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Canoe and Wild Camp Coast to Coast, across Scotland
5.0
| 157 reviews

100km Canoe Expedition Across Scotland

Cross Scotland from Fort William in the west, to Inverness in the east along the Caledonian Canal

Duration

4 nights

Annual Leave

3 days off work

Group Size

Up to 7 people

Season

Apr—Sep

Location

United Kingdom

Meeting Point

Central Inverness, Scotland

Classic Accommodation

Wild camping

Customer Reviews

(157)

5.0

Difficulty

Moderate

From

From

Traverse 100km of flat water and experience the Great Glen Trail on a long-distance canoe adventure across Scotland

Cross the legendary Loch Ness and pretend that you’re not secretly looking for monsters

Wild camp at remote and beautiful spots along the way surrounded by some of the UK’s highest mountains

Day 1

Banavie to Gairlochy

Canoeing

11km

Meet your host in Inverness and drive to Banavie (near Fort William) where you’ll pack your canoe, get to know the group and have a practice paddle in the canal basin. Head for Gairlochy, where you’ll choose a suitably remote campsite and tuck into some tasty grub prepared by your guides and wild camp under the stars.

Day 2

Loch Oich

Canoeing

25km

Get back on the water and paddle the length of the creatively-named Loch Lochy. Pass through Laggan Locks and navigate your way to Loch Oich from where you can explore the surrounding, wooded bays and look for a secluded and scenic camping spot.

Day 3

Loch Ness

Canoeing

24km

Portage around the lock gates at Cullochy and Kytra, before reaching the village of Fort Augustus. Re-stock and then take on the world’s most famous loch, Loch Ness. Find a remote spot to camp and enjoy dinner on the beach as you pretend that you’re not secretly looking for Nessie.

Day 4

Head of the Loch

Canoeing

22km

The weather will determine your route and conditions today. If a strong wind is blowing it can get tough and you might even find yourself negotiating some decent waves. In normal conditions, however, it’s a leisurely, scenic paddle with views of Urqhuart Castle. That done, it's time to find a spot for the night at the head of Loch Ness before heading to the nearby Dores Inn to celebrate your last night with the group.

Day 5

Inverness

100km Canoe Scotland. Photo: Customer/David Johnstone

Canoeing

10km

Paddle along Loch Dochfour and through rolling farmland before entering Inverness where your adventure will come to an end. Unpack your canoe and head back to Inverness train station (or a location of your choice in the city centre) ready for your journey home.

Included

Guides

Local, certified canoe guides

Accommodation

4 nights wild camping

Meals

Munch on tasty food throughout

Transfers

To and from the start point in Inverness

Equipment

All your canoeing, camping and safety equipment

Not Included

Travel to and from the start point

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Visas where required

Day 1

Wild camping · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 4

Wild camping · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

For breakfast expect cereal, bread, tea and coffee. For lunch, you can expect wraps with a variety of fillings, soup, and some home-baking for afters. Dinner will be 3-courses including pate and oatcakes, followed by a pasta or rice dish and a freshly made dessert such as chocolate cake made in a Dutch oven. Snacks and drinks will also be available between meals. Vegetarian, vegan and most dietary requirements can be catered for.

What is the accommodation like?

Wild Camp

You’ll wild camp in twin share tents in remote and beautiful spots by the loch side. Accommodation is basic with only one opportunity for a shower (Fort Augustus). 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.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Central Inverness

09:00 on Day 1

Ends

Inverness town centre, train station, bus station, or your accommodation in town.

Early afternoon on Day 5

Transfers

You’ll meet your host in the car park at the Tesco Metro on Tomnahurich Street in Inverness at 09:00. You will then be transferred by minibus to Fort William (2-hour drive). We recommend you arrive the night before to ensure you don't miss your transfer.

Your trip will end in Inverness mid-afternoon. Your host will transfer you to the town centre train station, bus station, or your accommodation in Inverness. It is also easy to get a 25-minute taxi ride to Inverness Airport to catch a flight from late afternoon onwards. Please don't book any onwards travel before 5 pm in case of bad weather and a delayed arrival into Inverness.

Travel options

Inverness is well served by train routes and flights. There is a daily Virgin Trains East Coast from London King’s Cross to Inverness, and a number of route options within Scotland with ScotRail. There are also direct flights from across the UK and Europe.

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
  • Waterproof barrel for personal kit
  • Canoe helmet
  • Waterproofs (if requested)

Please let your host know of an indication of size for the waterproof clothing and helmet. 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?

