The Rivers, Lochs and Canals of Scotland

Exploring Scotland's charming waterways could take you through one of its beautiful canals, into any of its stunning lochs, or down one of its beautiful rivers - and indeed, a Scottish cruise is a fabulous way to discover the country and appreciate its countryside, wildlife and culture.

Introducing Scotland’s Waterways

With 125,000km of rivers, 27,000km of lochs, 220km of canals and 198,000 ponds, Scotland has a lot of water! These expanses of water provide huge benefits for the country's ecosystems and wildlife, as well for the human population in terms of irrigation, drinking, food processing and, of course, transportation.

On a wider scale, the rivers, lochs, ponds and canals of Scotland cover 2% of the area of the UK, making up 70% of the total freshwater area and 90% of the total volume. In fact, the lochs alone inject (directly and indirectly) around £1.5 billion into the country's economy.

The Canals

The Caledonian Canal is famous the world over and is regarded as one of its most prestigious waterways. At more than 90km in length, it stretches from Inverness in the east across to Fort William in the west, passing though quaint Scottish towns and villages, dramatic forests, and tranquil lochs.If you're travelling coast to coast on a Scottish cruise, you'll more than likely be cruising on the Forth and Clyde Canal or the Union Canal. Both of these take you on a voyage into Scottish industrial history, and you'll also get to experience the world’s only rotating boatlift.

The Rivers

There's no denying the visual feast of the Scottish rivers, whether they're cascading down mountainsides in the guise of stunning waterfalls or sedately making their way through one of the many charming valleys. The low-lying rivers play host to many wonderful species of wildlife, including the endangered Water Vole and the rather rare Freshwater Pearl Mussel. In recent years, the European Beaver has been introduced into the country's rivers and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it on a Scottish cruise.

The Lochs

The Highlands of Scotland are famous for their lochs, particularly Loch Ness - the location of the famous legend that tells of the Loch Ness Monster that's believed to dwell in its murky, mysterious waters. Monsters aside, this lovely loch is definitely worth a visit and its location, nestled into dramatic mountains and surrounded by stunning woodland, is utterly picture postcard.

Loch Lomond is another of the more high-profile lochs, and is situated in Scotland’s first national park - The Trossachs National Park. Renowned as the UK’s largest freshwater lake, the area is also home to the magnificent Golden Eagle and Yellow Saxifrage, as well as an abundance of other beautiful flora and fauna.

Thanks to its freshwater sources, Scotland's countryside, wildlife and economy continue to thrive. Immersing in the beauty, history and splendour of the country on a Scottish cruise is without a doubt one of the most rewarding ways to explore.

Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways. We can provide you with a luxury, all-inclusive Scottish cruise to enjoy the sights of the most picturesque waterways. Wonderful barge cruises are also offered in France, Holland, and Italy.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.