Caol (Gaelic: An Caol[2]) is a village near Fort William, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is about 1+14 miles (2 kilometres) north of Fort William town centre, on the shore of Loch Linnhe, and is within the parish of Kilmallie.

Caol
Kilmallie Road
Caol is located in Lochaber
Caol
Caol
Location within the Lochaber area
Population3,310 (2022)[1]
OS grid referenceNN108762
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townFORT WILLIAM
Postcode districtPH33
Dialling code01397
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°50′17″N 5°06′07″W / 56.838°N 5.102°W / 56.838; -5.102

The name "Caol" is from the Gaelic for "narrow", in this case referring to the narrow water between Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil.

The Caledonian Canal passes by to the north-west of Caol, and the Great Glen Way long-distance footpath passes through the village before it follows the canal towpath.

The village is largely residential, and has three primary schools, Caol Primary School; St Columba's RC Primary School; and, for Scottish Gaelic-medium education, the Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar,[3] which has hosted the Lochaber Mòd since 2016.

The local shinty team is Kilmallie Shinty Club, which plays at Canal Park in the west of Caol.

References

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  1. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Place name database - Caol". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Schools: Caol Primary School". Highland Council. Retrieved 14 March 2016.