  • Facemask (while social distancing in play)
  • Sleeping bag & sleeping bag liner if required (for extra warmth)
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • 2 sets of paddling clothes (lightweight, quick drying 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 evening)
  • Canoeing shoes/ Trainers that you don’t mind getting wet (no flip flops). Wellies are good too.
  • Dry trainers for evenings
  • 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 time of year.
  • Warm hat/ sun hat
  • Spare socks and underwear
  • Sun cream/ Lip salve/ sunglasses with protective case
  • Midge head net & Midge repellent (June to September)
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, biodegradable shower gel/soap
  • Small-medium towel
  • Swimming costume if you fancy a swim in a cold loch!
  • Torch (preferably head torch)
  • Small day sack for waterproofs, snacks, sun cream etc.
  • Camera (in waterproof bag if necessary)
  • Spare batteries
  • Water bottle
  • Personal hand sanitizer

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 - needs to fit into a 60 litre canoe barrel (about the size of an expedition rucksack).

If you like to snack, please pack your own light snacks - remember they must fit in the bag!

*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Sleeping Bag Hire

Payable Before Departure

Sleeping Bag Hire

Per Person

Sarah(November 2023)

I loved that I could have such a fantastic, scenic adventure without getting on a plane! I was a bit anxious about booking this trip - worried my fitness levels were insufficient - so I'd just like to offer reassurance to anyone in a similar boat, that as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness (but nothing special), this is fairly challenging, but totally doable :)

Our host and guide, Jack, was an absolute non-stop superstar in making sure we had everything we needed and he was super considerate of my dietary requirements and conjured up the most amazing vegan meals so I never missed out - thank you!

Scott(November 2023)

The trip was fantastic, very well run and organised by and amazing competent and affable host. Everything you have thought of has been catered for including all the things you haven't. The scenery is stunning and the pace of the trip was very manageable, not least because of the constant vigilance of the guide. Thoroughly recommend!

Andrew(November 2023)

Amazing; relaxing yet challenging (given the nature of Scottish weather) and a fantastic opportunity to wild camp in beautiful Scottish surroundings!

Polly(November 2023)

Fabulous expedition. The views were beautiful and camping spots perfect. Our guide, Elliot, was excellent. Right balance of integrated into the group, felt super safe and looked after us very well. The group was lovely and we were all likeminded. It was at times very wet, midge covered and cold at night, but all somehow added to the experience and fun of travelling across Scotland. The challenge level was accurate, not easy, felt it in the shoulders!, but nothing too strenuous. I was excited to get going everyday, accomplishing it was great but also sad to be done. Lots of lovely hills, trees and animals along the way. I was glad to have wellies.

Angela(November 2023)

I can’t recommend this adventure highly enough! We were lucky to have spectacular weather, but aside from that the organisation was seamless, the group size just right, the equipment top notch, and the guide (Aidan) was simply wonderful. He was warm, gave excellent briefs, monitored and adapted to the wind conditions, and safety focussed (including a few wet and windy rescues!). Food was far better than I could have imagined, and the local knowledge meant that the camping spots were out of this world. Just book it. And pack some dry shoes and socks for the evenings!

Michelle(October 2023)

A beautiful and very relaxed trip. Our guide (Elliot) worked incredibly hard to make sure we were all comfortable, organised and well fed (whilst making it look easy). No problem was too small for him and his engaging and easy manner made it easy for the group to bond. Beautiful scenery, excellent equipment and great emphasis on sustainability.

Gary G.(October 2023)

Amazing trip, really enjoyed the experience with stunning scenery and amazing people

Louise(October 2023)

Had a fantastic time Canoeing the Great Glen with a lovely group of people. Our guide Elliott was brilliant. He was so knowledgeable and worked hard to provide a great trip. The scenery and camping spots were also a highlight!

Alexandra(October 2023)

A good few days with good company. Enjoyed paddling even in the rain! The last day felt a little too short, but otherwise, the other days had a good amount of time on the water

David(September 2023)

I really enjoyed the trip. The kit supplied was excellent and has prompted me to look for similar for personal use. The group dynamic was great even though I was the only 60+ person on the trip. The food was great. As an experienced group leader of adventurous activities, I thought the health & safety of the trip were very good with dynamic risk assessment of situations/conditions done well.

Ben(September 2023)

Excellent way to see the lakes and journey across Scotland, extremely well looked after and great company and food.

