Kayak and Wild Camp the West Coast of Scotland
Paddle the remote bays, rugged coastline and crystal clear waters of the dramatic West Highlands
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with local, certified kayak guidesWild camping
3 nights wild campingMeals
Munch on tasty food throughoutTransfers
Minibus transfers between Fort William and the kayaking start/end pointsEquipment
All your kayaking, camping and safety equipmentSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 7 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Paddle along stunning volcanic coastline, and wild camp on white sand beaches and islet-studded sea lochs
Discover hidden bays and wild skerries, eyes peeled for otters, porpoise, seals and sea eagles
Forage for shellfish, seaweed and coastal plants and brave the Atlantic Ocean for a cold water wild swim
One of the "Best adventure holidays in the UK for adrenaline seekers" according to The Independent
Key Information
Day 1
To the sea!
Kayaking
Please note, the route below is a sample itinerary. The actual route you paddle will be subject to the weather conditions at the time. The guides also vary the routes and camp spots used throughout the season to minimise environmental impact on any one location.
Meet your host in Fort William and drive for around 45 mins to Kinlochmoidart, perched on the remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula in the West Highlands. You'll then pack and launch your kayak onto the sheltered water of Loch Moidart for an introductory paddling and skills session, before gliding past the ruined Castle Tioram. Set up camp on the beach and enjoy your first night under the stars.
Day 2
To the beautiful beach of Smirisary
Kayaking
Today is all about building your skills and exploring the sheltered bays and islands of Moidart. You'll gradually wind your way northwards along rocky shores, hearing local folklore tales as you go. After a relaxed lunch stop, it's time to explore the entrance to Loch Ailort before crossing to the Ardnish peninsula and searching for a spot to camp for the night. The sunset from here is spectacular, all the more appreciated perched by the campfire.
Day 3
The Sound of Arisaig
Kayaking
Kickstart the morning with a fresh swim in the Atlantic then hop back in your kayak to continue steadily north and west across the mouth of Loch nan Uamh, taking some time to forage in the rocks and pools at low tide. The final wild camp will be in the wonderful islet-studded Sound of Arisaig, protected by hundreds of small tidal islands known as skerries, this is a spectacular spot for your final night under the Milky Way.
Day 4
Last paddle and swim
Kayaking
Another early morning sea dip for the brave before paddling for a couple more hours through the hidden sea lochs of Arisaig. You’ll reach a small road before lunch where you'll pack up and hit the road back to Fort William ready for your journey home.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
You'll tuck into fresh, quality, tasty meals throughout the expedition. For breakfast, there'll be cereal or porridge with various toppings, as well as hot drinks. For lunch, you can expect wraps with a whole host of tasty fillings, fruit and some treats to keep you going. At dinner time you can expect to refuel after an active day with a three-course meal – starters might include Scottish smoked salmon, patés and oatcakes; main courses will include fresh ingredients like fish, meats and vegetables; dessert could be strawberries and clotted cream with shortbread, or cake and custard. Snacks and drinks will also be available between meals.
Vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements can be catered for, please just request this in advance on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Wild Camp
You’ll wild camp in twin share tents in remote and beautiful spots by the loch-side and on the beaches. Accommodation is basic but the remote locations far make up for the lack of facilities. Single tents are available upon request.
Upgrades
For solo travellers wanting their own personal space, you can request your own private tent on the trip (subject to availability). Just request when booking.
This trip has been rated as Moderate
You do not need any previous kayaking experience as full training will be provided at the beginning of the trip and while on the water. A general level of fitness will be required. Building a little arm strength before the trip can help with sea kayaking, and hip mobility is needed. The precise difficulty level of this trip depends on the sea conditions at the time, which can change quickly. Needless to say, you should come prepared to encounter some waves. You will be in a single kayak by default however if perhaps you don't have much kayaking experience or aren't confident in having your own boat and would prefer a tandem kayak, this can be requested with your host - they are however subject to availability so please request on your booking form.
The Scottish summer is usually warm but you can expect some rain, even if it's just a little. Prepare for anything and think ‘layers'. Conditions in April and May will be slightly cooler, with the potential for frost at night. Kit-wise, the main thing is a warm sleeping bag, or an additional bag liner if you feel the cold more.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Fort William
09:00 on Day 1
Ends
Fort William
Approx 15:00 on Day 4
Transfers
2024 - Meet in Fort William (see below for 2025)
You’ll meet your host in Central Fort William at 09:00. You will then be transferred by minibus to the start. We recommend you arrive the night before to ensure you don't miss your transfer.
Your trip will end in Fort William mid-afternoon on the final day in Central Fort William.
On the final day, there is a Citylink bus from Fort William to Inverness departing at 15.30 which we recommend for those customers heading to Inverness Airport.
