The Inverpolly Adventure
A true wilderness expedition in the North West Highlands of Scotland
Inverpolly is beautiful, endless expanse of interlinked Lochs in the North West of Scotland far from the beaten track. If you want a truly remote canoe adventure experience then this is the trip for you.
We'll spend five days exploring this incredible landscape with our canoes; paddling, poling, carrying, trolleying, tracking and lining. Expect stunning wild campsites, remote lochs, lochans and streams with incredible views of some of Scotland's most unique and beautiful terrain.
The exact route will depend on conditions but after meeting near Inverness we'll head North to the start point near Elphin. Here we'll unload, run a short 10 mile shuttle and then head off for the adventure of a lifetime.
The proposed route is around 40km with at least one 5km trolley section on roads and another 2km of rough ground. The rest is water based on mostly lochs and a couple of short river sections. This trip isn't about getting to the end quickly, its about exploring and enjoying the environment, maybe taking the time to set up camp early and head up some of the hills to see the fantastic views.
Scroll down for more info below in the FAQs
£550 per person
FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
We'll meet near to Inverness to do our final checks and then head into the wilds together!
How long are the days?
Days will vary in length depending on conditions. However, there is plenty of time to explore during our time on the water, including additional buffer time built into the itinerary to complete the trip.
What Do You Provide?
Five days of expert coaching and guiding with input on your technical and tactical paddling skills as well as campcraft. We provide a comprehensive pre-trip information document.
I Don't Have All Of My Own Equipment...
Depending on your requirements, you can rent some or all of the required equipment, or bring your own and take advantage of our expert knowledge and guidance. Hopefully this allows you complete flexibility with regard to cost.
How Much Experience Do I Need / Is This Suitable For Me?
Technical canoeing experience isn't essential here - it's more about a sense of adventure and a willingness to have a go. This trip particularly suits tandem paddlers, as all the portages are then only half as strenuous! You should be confident on open water and on easy (grade1) rivers. Please feel free to contact me and arrange a call if you have any uncertainties.
Tell Me About The Portaging...
This is a big part of the trip. There is at least one reasonably long (5km) trolley portage with around 100m of height gain and another rough ground portage totalling around 2km (it's split into two chunks with a small Lochan to break it up). Other than that, there are a few shorter rough-ground ones of 100m or so, plus some upstream poling or lining. In keeping with Heart and Soul's ethos of enjoyment, this will be a team effort; we'll work together as required, stopping as often as needed and definitely not rushing off and leaving anyone behind.
Where Will We Stay?
It's best to book accommodation the night before and after near Inverness, and we'll wild camp during the trip. Because of the terrain, this trip isn't suitable for hammocks.
What Sort of Facilities Are There?
This is a true wilderness experience; we can filter and boil water from the lochs and streams, but expect no shops, no toilets and no people!
What if the Weather is Bad?
The area is so rich with waterways that we can shorten, amend, or extend the route depending on the conditions we encounter. That said, it is Scotland, and we'll need plenty of warm and waterproof layers!
What About Getting Back To The Start Point?
We'll work together to make sure we have vehicles at both ends of the trip so everyone can get a lift back. We'll do this on the morning of the first day.
What Equipment Will I Need?
-
Open canoe with buoyancy fitted.
-
Paddle & spare
-
Suitable warm and waterproof clothing for on the water
-
Buoyancy Aid
-
Helmet
-
Canoe Trolley
-
Pole, Ropes for Tracking & Lining
-
Drybags or Barrels to keep everything in (remember we'll be carrying everything on the portages)
In Camp
-
Sleeping System (Tent, Tarp or Bivvy Bag)
-
Sleeping Mat
-
Sleeping Bag
-
Travel Pillow
-
Complete change of clothes including shoes and waterproofs
-
Warm Hat & Gloves
-
Clothes to Sleep in
-
Battery Pack
-
Headtorch
-
Book or Cards
Cooking
-
Stove
-
Fuel (gas is probably the most common)
-
Something to light it with
-
Pots and pans suitable for the meals you intend to cook
-
Cutlery (a Spork will do pretty much everything)
-
Something to eat out of (This can be your pan if you want to save space)
-
Mug for hot drinks (a sealable thermal flask is great here)
-
Small sponge/scourer
-
Eco-friendly washing up liquid (decant this into a small travel bottle)
A few Zip-lock bags are invaluable for keeping things separate and for storing rubbish
What Food Will We Eat?
-
Breakfasts - the most important meal of the day. Plenty of carbs and sugar!
-
Lunches (these should require minimum preparation and be ready to eat; it may not be practical to stop and cook)
-
Teabags/Coffee/Hot Chocolate – your choice. If you take milk, think about having small individual sachets.
-
Dinners – the main event. I recommend dried expedition foods for this trip as we'll be doing a lot of portaging. Maybe a fresh-ingredient meal for the first night.