Caol (Gaelic: An Caol[2]) is a village near Fort William, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is about 1+1⁄4 miles (2 kilometres) north of Fort William town centre, on the shore of Loch Linnhe, and within the parish of Kilmallie.

Caol Scottish Gaelic: An Caol
Kilmallie Road
Caol Location within the Lochaber area
Population	3,310 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid reference	NN108762
Council area	Highland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FORT WILLIAM
Postcode district	PH33
Dialling code	01397
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish Parliament	Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
List of places UK Scotland 56.838°N 5.102°W / 56.838; -5.102

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

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

The village is largely residential, and has three primary schools, Caol Primary School, St Columba's R.C Primary School and Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar [3]

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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caol.