Emily(July 2023)

What an incredible experience! Our guide, Scott, was truly amazing with his friendly, cheerful, knowledgeable attitude and excellent cooking skills (we ate SO well). I met some truly lovely people, learnt so much about canoeing, saw gorgeous sights and wildlife, felt immersed in nature and forgot about the world. Blissful.

Peter(July 2023)

What a brilliant way to spend a week! The adventure was everything we hoped for. Beautiful surroundings, camping on misty loch-sides, canoeing through three great lochs in a variety of weather; sailing past castle ruins, pine forests and ancient glens. We had a brilliant group of people, from different walks of life coming together for a common adventure. Beautiful time. Our Guide Andy was the most encouraging, positive, knowledgeable and caring guide we could have asked for. His cooking was INCREDIBLE! I had no idea we would be eating that well in the Scottish wilderness. He went above and beyond for everyone at all times. A remarkable guy. One bit of advice, wear wellies for canoeing! It ensured nice dry feet all week! I will be recommending this trip for years to come. On to the next adventure.

John(June 2023)

We canoed across the great Glen with excellent food, equipment, host and weather. Who could ask for more?

Audrey(June 2023)

It was fantastic ! One week later I'm still talking about it. Adventure of a lifetime. I was able to completely disconnect during the trip. The views from the lakes are amazing, the people were kind, the food was nice, and the members of the group have become friends. The laughing sessions we had around the campfire ! Also major hats off to Jack, our guide, he did everything and contributed to the great group dynamic. Would definitely book a similar trip again and will recommend it to others.

Heidi(June 2023)
Pam(May 2023)

Incredible experience, one not to be missed

Kathryn(May 2023)

We had the most wonderful adventure on the Great Glen Way. Our guide, Aiden, was genuinely awesome, kind, knowledgeable and encouraging, and we were ridiculously well fed throughout! We had perfect camping spots and great kit, and genuinely feel like we had the adventure of a lifetime. Some days were tough, so be prepared to push yourself, but you'll be rewarded with an experience to remember forever and a new sense of your own determination and ability!

Alexandra(May 2023)

I don't know if I have the words to describe how fantastic that week was. Andy worked his ass off all 5 days to ensure we had the best experience - and we did. Each day was different, somehow. The views were so enchanting, I could, and did, stare at them for hours without getting bored! New guide, Jack, who was shadowing was so so great too, we were all sad when he had to leave on Day 3.

I had never set foot in a canoe before, but Andy's guidance meant that I never felt unsafe and was confident in my ability by the end. It won't be my last experience in a canoe, that is for sure! It was SO MUCH FUN. Yes, some parts are hard, paddling when the wind is strong can be very demanding, but we took regular breaks when we needed, and Andy was vigilant in looking out for every single one of us.

The food was amazing, so many standout meals. Pan fried salmon on the side of Loch Ness, for instance! The fruit cobbler on the second night was so good I want to recreate it! The group feel like friends, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank every single person. Some experiences stay with you, and this was one of them. Andy was an incredible guide, super calm and so so kind when I needed help.

David(May 2023)

An amazing adventure. Great guide in Andy, he really made it enjoyable. The people I met were fantastic. Meet strangers, leave friends. One of the greatest experiences of my life.

Jude(May 2023)

Our canoe trip along the Great Glen way could not have been better. It was a truly brilliant week. The scenery was out of this world spectacular and we had 5 days of pure sunshine (in April, would you believe?!). Scot was was the very best guide - super enthusiastic, good fun, really communicative and a quality chef! It was such a treat to be provided with a three course meal every evening and a hearty lunch and breakfast each day. All the equipment was excellent and everything was so well organised. The canoeing itself was so fun - at times a good challenge but felt really rewarding at the end of the day. Putting the sails up whooshing across Loch Lochy at the end was a real bonus! All in all, such a brilliant trip. I’ve been buzzing ever since and very keen to sign up for the sea kayaking trip you have along the west coast of Scotland (with Scot again we hope)! Thanks so much!!

Matthew(April 2023)

The trip was better than I was expecting due to two reasons. The amazing weather which I know is uncontrollable. The second was our guide Scott who made the trip. His knowledge of the areas weather, history and wildlife was brilliant. His guidance on using the equipment and canoeing advice was great. Finally his cooking was amazing, not what I was expecting. It was 5 star dining at every camp.