2025 - Meet in Inverness
You’ll meet your host in the car park at the Tesco Metro on Tomnahurich Street in central Inverness at 08:30 on Day 1. You will then be transferred by minibus to the start point of the expedition, in the Cairngorms National Park. We recommend you arrive the night before to ensure you don't miss your transfer.
Travel options
Regular trains run to Fort William from across the UK. The nearest airports are Inverness (INV) or Glasgow (GLA). Citylink run bus services from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness. You can also get a bus directly from Glasgow Airport to Fort William (twice a day in the summer).
There are buses available from Glasgow to Fort William or from Inverness to Fort William. Please note if you are flying, you will need to arrive in Fort William the night before in order to make the start time as there are no connections which enable you to arrive early enough for the start on Day 1. Citylink and Megabus offer regular services with an approximate 2hr transfer time from Inverness, and 3 hr transfer to Glasgow Airport.
There is also the option of the Caledonia Sleeper Train
For those driving - there is a long-stay public Car Park next to The Moorings Hotel in Banavie, which we recommend using.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- Tent
- Inflatable sleeping mat
- Cutlery, mug, bowl, plate
- Buoyancy aid
- 2 x 20 litre dry bags for personal kit
- Kayaking waterproof jacket, trousers
- Neoprene shoes (on request only - let the host know in advance)
Please let your host know an indication of size for the waterproof clothing. Either an extra small, small, medium, large or extra-large. An approx. guess will do.
Available to Hire
- Sleeping Bag - see Optional Extras.
What do I need to bring?
- Sleeping bag & sleeping bag liner (if required for extra warmth)
(sleeping bag must be in a compression sack to make it as small as possible to fit in the kayak) - Waterproof jacket for the evenings in camp
- 2 sets of paddling clothes (lightweight, quick-dry trousers, woolly socks, base layer top, t-shirt or shirt)
- Pyjamas if required (most sleep in a set of thermals or similar)
- Fleece x 2 (1 for paddling, 1 for the evening)
- Trainers for evenings (ideally water resistant)
- 1 set of warm evening clothes (we hope to have a campfire some nights so take old clothes that you don’t mind getting smoky and dirty)
- Warm gloves depending on the time of year
- Warm hat
- Sun hat
- Spare socks and underwear
- Sun cream/ lip salve/ sunglasses with a protective case
- Midge head net & midge repellent (June to September)
- Toothpaste, toothbrush, biodegradable shower gel/soap
- Small-medium microfibre travel towel
- Swimming costume if you fancy a swim
- Torch (preferably head torch)
- Small day sack for waterproofs, snacks, sun cream etc.
- Camera (in a waterproof bag if necessary)
- Power bank/solar charger
- Water bottle
- Personal hand sanitiser
Please note that cotton and denim clothing are not recommended for paddling in, as they have no thermal properties when wet. Bear in mind when packing - that all your personal kit, including sleeping bag and part of a tent will need to fit in the kayak. Please ensure that your personal kit (including your sleeping bag) fits in a 40ltr bag or 2 x 20ltr dry bags, these will be provided for you to use. If you like to snack, please pack your own light snacks - remember they must fit in the bag!
Sleeping Bag Hire
Payable Before Departure
Sleeping Bag Hire
… Per Person
What a wonderful trip! The
What a wonderful trip! The scenery along the coast was stunning and we were blessed with fabulous weather. Rachy, our expert guide, took care of everything, including some amazing food, and made sure we were all safe. Couldn’t have wished for a nicer group of people too, we had a great time. I have many happy memories but probably the standout for me was being surrounded by a group of friendly inquisitive seals in quiet, calm, peaceful waters. Highly recommended!
Kayak and wild camp the West Coast of Scotland.
Scotland delivered and then some! Stunning scenery, weather and a top group of humans to share it with. My 6th solo break, 3rd with MBA, from the WhatsApp group set up to food and of course our amazing guide Rach... had a brilliant time. Rach was so fantastic, I've no idea how you assess coordinate a bunch of people with varying experience and keep them out of trouble! Thank you guys for a memorable time.
Absolutely delightful holiday 4 days
Absolutely delightful holiday 4 days kayaking in Western Highlands [ helped by good weather]. Our Guide Rachel was great , very knowledgeable , courteous and respectful to all members in the group . She was very careful to adapt the activity to the abilities and wishes of the group . Could not praise her enough.
Wet, wild and very enjoyable
First time doing a guided group trip, and it was great! Our amazing guide Stew was very knowledgeable, kept us well-fed and entertained. Stew kept a close eye on the ever changing weather forecast, and despite the conditions, Stew managed to guide us safely to some beautiful beaches 🤩. Really appreciated that he made the effort to do this, as the scenery is what we wanted to experience. He also did very well to cater to the wishes of the group, taking those wanting more ‘action’ out into bigger waves. The group dynamic was great, lots of laughs and easy to get on with everyone. Highly recommend!
