15th December 2009
Fingal is now berthed at the top of Neptune's Staircase
8th December 2009
Fingal due to leave the boatyard on Friday
The boys in the yard have been working hard and are now onto renewing much of the paint work. The picture below shows her earlier today inside the boat shed.
Fingal on the slip
Tuesday 17th November 2009 saw Martin and Swampy Dave up well before dawn to catch the tide just right for putting Fingal on the slipway at Corpach Boat Yard. This will allow internal and external inspection and maintenance of the hull so that it is ready to cruise the Caledonian Canal for next summer!
The end of October saw the final Mini Cruise of the season.
Plenty more Walk the Great Glens, Classic Cruises and Mini Cruises took place during Septamber and October.
Music on a Classic Cruise
Saturday 12th to Friday 18th September
A fantastic week of music and activties with instruments as follows...concertina, whistle, mouth organ, fiddle, guitar, harps and guests brought guitars and clarinet. The guests really enjoyed the canoeing and did well to complete a few journeys by boat. Janet and Paul completed the whole of the Great Glen, without using the barge as a mode of transport, either on foot, bike or canoe.
Crew
Musicians : Norman, Ann and Petria
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Tree
Cooks Assistant : Gillie
Walk the Great Glen
Saturday 5th to Friday 11th September
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Walking Guide : Sky
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Tree
Cooks Assistant : Gillie
Classic Cruise
Saturday 29th August to Friday 4th September
Ed, our hardy bosun, swims across Loch Ness from Foyers!
He said it was bloomin’ cold!
1 mile exactly, 43 mins.
Mad or what!?
Guests were mad keen canoers this week!
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Tree
Cooks Assistant : Irene
Classic Cruise
Saturday 22nd August to Friday 28th August
Guests from Italy came and discovered the bueaty of the Great Glen!
Crew
Skipper : Dave
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Rachel
Cooks Assistant : Irene
Walk the Great Glen
Saturday 15th August to Friday 21st August
Crew
Skipper : Dave
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Rachel
Cooks Assistant : Annie
Classic Cruise :
Saturday 8th August to Friday 14th August 2009
The weather made great rafting conditions for this adventurous bunch who tackled the River Garry onboard an 8 man raft! Good sailing conditions too.
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Andy and Gillie
Classic Cruise
Saturday 1st August to Friday 7th August 2009
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Gillie
Classic Cruise
Saturday 25th July to Friday 31st July 2009
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Gillie
Walk the Great Glen :
Saturday 18th July to Friday 24th July 2009
The Huntington group from the United States took over the entire barge for a 60th birthday celebration! The group (including Rob) walked 1000 miles. Never has the Fingal resounded with so much laughter! The group appreciated Tree’s sticky toffee pudding and desserts made from freshly picked raspberries.
11 out of 12 completed the hike, with the 12th member making 56 out of 78 miles before her knee protested too much.
There were no sightings of Nessie or Nellie (ask Rob!)
Crew
Skipper : Dave
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Classic Cruise :
Saturday 11th July to Friday 17th July 2009
The Seabrook family travelled from Canada and chartered the whole boat for their trip from Inverness to Fort William.
Crew
Skipper : Brian
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Alan
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Ros
Classic Cruise :
Saturday 3rd July to Friday 10th July 2009
Around 6 close sightings of osprey were observed in various locations up the Great Glen this week. Guests watched from both Fingal and canoe! Black throated divers were seen by Loch Oich and Loch Ness.
Crew
Skipper : Don
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Harry
Classic Cruise :
Saturday 27th June to Friday 2nd July 2009
Swimming in Loch Oich yesterday!! Wow it has been hot!
Crew
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa
Cooks Assistant : Harry
Wildlife Cruise : Saturday 20th June to Friday 26th June 2009
Fantastic sightings of dolphins again this week.
The weather has been fantastic for the last wee while! Guests enjoyed a barbecue at Foyers with piper on hand to play.
Crew
Wildlife Leader : Trevor
Skipper : Martin
Mate : Rob
Bosun: Ed
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : Annette
Wildlife Cruise : Saturday 6th June to Friday 12th June 2009
DOLPHINS GALORE !!!
What a fabulous week to be onboard "Fingal of Caledonia". With leader Fred Gordon the guests headed out into the Moray Firth on wednesday. As the barge passed Kilmuir heading for Munlochy the first sightings of dolphins was made with some jumping right out of the water- all very exciting! The barge lay at anchor at Fortrose for the night.
On Thursday "Fingal" headed for the lighthouse on Chanonry Point and many dolphins happily played around the bow for some time. There were around 20 individuals many of which were mother and calf groups.
Fred and the guests also saw osprey, one with a fish in it's talons, and several species of ducks, some with young.
Crew
Wildlife Leader : Fred Gordon
Skipper : Martin Balcombe
Mate : Rob McInally
Bosun: Ed Lucas
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : Chris
Saturday 31st May to Friday 5th June 2009
This 6 day Classic Cruise was chartered by the Goldsboroughs who enjoyed a good week and some even managed a swim in Loch Lochy!!
Crew
Skipper : "Swampy" Dave
Mate : Rob McInally
Bosun: Ed Lucas
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : Andy
MAY 2009
Sail Caledonia : Saturday 24th May to Staurday 30th May 2009
This fantastic traditional sailing event is organised by owner Martin Balcombe. Traditional boats raced each day for a week on stretches of the Caledonian Canal.
