Canoe and Wild Camp Coast to Coast, across Scotland
5.0
| 198 reviews

100km Canoe Expedition Across Scotland

United Kingdom
4 nights
Moderate

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

What's Included?

Activities & Certified Guides

All itinerary activities with local, expert, certified canoe guides

Wild camping

4 nights wild camping

Meals

All breakfasts, 2 lunches, All dinners

Transfers

To and from the start point in Inverness

Equipment

All your canoeing, camping and safety equipment

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 7 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

5.0
| 198 reviews
A great adventure.
July 2024
Wayne E.
A great adventure.
July 2024
Wayne E.
Fantastic trip.
June 2024
Bjarne P.
An adventure of a lifetime!
June 2024
Helen B.
An adventure of a lifetime!
June 2024
Helen B.
An adventure of a lifetime!
June 2024
Helen B.
An adventure of a lifetime!
June 2024
Helen B.
Thank you!
June 2024
Amanda M.
Thank you!
June 2024
Amanda M.
Thank you!
June 2024
Amanda M.
Excellent trip
June 2024
Nick H.
Excellent trip
June 2024
Nick H.
What a week!
June 2024
Michael D.
What a week!
June 2024
Michael D.
What a week!
June 2024
Michael D.
May's adventure: west to east
June 2024
Carol L.
May's adventure: west to east
June 2024
Carol L.
May's adventure: west to east
June 2024
Carol L.
May's adventure: west to east
June 2024
Carol L.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
For me and my son
June 2024
Adrian C.
Fantastic trip with stunning scenery.
June 2024
Rosalind G.

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

Key Information

Day 1

Banavie to Gairlochy

Canoeing

3 · 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

7 · 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

6 · 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

6 · 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

3 · 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.

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?

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. 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.

This trip has been rated as Moderate

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.

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

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?

  • 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 (You will need this from 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

Matthew B.(July 2024)
Kyle was a great guide and host

This was a great trip. Kyle was an exceptional guide and did a great job catering to my wife’s celiac disease. Everything we ate was good, sufficient, and without issue. At no point did she get sick which is a sign of how well he did. The trip overall was good but my overall body took a beating sleeping on the ground (in a tent). That single issue is not on the fault of this company. Great job overall!

Wayne E.(July 2024)
A great adventure.
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