Another amazing industrial revolution engineering masterpiece which was designed by Thomas Telford and built between 1803 to 1822 and it was built by hand. There were no machines, it was mainly Scottish Highlanders and Irish Navvies.

Neptune’s Staircase is the longest staircase lock in Britain. It consists of eight locks that lift boats a total of 19.5 metres (64 feet) over a distance of about 500 metres (1⁄3 mile).

Where is it?

Banavie, near Fort William, Highland, Scotland

On the Caledonian Canal, which connects the east and west coasts of Scotland through the Great Glen (from Inverness to Corpach).

The only real change that’s been made to the staircase is that the gates have been automated and it takes a lock keeper to operate when you traverse.

The water used to raise and lower the lock levels is recycled and prevents loss from the canal.

It costs £26 a metre of vessel length to use the locks but it’s also a lot quicker, cheaper and safer than going around the top of Scotland.

At Fort Augustus there are a series of similar locks that lead you into Loch Ness.