The team at HLH Libraries are inviting people to join them on Friday 28th October for a walk to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Caledonian Canal, which opened on 23rd October 1822.
Working in collaboration with HLH Countryside Rangers and partnering with Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, the team are encouraging people to take part in the celebratory walks along the canal.
Speaking about the event, local library team member Andrew Lucas said:
“This is an incredibly important time for the Caledonian Canal as it celebrates it 200th year.
“High Life Highland’s library service has created a display about the canal and its history in the main section of Inverness Library alongside another display about Thomas Telford, the engineer who built the canal.
“The event is free, and visitors will also be able to see a scale model of a section of the canal from the Muirton Locks to the Sea Lock at Clachnaharry, all built (with a little help) by children attending the library during the summer holidays – and which is now complete.”
John Orr, High Life Highland’s Area Countryside Ranger, and a co-creator of the initiative added:
“It is great to see such a massively collaborative event taking place to commemorate the building of the Caledonian Canal.
“In addition to the displays and books available on the topic through HLH’s library service, the team has worked to create two guided accessible walks along sections of the Caledonian Canal.
“The walks take place on Friday 28th October and start at 11am, with an afternoon walk kicking-off at 2pm both meeting at Muirton Basin.
“The walks will take just over an hour, and walkers are advised to dress accordingly for the weather.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming people to join us and have a walk back in time to learn about the history of the Caledonian Canal whilst enjoying incredible views across the Beauly Firth.”