Karen(October 2022)

The whole trip from start to finish was amazing. The route, the scenery, the group - all brilliant! Our guide, Andy went above and beyond for us all, made the whole experience fantastic and his cooking - unreal!! Who knew you could have such delicious food at the side of a Loch?? Genuinely one of the best experiences I've ever had!!

Mark(October 2022)

Wow. Spending a few days on the water in the care of a great host, Andy and getting to know some fabulous people was a great great experience. Didn't want it to end

Nicholas(October 2022)

I don't know where to start! Exceeded all my expectations from day one. Our guide Aiden worked at least 16 hours a day to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime! The group bonded like old friends and quickly fell into a routine in camp and at portages to help Aiden as much as we could. You truly get out of this experience what you put in so be prepared to get stuck in setting up camp and helping with chores! It was pretty tough going at times with 4ft waves on Loch Ness but thanks to Aiden constantly checking weather conditions we made the most of the wind and had a truly perfect trip! Even getting to swim in the Lochs after a hard days paddling. The food was excellent both for flavour and energy for the work required! I would like to say thank you to the group and Aiden for a truly memorable experience, it wouldn't have been the same without you all!!!!!😃

Steve(October 2022)

Amazing trip, well organised, food was exceptional all cooked by our guide Andy, who was brilliant and cheerful throughout.

Tamara(September 2022)

Trip of a lifetime!! Simply could not have gone any better. We had a great group, fantastic guide (Luke), we were very lucky with the weather and the views were absolutely breathtaking. There is simply nothing I could think of that could have improved this trip. I would recommend this to anyone without hesitation.

Linda(September 2022)

A great experience should have done this years ago I loved it

Linda(September 2022)

Relaxed trip was never rushed, couple of long paddles, at your own pace. Being an older person l found the portage’s tricky but got plenty of help. Then was rewarded with a lovely lunch.

Charlotte(September 2022)

What a fabulous way to see the Highlands! Stunning scenery, beautiful lochs and Luke prepared fabulous food for us each day - three course meals served by a campfire were wonderful. Headwinds on Loch Ness made the trip a little more challenging than expected but this only made the feeling of success even greater when we made it back to Inverness. A highly recommended way to explore Scotland and huge thanks to Luke for keeping us smiling throughout. I have missed waking up to the sound of the water ever since!

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.

Some previous experience in canoes or kayaks is preferable, but isn't essential, as guidance will be provided throughout. Possibly more important is to have a good level of general fitness, i.e. participants will be paddling 100km over the course of the trip, and tiredness is a factor. You’ll need to help lift boats and equipment, helping portage around some canal locks.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

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.

Rose Street Car Park in central Inverness is the best option for this trip.

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. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.

TRIP DEPARTURE DATES

April 2024

Monday • 8th April 2024

to Friday • 12th April 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Monday • 15th April 2024

to Friday • 19th April 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Monday • 22nd April 2024

to Friday • 26th April 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Monday • 29th April 2024

to Friday • 3rd May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 2nd May 2024

to Monday • 6th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Monday • 6th May 2024

to Friday • 10th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Monday • 13th May 2024

to Friday • 17th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 16th May 2024

to Monday • 20th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Monday • 20th May 2024

to Friday • 24th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Last Minute - 1 spot left at 10% off

Sunday • 26th May 2024

to Thursday • 30th May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Last Minute - 3 spots left at 10% off

Monday • 27th May 2024

to Friday • 31st May 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 6th June 2024

to Monday • 10th June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Monday • 10th June 2024

to Friday • 14th June 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 24th June 2024

to Friday • 28th June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Monday • 1st July 2024

to Friday • 5th July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Thursday • 4th July 2024

to Monday • 8th July 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 8th July 2024

to Friday • 12th July 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 15th July 2024

to Friday • 19th July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 18th July 2024

to Monday • 22nd July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Monday • 22nd July 2024

to Friday • 26th July 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 29th July 2024

to Friday • 2nd August 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Thursday • 1st August 2024

to Monday • 5th August 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 5th August 2024

to Friday • 9th August 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 8th August 2024

to Monday • 12th August 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 19th August 2024

to Friday • 23rd August 2024
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 30th August 2024

to Tuesday • 3rd September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 5th September 2024

to Monday • 9th September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 9th September 2024

to Friday • 13th September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 12th September 2024

to Monday • 16th September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 16th September 2024

to Friday • 20th September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 19th September 2024

to Monday • 23rd September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 23rd September 2024

to Friday • 27th September 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 26th September 2024

to Monday • 30th September 2024
Guaranteed to run
Private trip

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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