Neptune's Staircase

Neptune's Staircase is a lock system with eight consecutive chambers on the Caledonian Canal in Banavie, Scotland, lifting vessels 64 feet (19.5 meters) above sea level. The structure extends for roughly 500 meters and connects the lower end of the canal with the upper section.

Engineer Thomas Telford designed and built the system between 1807 and 1811 as part of the Caledonian Canal development. The original wooden and steel gates were replaced by metal ones in 1920.

The nickname emerged from workers during construction, referencing Neptune, as the locks control water flow like the Roman god of the sea. Visitors can watch boats rise slowly through the chambers while gates open and close in sequence.

The system accommodates vessels up to 150 feet (46 meters) long and 35 feet (11 meters) wide, with hydraulic systems replacing manual operation since 1968. Passage through all eight chambers takes around 90 minutes depending on traffic.

Each of the metal gates installed in 1920 weighs 22 tons and replaced the original structures after multiple vessel collisions. The gates swing slowly inward and require precise water levels to support their weight.

Location: Highland

Location: Kilmallie

Architects: Thomas Telford

Official opening: October 1822

Part of: Caledonian Canal

GPS coordinates: 56.84638,-5.09383

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28