Exactly what we wanted.
It was 11+ hours each way driving, the temperature didn't get above 14 degrees and it was too windy and rough for us to really get out onto the sea proper. We had rain and the absolute best time. From the start communication was excellent. This helps a lot , from the kit list to the setting up of a whatsapp group prior to the start. We had a great guide, Stewart. Ours was an older group ( with the exception of my 18 year old Grandson). This was never a problem, he got the most out of us both on and off the water. Definitely made it a trip to remember for both of us.
Excellent
Superb trip. The weather was not on our side, but Elliot was great at working to flex the plan to make sure we still had a super adventurous 4 days of paddling, taking advantage of some more sheltered conditions through the lochs.
Great food, first class equipment, and would recommend wholeheartedly.
A great adventure
Just returned from an amazing few days! Unfortunately, due to some wild weather we had to adjust our plans and headed up the Great Glen Way. That in no way diminished what was an exhilarating time on the water. Rain, sunshine, wind we had it all. Our guide was Elliott, who was brilliant all round. We felt safe and well looked after with some very tasty (and ingenious given the surroundings) meals served along the way. I can't recommend this enough, just be sure to accept that the elements are often unpredictable and a midget net is an absolute must!!
Fantastic experience
Phenomenal scenery, a supportive and fun group plus our fantastic guide Calum who brought the whole experience together with enthusiasm and passion.
Thanks for an amazing adventure!
What an amazing adventure! The scenery was breathtaking and the trip was so well organised. And it helped that the group was a grear bunch of people! Our guide Callum was brilliant, he cooked up a feast every night and had the group laughing the whole time. He also did a great job of keeping up everyone's spirits when the weather changed and the kayaking became more challenging (the weather on the coast changes by the hour so come prepared for wind and rain and sun and midges all in the same day!). The beaches, white sands and views were unforgettable, a properly 'off the beaten track' experience.
A great trip
An amazing trip. Our guide Stew looked after us so well from start to finish. He was amazing, thank you. Great advice, equipment, food. Always felt safe even when the waves got choppy! Amazing locations along the lochs and coast. The route did have to be amended due to the weather conditions which was understandable, not much you can do as you have to keep safe.
Epic sea kayaking in the Highlands
What a fabulous adventure in the highlands of Scotland. Sea kayaking through the lochs and the coast was epic. We had most of the weather during our four days including beautiful sunshine - just as you would expect. Our guide Stew was brilliant, clearly a kayak expert, relaxed, chatty, knowledgeable and he inspired complete confidence when the weather required plan B or C. The nature was awesome: eagles hunting; terns diving; seals being curious and all manner of plants and tasty seaweed. The trip was stretching but always felt safe. I will be looking for more adventures.
Sea kayaking May 24
I had an amazing time, what an adventure, camping in beautiful unspoilt locations, watching the most beautiful sunsets. Great food and Calum our guide was full of fun we never stopped laughing. Saw some breath taking scenery and wildlife. We were well looked after with Calum, he was very knowledgeable and took good care of us. I would highly recommend.
Brilliant adventure in a beautiful
Brilliant adventure in a beautiful part of Scotland. Well organised and really lovely people. Can't recommend it enough!
Brilliant!
Excellent trip with an extremely knowledgable and competent guide (Rachael). A group of seven booked for the wild camping and canoeing trip in Scotland, great experience which included visiting remote and otherwise inaccessible beaches around the north west coast! Definitely recommend the trip for anyone considering it!
Fantastic experience with lovely people
This was my first trip with MBA but it won’t be my last. Met some lovely people in stunning scenery and learnt new skills. Scott looked after us really well and produced fantastic meals like magic from the provisions packed into our kayaks. A fantastic experience.
Wild camp and kayak the west coast of Scotland
What a great trip and a beautiful place! This trip is up there with one of the best experiences I've ever had. Already thinking about booking the next one!
Excellent
Amazing kayaking trip along the West coast. Our guide Scott was first class and took care of all our needs every step of the way. Food was excellent even with it being made on a couple of small burners and we were never left hungry. Can't recommend this trip enough but midge net and sun screen are a must no matter what the weather looks like. Five stars all the way. Thanks Scott.
Great trip, great host, great company.
Amazing trip, brilliant guide in Scott. Great scenery, relaxing paddle in the kayaks. Really enjoyed the camping spots. The food was great, unbelievable how Scott managed to produce such dishes. Third trip with MBA for me and won’t be my last. One of the best things is the people you meet. Sad to say goodbye at the end.
