St.Christopher, a headquarter of training of the Royal Navy Coastal Forces and some structures related to that still exist.
In that place you will have the opportunity to see a lock Canal on the Loch Linnhe basin with the waterway leading to the Loch Eil close to the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal.
The environment is very attractive surrounded by an uncontaminated nature and that mystical and legendary air so special of the Scottish Highlands by other mountains of over 1200,0 metres of altitude.
Caol is a small place between the Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil and its Gaelic name means narrow because it is located on the narrower water in the middle of those two basin and just like Banavie is crossed by the Caledonian Canal.
Other destinations to feel the magic air and sensations of the magnetic charm of Scotland is also Aonach Mor,a scenic mountain with an altitude of 1221,0 at approximately 3,0 kilometres from the Ben Nevis and on its western side is developed a ski complex and that area hosted in many occasions stages of the Mountain bike World Cup and one edition of the World Championships.
Oban is another destination showing the most captivating wild face of the land with a fantastic scenery composed by mountains, high plateaus and a beautiful bay to immortalise in thousands of pictures with also the splendid views of some picturesque islands such as Mull, Lismore and Kerrera which complete a striking scenery. Another mandatory is the famous Jacobite train all that is a splendid incentive to live 100% that Scottish paradise.
The presence of several comfortable and cosy B&B is another very attractive aspect to plan from that village a very captivating tailor made tour of the Scottish Highlands considering it as great and peaceful base with radial excursions day by day,whether for a planned specific itinerary of that corner of Scottish territory depending of your interests and preferences.
The strategic geographic position of that small place permits all that and much more and the existing presence of those accommodation naturally is a relevant detail to take in high consideration.
The strategic geographic position of that small place permits all that and much more and the existing presence of those accommodation naturally is a relevant detail to take in high consideration.
The local gastronomy will be another special feature which will delight you during a stay with the best of the Scottish cuisine. You can enjoy there an always fresh and excellent salmon and very suggested is also the smoked highly appreciated by a myriad of people.
Several are the rich and delicious venison meat stews and you can taste the traditional porridges,Bannocks,Haggis, different kind of pies and fabulous beef steaks, that kind of meat is among the best in all the United Kingdom and also baked lamb is extremely suggested for its notable reputation.
The delicious fresh seafood is another gastronomic highlight and obviously you can taste the local Whisky which is the icon of the Highlands and if you like that kind of beverage you will be delighted by different kind of brands.
Inverness International Dalcross Airport is situated at 117,0 kilometres from that Scottish centre and in less than two hours driving via A82 Motorway you will be at destination.
Despite its small size Banavie has a lot of attractions and that is the beauty of Scotland which also in small places like that offers a multitude of beautiful things all around their boundaries.
The natural beauty and landscapes are also all what makes Scotland a truly unique place so special transmitting ann immediate desire to discover and enjoy metre by metre every corner of its territory and also that is why is so easy to fall in love with that land.
The natural beauty and landscapes are also all what makes Scotland a truly unique place so special transmitting ann immediate desire to discover and enjoy metre by metre every corner of its territory and also that is why is so easy to fall in love with that land.
That little centre is something absolutely special in its kind,a visit and spending holidays to Scotland including in your plans that little gem part of the patrimony of that fascinating place is certainly a brilliant idea.
Simply the views during a stay close to Ben Nevis and Neptune´s Staircase emblematic point of the Caledonian Canal will be something more than exciting and all around you that sublime image packed by marvellous landscapes so difficult to forget and that is the real and enchanting Scotland in all its splendour.
Simply the views during a stay close to Ben Nevis and Neptune´s Staircase emblematic point of the Caledonian Canal will be something more than exciting and all around you that sublime image packed by marvellous landscapes so difficult to forget and that is the real and enchanting Scotland in all its splendour.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Accommodations in Banavie area.
Carinbrock Guest House
Dontra Log Chalets
Braeburn Guest House
Hotel Moorings
Useful links
Useful links
www.braeburnfortwilliam.co.uk
www.scottishcanals.co.uk/canals/caledonian-canal
www.visitscotland.com
www.scottishcanals.co.uk/canals/caledonian-canal
www.visitscotland.com
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