Scotland Coast to Coast Walk and Barge

The guides were excellent. They were both full of local and historic knowledge that was passed on to us and this made the trip so much more interesting. The accommodation was excellent.

A most amazing and wonderful trip. Highly recommend this tour - worth every penny.

Amazing staff- organized and professional. Food exceeded expectations and accommodation (hot and powerful showers) was comfy after a long hike.

A great week with some beautiful scenery and friendly crew.

Had a lively time the crew and our walking guide made every effort to ensure that we enjoyed every day.

Fantastic hike and wonderful crew and food on a cozy barge.

We booked a trip aboard the Fingal of Caledonia for 12 family members in May 2024. We had the time of our lives. We are active folks between 59 and 74 years old. Together we celebrated our common Scottish ancestry and joy in hiking and being outdoors. This trip was a treasure. Gordon Steer of Walkers Britain capably facilitated the arrangements (for we 12, a "charter" designation applied). The accommodations aboard the Fingal barge worked well - while cabins are understandably snug, each has a shower and toilet and sink, and clever storage areas. The social hub aboard the Fingal is remarkably spacious. It's well equipped for socializing and dining (+ there is a small bar). There is a "drying room" available for damp clothing. The canals, locks, and lochs we traveled through and moored at were scenic and mostly calm for our May trip. The daily walks are stunning and varied -- it's not just towpath walking, though -- the lochs are edged by high hills. Several days require fairly demanding switchback walks to get to logging roads and hiking trails above the lochs. The reward is a sequence of stunning views, good places to stop for lunch, and the peace of a day beautifully spent, when we returned to the barge for the overnight. Fingal's crew (Skipper Chris, Bosun Steve, Chef Kevin and Guide Micheál) was outstanding. They are seasoned hosts and crew, and brightened our time on board. Micheál was an outstanding guide on the daily walks - knowledgeable and seasoned in working with groups. And a lot of fun. Similarly, the onboard crew are experts at their roles, and work together well to create a hospitable stay. Chris and Steve kept the boat on track (including through multiple locks daily, which we occasionally watched) and ensured that our travel needs were met. Chris briefed us daily on the next day's walk, using a table-length map and an antler as pointer. He reviewed our progress and ensured that we had all we needed for a comfortable stay. Steve keeps all the systems running on the renovated 1929 barge - he knows it inside out. Kevin prepared gourmet dinners and breakfasts daily, and packed tasty lunches to carry in our daypacks. In sum, I would book this trip again in a heartbeat - it was truly outstanding.

Our weeklong barge-supported walking trip across Scotland exceeded our expectations. It proved to be the ideal family reunion/ heritage trip for older adults intent on combining physical activity with discovery. The friendly, expert 4-man crew of the barge "Fingal of Caledonia" led us, fed us, and educated us from Fort William to Inverness. Our week of walking an average of 15 miles per day over undulating terrain (generally on the Great Glen Way) gave us ample time to reconnect with each other, learn about the social and ecological history of Scotland, and experience a variety of stunning landscapes along the Caledonian Canal. The barge was more comfortable than we had imagined, with a commodious living and dining space for socializing. The cabins were small but efficiently designed, with private baths and plenty of hot water. The chef's meals exceeded our expectations, featuring a variety of foods artfully presented. We appreciated the skipper's nightly reviews of the map of the next day's hike, and enjoyed hiking alongside our trail guide who knew the landscape so well. We would definitely recommend this trip!

A fantastic way to walk the Great Glen Way. The barge was very well equipped and comfortable. The staff were fantastic as was the food provided for every meal. So nice to come back to fresh cooked cake and tea each afternoon after walking.

The scenery was beautiful on this walking tour of Scotland. The crew of the Ros Crana were wonderful and they worked really hard. I particularly appreciate all the extra effort Tre and Ben went to prepare gluten-free options. The food was spectacular! Bryony and Sophie have extensive knowledge of the Great Glen Way, Scotland and provided hours of great conversation. Rue and Rich were fabulous deck hands and were always friendly, positive and willing to help.