great glen guided tours by open canoe or sea kayak

4 or 5 Days | Ratio 1:8

Previous experience required :  • The Great Glen Canoe Trail is a great trip that can be done by those who have not paddled a great deal or families with youngsters. BUT this will always depend on the weather, pretty good awareness and organisation on the part of the adults. It is beneficial if you have already taken part in  full days’ of paddling on open water and be reasonably fit. As part of the paddling trip there will be the opportunity to have some group and individual coaching along the way to improve your performance and technical ability. Depending on weather, there may be excellent canoe sailing opportunities on Loch Lochy & Ness.

Minimum Ages:  We suggest that a minimum age of  12 yrs is suitable for family orientated journeys & day tours. 16 years is the minimum age for unaccompanied young people on 2 -5 day journeys. We do have plenty of other options for unaccompanied young people of 8- 12 years on our other paddlesports activity days.
Minimum Numbers : We operate on minimum numbers of 4 persons per guided trip

Price From:  £ 550 per person for 5 days. Includes guide, canoe or sea kayak hire package including barrels/waterproof bags, full camping gear package, 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

This itinerary is purely an indicator and will depend entirely on the weather, wind direction and the fitness of the group overall. We advise that if there are any juniors in family groups that you allow 5 days for the journey.
Day 1
Fort William (Corpach) to Glas Dhoire
You may have stayed with us the night before. We meet at Snowgoose Mountain Centre, 4 miles from Fort William to get kitted out, sort out food, pack your barrels, have a final kit check and a briefing on the journey. The canoes are loaded ready for the drop off at the top of Neptune’s Staircase a short distance away. The first day starts with an easy paddle along the Caledonian Canal section to the foot of Loch Lochy passing under the swing bridge at Gairlochy. There will be a panoramic view to the south of the Ben Nevis Range, Anoach Mor Ski Area & the Grey Corries – as well as views across Loch Lochy as we hug the north side of the loch away from any traffic. Put up tents and cook a meal. Wild camp overnight.                                                                                                                                     Day 2
Loch Lochy ( Glas Dhoire) to Loch Ness (north of Fort Augustus)
Break camp after cooking breakfast. Take to the water and paddle to Laggan Lochs. There is a short portage around the locks here – then a paddle along the canal section onto Loch Oich, one of the four main lochs in the Great Glen past the Well of the Seven Heads. After Loch Oich there are 3 further short portages around the locks at Cullochy, Kytra and Fort Augustus and a paddle along the canal section all the way to the start Loch Ness, one of the most famous bodies of water in the world! There are shops in Fort Augustus! Paddle onto Loch Ness and wild camp overnight.
Day 3
Fort Augustus to Whitefield (south side of Loch Ness)
A really stunning day canoeing the open waters of Loch Ness, passing the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the north shore – maybe some monster watching along the way. No matter what the weather does – come rain or shine – this journey is spectacular keeping well away from the busier north shore of Loch Ness. If you are lucky enough to be paddling on the Loch when it’s a mill pond then you will enjoy crystal clear reflections of the surrounding mountains. Tonight we sleep on the wild side of Loch Ness and cook up dinner our last dinner.
Day 4
Campsite south side of Loch Ness to Inverness ( DochGarroch)
We complete the remaining stretch of Loch Ness by canoe, through Loch Dochfour usually ending our journey at Dochgarroch just outside Inverness where our trip comes to an end. We will then load our canoes & gear onto the trailer and head back to Fort William for you to pick up your cars – and a well earned rest after a magic experience.
There is an option to paddle further into Inverness to Tomnahurich or Clachnaharry toward the Beauly Firth – we would recommend that the itinerary is adjusted to accommodate this and allow five days for the journey.

There are other fabulous 2 -5 day journeys elsewhere out on the water, sea or hills 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