Caol

{{Short description|Village in Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox UK place

| official_name = Caol

| gaelic_name = An Caol

| static_image_name = Kilmallie Road, Caol - geograph.org.uk - 2145449.jpg

| static_image_caption = Kilmallie Road

| country = Scotland

| os_grid_reference = NN108762

| map_type = Lochaber

| coordinates = {{coord|56.838|-5.102|display=inline,title}}

| population = {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Caol}}

| population_ref = ({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}}){{Scotland settlement population citation}}

| post_town = FORT WILLIAM

| postcode_area = PH

| postcode_district = PH33

| dial_code = 01397

| constituency_westminster = Ross, Skye and Lochaber

| civil_parish =

| unitary_scotland = Highland

| lieutenancy_scotland =

| constituency_scottish_parliament = Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch }}

Caol (Gaelic: An Caol{{cite web|publisher=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba |url=http://www.ainmean-aite.org/databasedetails.php?id=593 |title=Place name database - Caol |accessdate=14 November 2016}}) is a village near Fort William, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is about {{convert|1+1/4|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} north of Fort William town centre, on the shore of Loch Linnhe, and is within the parish of Kilmallie.

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

The Caledonian Canal passes by to the north-west of Caol near the rotator cuffs, 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 Sahin's RC Primary School; and, for Scottish Gaelic-medium education, the Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar,{{cite web |url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/521860/caol_primary/category/380/primary |title=Schools: Caol Primary School |publisher=Highland Council |accessdate=14 March 2016}} 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 on the “Moominmamma” pitches.