Seafood lovers searching for a dining experience with a difference are invited to come aboard a new floating restaurant on the Caledonian Canal.

The owners of 'The Eagle - Inn on the Water' restaurant, which is housed in a converted Dutch barge moored at Laggan Locks, say word of mouth alone is responsible for the brisk trade experienced since they opened.  People from far and wide have flocked to the barge for the unique and intimate atmosphere on offer.

The 1929 barge is 98 feet long, weighs 260 tonnes and was handpicked by Gordon Malloch following several trips to Holland as the venue for his culinary venture.  It survived a force five gale during the 10-week sea crossing from Holland to Scotland stopping at various points before being safely moored on the canal on the Great Glen Way. 

With assistance of a £7,400 Development Grant from Lochaber Enterprise towards the eligible costs of renovation, Mr Malloch and his partner Kate Montgomery started the project to create the 14-seat restaurant and a bar in the former cargo hold area.  In a bid to continue the nautical theme they have decked out the barge with oak timbers reclaimed from Neptune's Staircase in Banavie and have display cabinets containing historical naval artefacts and model ships.

Mr Malloch has been self-employed in the restaurant trade for 18 years and as the sole chef on The Eagle is responsible for culinary delights such as seafood paella.  He has run several restaurants and public houses in England but wanted to return to his native Highlands to set up a restaurant with a difference.

He said:  "I've been looking for a Dutch barge to convert into a restaurant since 1986 and when I saw this one it seemed perfect for our needs.  There isn't as much kitchen space as in a normal restaurant but I soon got used to it.

"Because of the limited food storage space we don't offer a menu as such so I discuss the dishes on offer with guests when they phone to make reservations.  Many have commented on how much they appreciate the personal touch as I can tailor the dishes to their requests."

Kate Montgomery is a solicitor and has semi-retired to join forces running the bar and restaurant.  She said:  "We are in a prime position here at Laggan.  Being moored in the Great Glen means we get a lot of trade from hungry walkers, cyclists and canal users.  We're really pleased with how successful it has been so far and the hard work has been worth it. 

"The barge is fully functional and one of the advantages of having a mobile restaurant is that we can move her to a different location during the quiet winter period.  We plan to move her to the Neptune's staircase at Banavie at the start of October, subject to licence transfer, to allow Fort William locals to sample our experience."

Charlotte Wright, acting chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise offered support for the project:  "Not only does this business provide a high quality service to both locals and visitors, it will contribute to the local economy through direct spending on local services and products.  It will also help the ongoing development of the canal as a major tourist attraction."