Wildlife Cruise : Saturday 16th May to Friday 23rd May 2009
There have been many birds observed this week including an osprey seen on its nest, a raven, a black throated diver and on Wednesday morning this otter was photographed at the edge of Loch Linnhe by Nick Picozzi, our wildlife guide for the cruise
Crew
Wildlife Leader: Nick Picozzi
Skipper : Martin Balcombe
Mate : Rob McInally
Bosun: Ed Lucas
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : Chris
Classic Cruise : Saturday 9th to Friday 15th May 2009
Crew
Skipper : Dave Reynolds
Mate : Rob McInally
Bosun : Ed Lucas
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : James
The first Music Week of the year started on Saturday 2nd May 2009. Along with all the usual activities the guests played their instruments in the evenings and even managed to meet local musicians in the Caledonian Hotel at Fort Augustus for an impromptu gathering.
On Thursday many of the guests braved the wild weather and managed to walk and cycle into some of the strongest winds we have had in May. The views were fantastic with snow capped mountains in the sunshine. All the guests are regulars.
Crew
Music Leader : Rick Willings
Skipper : Martin Balcombe
Mate : Rob McInally
Bosun : Ed Lucas
Cook : Teresa Edmunds
Cooks Assistant : Jame
APRIL 2009
Brian Findlay walked the Great Glen with us this April and took this lovely picture of Rob and Martin's dog, Bracken
Fingal of Caledonia has now completed 2 weeks of the 2009 season. The weather has been fantastic and no waterproofs have been required so far!
This group finished the Great Glen on Friday 17th April at 10.15am! Well Done to you all!
MARCH 2009
Caledonian Discovery will be holding an RYA Powerboat Course on 24th and 25th March 2009. There will be a VHF (SRC) Radio Course on 31st March 2009.
The winter has returned this week! Lovely views of snowy mountains can be seen between the blustery showers!
FEBRUARY 2009
As the wild weather hits the South we are getting the "good" weather.
The saloon and living area in Fingal of Caledonia is currently being redecorated. In the cabins Davie is coming to do some specialist joinery work putting one or two finishing touches to those super new cabins.
"Swampy" Dave is working hard as a Ski Patrolerl at Nevis Range. He is planning his trip to New Zealand in the July.
JANUARY 2009
We have had fantastic weather to start the year. The photo below is taken near Invergarry about a third of the way up the Great Glen.
DECEMBER 2008
This will be Lynne's last few weeks in the office. She is heading for retirement after spending 10 years working with Caledonian Discovery.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
NOVEMBER 2008
The new Brochure, Schedule and Autumn Newsletter all went to print. Have you received yours?? If not please contact the office on 01397 772167
Tree has now headed off for the season to no doubt sample and be inspired by culinary expertise in some far distant places.
OCTOBER 2008
The barge finally came to rest at the end of October. It has been a fantastic summer for Martin and his team who have provided holidays for more than 300 people over the course of this season.
SEPTEMBER 2008
Lynda from the office accompanied the Mini-Cruise at the end of September.
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
Classic Cruises
Plenty of Classic Cruises during July with lots of varying ages taking their holiday on Fingal of Caledonia. Thats the magic thing about this barge...there's something for everyone!
JUNE 2008
Moray Firth / Wildlife Cruie
The news that we can give is the success of the wildlife cruise so far.
We have seen bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth and the number of birds sighted is growing daily. These include red kite, an osprey fishing, a sparrowhawk, and for the first time on a Fingal wildlife holiday, a snowy owl.
MAY 2008
24th to 31st May- Martin and his crew are organising and supporting this years Sail Caledonia Event. This ia a traditional boat race crossing the Great Glen through the Caledonian Canal. For more information visit www.sailcaledonia.org for up to date results.
Fantastic weather so far this May ! The photo below was taken after canoeing on Loch Lochy near Achnacarry last week.
APRIL 2008
The barge set sail on 12th April for the start of the season. The weather was fantastic all week and many of the guests completed the whole length of the Great Glen by foot!
Tree was once again producing culinary delights in the galley working alongside the new staff Rob (Instructor) and Eliza (Assisitant/Bosun) with Euan returning from last year to help out during the first week.
MARCH 2008
These beautiful primroses were photographed on a hillside near Foyers, a small village on the South Side of Loch Ness where Fingal of Caledonia regularly stops on its journey through the Great Glen.
FEBRUARY 2008
The underfloor heating is now making the barge so cozy! Joiners are hard at work building the cabins. The sun is shining on "Fingal" and the Great Glen as you can see!
JANUARY 2008
Its full steam ahead with joiners, plumbers and electricians all working away furiously towards getting the barge ship shape!
....and while the snow is here its all action on the slopes at Nevis Range ski centre, the moutain to the left of Ben Nevis above.
DECEMBER 2007
Fingal of Caledonia has spent one month under cover at Corpach boat yard. The team from Corpach Boat Building Company have stripped all internal features from the mid section of the barge and have prepared the bare boat with new paint, insulation, plumbing and electrics ready for the new ensuite cabins to be constructed!
NOVEMBER 2007
The barge was moored at the top of Neptunes Staircase on the Caledonian Canal at the start of the month. The weather has been particularly good!