Fabulous Trip, Amazing group
Fabulous Trip! Great scenery and wildlife spotting, great kayaking at a nice relaxed pace, amazing group and the best guide in Scott! (His camp stove cooking skills were insane!) Everything was super organised from start to finish the Kit provided was great quality and clearly well looked after. Travelled solo but left with a great group of friends.
Brilliant trip , great bunch
Brilliant trip , great bunch of people, great guide & brilliant cook in Scott. Lot of laughs, Ok weather, great scenery & good fun. Don't worry if you're new to kayaking (like me), its a total blast!
My second trip with much
My second trip with much better adventures,the first being four day wild camping in canoes with Andy.This trip was four days wild camping in sea kayaks with guide Stewart at arisaig and like the first I couldn’t fault it,all food intolerances catered for,always a plan in place if weather bad,and the help in learning to paddle as well as knowledge of the surrounding areas and nature outstanding ,i can’t rate this company enough and shall be using them again
Absolutely glorious
The trip was really well organised. Our guide Stew was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He was adaptable to the weather conditions, making sure we were all comfortable kayaking and also had amazing sites for lunch and camping. The views were stunning! The meals were great and nutritious, which we needed to keep us paddling through the waves! Overall an incredible trip that I would highly recommend.
A great trip. Sadly it was too windy to head to the coast but our guide had alternative options to hand and we made the most of our adventure by kayaking through the Great Glen. Our guide was fantastic; looking after our safety and proving lots and of tasty food and hot drinks. Tents did their job in blustery conditions and felt warm and cosy! Would recommend for an adventure packed weekend away!
The trip was glorious. Highlights were the location that despite the weather allowed us to see the wilderness in all its glory. Our guide, Stewart was awesome; knowledgeable, assertive, accommodating, fun and a great host. We felt safe but challenged at all times.The group were great and we all gelled really well. The kit provided served its purpose and was high quality. The trip was respectful of nature and sustainability. The extra big tent provided a great communal space for the bad weather. The food and drink provision was fab! An awesome experience, thankyou !
An absolutely incredible experience. Our guide was fantastic and the scenery beautiful. Would highly recommend to anyone considering it
We had an absolutely brilliant trip. Our guide Scott was fantastic and also managed to cook delicious 3 course evening meals which was an unexpected bonus. This part of Scotland is absolutely stunning, and I loved seeing it from the water. Everything ran smoothly, with a lovely group and a sense of achievement at the end. It felt longer than 4 days - in a good way! I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering this trip.
Another great MBA trip… this is a challenging trip if you haven’t kayaked in the sea before. The views, the sunsets, and the kayaking are absolutely stunning.
Stewart and Scott worked tirelessly to give us a great experience in what turned out to be challenging (from a weather perspective) circumstances. Everyone on the trip was laid back and cheerful, and with Stewart's expert guidance, we had a fantastic trip which really allowed us to focus on great kayaking, whilst not having to worry about all the quite complex logistics.
Fantastic trip! Would highly recommend it
Amazing trip, from Stewart the guide, the group of fantastic people and the amazing scenery Scotland has to offer. Exceed my expectations and would 100% recommend it.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 46kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Midges are very tiny winged flies, often found in Northern Scotland between May and October when conditions are damp, humid and warmish. While they don’t have a great reputation, they generally aren’t as bad as they are made out to be: they can be an annoyance, but they don’t carry any diseases. So they're pretty harmless, apart from a small itchy red bite.
They don't like direct sunlight and they can’t fly in anything more than a light wind, so on very sunny or breezy days you're unlikely to be bothered by them. They also don’t like open water, so sea kayaking is a great way to avoid midges!
There are preventative measures you can take if you do find there are some midges around. Wear white or light-coloured clothing – midges are drawn to dark colours. Use a repellent, such as Smidge (a DEET-free insect repellent developed in Scotland) – Avon's Skin So Soft is also often recommended as an effective deterrent. Antihistamine creams or tablets will help with any itchy bites. Whilst midges are so small that they can pass through a mosquito net, you can buy 'midge-proof' head nets made with a fine mesh that will keep them away.
Whilst outdoor toileting is all part of a wilderness adventure, it can have a negative impact on the surrounding environment if not practiced carefully. To avoid this, on most trips, your host provides a portable camping toilet for use at each of the wild camping spots. Small and packable, this camping toilet allows waste to be packed-out and disposed of properly when facilities are available. Not only does this help to minimise impact on the countryside, but many adventurers find it a bit more comfortable!
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
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DEPARTURE DATES
Saturday • 10th August 2024
to Tuesday • 13th August 2024
Fully Booked
Saturday • 17th August 2024
to Tuesday • 20th August 2024
Fully Booked
Saturday • 24th August 2024
to Tuesday • 27th August 2024
Hurry, only 1 space left
Saturday • 31st August 2024
to Tuesday • 3rd September 2024
Fully Booked
