The Great Glen Canoe Trail
The Caledonian Canal, Loch Ness and So Much More
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This epic trip starts on the West coast of Scotland near Fort William and finishes near Inverness on the East coast, crossing an entire country! Following an ancient fault line of ancient Lochs linked with canals and the Locks in between which must be portaged, adding to the varied nature of this adventure.
Day One:
Starting on the sheltered canal this is a chance to hone your paddling skills, warming up for the challenge ahead. After 10km its our first portage at Gairlochy. After this we launch onto the dark waters of Loch Lochy and find our first wildcamp in the forest on the remote northern shores. We'll set up camp and enjoy our first cooked meal together.
Day Two:
After breakfast we'll continue along Loch Lochy, past the ever present Clunie Forest with its mountain streams, stunning pines and maybe the glimpse of an eagle soaring on the thermals overhead. During the day there will be a brew break and a lunch stop. We arrive at South Laggan; the end of the Loch and another portage. After this we'll either make camp and enjoy the hospitality of the Eagle Barge for Dinner or continue a short distance onto Loch Oich to find another lochside wild camp.
Day Three:
This is the most varied of the days, constantly switching between paddling and portaging from Loch Oich, along the canal, or the River Oich through Fort Augustus to Loch Ness. After a brief stop in the town of Fort Augustus to replenish supplies we'll head out onto Loch Ness in seach of another wild camp location.
Day Four:
Loch Ness is so long that a canoeist at one end cannot see the other due to the curvature of the earth! We'll gradually chip away at this behemoth, stopping regularly for food, drink and to rest our weary limbs. The conditions will dictate how far we get but we have several camping options, one is near a pub which often provides that additional motivation.
Day Five: After a hearty breakfast we'll be ready to finally conquer Loch Ness, getting to the end is an enormous achievement and well earned! After celebrating its time to unpack, load up and head home or on to the next adventure!
Guiding Only: £320 per person
Guiding and Catering: £420 per person
Guiding, Catering, Shuttles & All Equipment: £620 per person
*prices based on a minimum number of six people*
FAQs
Where do we meet?
Depending on the bespoke logistics for your trip we'll either meet near Fort William or Inverness
How long are the days?
That all depends on the conditions and how much progress we make as a group but we can expect to be journeying for beween 6 and 10 hours per day. Longer days will always be by mutal agreement. It's a challenge yes but it should still be enjoyable.
What do you provide?
Two days of expert guiding tailored to the group and with emphasis on enjoyment. Dependent on your requirements we can provide everything or just guiding, this allows you complete flexibility
Is this suitable for me?
This is aimed at established paddlers who are looking to expand and test their skills with coaching and supervision along the way. Experience of grade two whitewater is essential. You should be familiar with poling, sailing and wild camoing and have practiced these recently. If you're not sure please do get in touch and we can chat, maybe there is another course that is more suitable to your needs
Where will we stay?
Wild Camping by the side of the Loch or River, wherever we end up at the end of the day, that means no showers or toilets and no running water. Be prepared for a wilderness experience.