The canal lock at Corpach Basin on Loch Linnhe, east of the narrows leading to Loch Eil, is the western sea entrance of the Caledonian Canal.

The name Corpach is reputedly based on the Gaelic for "field of corpses", so called because it was perhaps used as a resting place when taking coffins of chieftains on the way to burial on Iona.

In World War I, the United States Navy had a base at Corpach as part of the laying of the North Sea Mine Barrage.

During World War II, Corpach was the engineering base for HMS St Christopher which was a training base for Royal Navy Coastal Forces.

There was a large camp at Annat, which became Annat Village after the War consisting of some 200 houses similar to Prefab houses but of stronger cement construction and flat-roofed (some of the cement remains can still be seen about the area) however it is now used as a caravan site.