After months of anticipation, our 12-day Scottish adventure had finally arrived.<\/p>\n
Leaving East Sussex behind, we began the long journey north with our dear friends Neil and Naomi. Their narrowboat, Tilly Mint<\/em>, had already carried us on many memorable weekends, but this time we were exchanging the familiar canals of southern England for the dramatic landscapes of Scotland and the Caledonian Canal.<\/p>\n Our first destination was not yet the canal itself. We had a considerable distance to travel, so Gretna Green provided the perfect place to break the journey and spend our first night in Scotland.<\/p>\n The drive from East Sussex took us along much of the spine of Britain.<\/p>\n As the miles passed, familiar surroundings gradually gave way to the landscapes of northern England. Despite the length of the journey, there was a growing sense of excitement in the car. Every mile carried us closer to the Highlands and the boating adventure we had spent so long imagining.<\/p>\n Travelling with Neil and Naomi made the journey part of the holiday. There was plenty of conversation, laughter and speculation about what the following days might bring.<\/p>\n By the time we crossed the border into Scotland, we were ready to stop\u2014but delighted that the adventure was properly under way.<\/p>\n Situated immediately beyond the English border, Gretna Green has welcomed travellers arriving in Scotland for centuries.<\/p>\n For us, it offered a comfortable overnight stop before continuing north. It also gave us an opportunity to explore a village with one of the most romantic\u2014and rebellious\u2014histories in Britain.<\/p>\n Gretna Green became famous following the introduction of the Marriage Act 1754 in England and Wales. The legislation imposed stricter requirements upon marriages, including parental consent for people under the age of 21.<\/p>\n The Act did not apply in Scotland, where couples could marry at a younger age and without the same formalities. Gretna Green was conveniently located just across the border, making it a natural destination for young couples escaping disapproving families.<\/p>\n The village\u2019s Old Blacksmith\u2019s Shop became particularly associated with these runaway weddings.<\/p>\n Under Scottish law, marriages could historically be conducted by declaration before witnesses. Local blacksmiths became known as \u201canvil priests\u201d, joining couples together in the same way that they joined pieces of metal.<\/p>\n The anvil consequently became an enduring symbol of marriage at Gretna Green.<\/p>\n It is wonderfully dramatic to imagine couples racing north by carriage, pursued by angry parents and determined to reach Scotland before being caught. The reality may not always have been quite so theatrical, but the stories gave Gretna Green a lasting reputation as the home of romantic rebellion.<\/p>\n Weddings continue to take place there today, preserving a tradition extending back for generations.<\/p>\n After checking into our accommodation, we had time to wander around the village and absorb some of its history.<\/p>\n This was not intended to be a demanding sightseeing day. After the long drive, a leisurely evening was exactly what we needed.<\/p>\n Dinner with Neil and Naomi provided the perfect conclusion to the first day. We could relax, enjoy each other\u2019s company and look forward to everything awaiting us farther north.<\/p>\n The holiday had begun with roads rather than waterways, but our conversation was already firmly focused upon boats, locks and the Scottish scenery ahead.<\/p>\n The following morning, we would continue north towards the Caledonian Canal.<\/p>\n Stretching for approximately 60 miles between Corpach, near Fort William, and Inverness, the canal links a series of natural lochs through the Great Glen. Its route includes Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the immense Loch Ness, surrounded by some of Scotland\u2019s most spectacular scenery.<\/p>\n Unlike the more sheltered waterways we knew, the Caledonian Canal promised vast stretches of open water, mountains rising around us and an entirely different boating experience.<\/p>\n For several days, our hire boat would become both our transport and our home as we explored one of Britain\u2019s greatest waterways.<\/p>\n Gretna Green may only have been the first stop on our journey, but it marked the moment when the holiday truly began.<\/p>\n We had crossed into Scotland, shared our first evening together and reached the starting point of an adventure that would take us deep into the Highlands.<\/p>\n There were still many miles to travel before we stepped aboard our boat, but the excitement was already building.<\/p>\n Tomorrow, we would continue north\u2014and the Caledonian Canal would be waiting.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our 12-day Scottish canal adventure began with a journey from East Sussex to historic Gretna Green, where we spent our first night before continuing north towards the Caledonian Canal.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"pqoc_adventure_category":[28,6],"class_list":["post-95","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","pqoc_adventure_category-caledonian-canal","pqoc_adventure_category-holidays"],"yoast_head":"\nThe long road north<\/h2>\n
Our first night in Gretna Green<\/h2>\n
Marriage over the anvil<\/h2>\n
An evening with friends<\/h2>\n
Towards the Caledonian Canal<\/h2>\n
The adventure begins<\/h2>\n