Neptune's Staircase

Eight locks in a row, each one lifting boats about two metres higher up the Caledonian Canal. That's Neptune's Staircase, and it's genuinely impressive when you catch it in action. Watching a narrowboat rise and fall through the sequence takes about thirty minutes, which sounds like you'd stand there bored half to death but somehow you won't. There's something hypnotic about water moving at your command, and the sheer engineering of it - built in 1822 - is obvious from every angle.

It sits just south of Fort William, making it a natural stop if you're exploring the area around Ben Nevis. The locks are free to watch, and you can walk right alongside them on public paths. The whole thing takes about an hour, though you'll want less if you're just passing through. Best visited when boats are actually using it - weekends and summer holidays mean you'll catch more action. Off-season, it's quieter but still handsome.

Families with young kids usually get excited for the first lock or two then lose interest, which is fair enough. Walkers and canal enthusiasts will find it genuinely worthwhile. If you're staying at Ben Nevis Holiday Park, Glen Nevis, or Linnhe Lochside, it's practically on your doorstep. Worth the short detour, especially if you're waiting for the weather to clear on Ben Nevis itself.