Day Tours by Open Canoe 2025

During the spring and summer months into early autumn we run day journeys or tours in the Great Glen for those who wish to venture into more challenging country without staying out overnight. These are undertaken by open canoe or sea kayak sometimes with the opportunity to experience some unique open canoe sailing.

1 Day | Maximum Ratio 1:8

Prices:

Adults. 1:1  per day £230. Additional adults per day £ 90

Family Adventure Days – prices per day : £ 220 for 1 adult +  2 children 16 yrs & under;  or 2 children + 1 adult; or 3 children + 1 adult. (Children ar

Previous Experience: Previous experience is not absolutely essential on these day tours for clients to really enjoy their day tour. These are ideal opportunities to get away from everything with family and friends.
Minimum Ages: We suggest that a minimum age of 8 yrs is suitable for family orientated day tours. We do not take unaccompanied youngsters with us on these day tours below the age of 12 yrs. We do have plenty of other options for unaccompanied young people under the age of 12 years on our other paddlesports activity days.
These local day paddles usually on Loch Lochy by open canoe or sea kayak are ideal for individuals families or groups of friends who do not necessarily have a high level of technical skills but who really do want to get out there on the water. Experience a unique sheltered paddling experience with spectacular west coast highland scenery on a one day guided open canoe or sea kayak adventure.

Loch Lochy

We travel by our minibus to the freshwater Loch Lochy – a 30 minute drive away to Bunarkaig – at the bottom of the river Arkaig where the road ends at a small settlement with the last easy access to Loch Lochy. Here you will embark in open canoes that will take you on an easy jaunt into some of Lochaber’s most breathtaking scenery. Loch Lochy forms part of the 70 odd mile long Caledonian Canal which runs from Fort William to Inverness From Loch Lochy we have superb views of the north face crags of Ben Nevis, Aonach Mor ski area, the Grey Corries and the surrounding mountains – from water level. Your well earned lunch destination will be on the forested shoreline. There may be time for a swim on a hot day – if the water is warm enough!! Or a walk through along the shore through the wonderful forests along the shoreline or just nap in the sun before you returning to our base after an extraordinary day out.
These deep fresh water lochs such as Loch Lochy are surrounded by steep sided mountain and hills and have great beauty and calm. They are often home to a variety of wildlife – we frequently see ospreys nesting – some eagles – a visiting variety of nesting ducks, geese and grebes. Very occasionally we see otters, a mink, bats (late in the day) deer early in spring and autumn. During the autumn months the area is a transit camp to migrating ducks, geese, grebes, and other diving birds. As well as occasional salmon and pike.
Price: from £65 per person for 1 day. Includes guide, canoe or sea kayak hire package including barrels/waterproof bags, transport. No food is included in these prices, or accommodation on the first or last night. For this we can offer our own comfortable hostel/bunkhouse accommodation

There are other samples of thoroughly enjoyable 1 day journeys out on the water, sea or hills elsewhere from our base at the end of the Caledonian Canal . At all times you are accompanied by experienced guides who will keep you safe, help you understand our wonderful landscape & wild life around you and make sure that you have an enjoyable time.

Loch Eil

Or we can head over to Ardgour and head north and west through the tidal surge at Annat Narrows – if the tide is right! – into Loch Eil and the mountains beyond.

Loch Sheil

From the historic Glenfinnan we can offer a paddle “out west” on the Road to the Isles. Here Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the standard in 1745 at the start of the Jacobite Uprising. This is also the location of much filming for the Harry Potter films at the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Loch Ailort and the Ardnish Penninsula

This is a “must do” beginner / improver trip out to the west coast on this sheltered sea loch with totally amazing views out to Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna. There may even be a trip to the Arnish Penninsula with its amazing “singing sands”. Here you may even get a taste of some rolling Atlantic swells coming in from the west.