some useful tips for the Caledonian Canal night cruising not allowed as locks and bridges are not manned 24hours 1Learn the ropes! Always pass the rope beneath the safety bars on the bow and stern of the boat – this means the boat will be more secure. 2 When ‘walking’ the locks at Fort Augustus have the strongest person at the back and the ‘control’ at the front. It is much harder to get the back of the boat moving and keep it steady in moving water in the locks. 3 Be prepared to moor up before a bridge or lock to await it opening, someone coming the other way, or for more boats to go through together. There are pontoons right before the locks for you to wait at. 4 Watch out for the large trip boats on Loch Ness – they can cause quite a swell when they pass! 5 Consider wearing a lifejacket at all times – although you must wear them in the locks. While the wind can get up on the lochs, the Caledonian Canal is very safe, but you will need to watch out for other boat users – and your own crew’s bad driving! 6 There is no need to speed. You could sail the whole canal in 3 days – so with a week’s trip, you have plenty of time. The speed limit is 5 knots but to check your speed look at your bow wave – it should not be splashing on the canal banks.

Start at the Inverness end and head west, that way you're always looking into the sun and (IMHO) as you go west the views get better and better.

Sorry about late reply in heart of Highlands dodgy internet. Parking is free at least for our 4 day cruise. Pay for an early start ie mid day if you want to get up to Loch Ness on 1st day. Do not enter Loch Ness if you are not confident of your crew/boat skills as the only safe anchorage is Urquhart Castle its a tricky place to moor up. You could lock into Loch Ness in the morning and go back out before the locks close 6pm summer. Remember it can get up to force 5-6 in minutes in Loch Ness the good news the bigger boats cope with 6 gusting 7-8 no problem. Always bag the rear cabins first! The engine is just below you it gives off heat all night. Just post again for further info.

This is a canal, not a hotel but if you're asking where would be best to stay, if suggest either Fort William or Inverness. There are many different types of accommodation available all along the length of the canal, ranging from hotels to camp-sites.

You will love the whole holiday, the Canal and the islands. Weather in April in the UK can be anything from cool, wet, sunny, dry - we were lucky with only a half day of rain on both our trips. Drinks were charged to your cabin; no cash taken at the bar. This worked very well. The dress was smart casual at dinner; some ladies "dressed up" a little on the last evening, the farewell dinner. We plan to return in 2016 too!