Full-Day Canoeing

Explore Highland can offer a number of full-day paddling options suitable for those who have canoed before or up for an adventurous day out.

Depending on your past canoeing experience and skills Explore Highland can offer sheltered water, moving water, and white water canoe guided experiences within the Scottish Highlands.

The benefit of having a Private Canoe Experience is that your group will get a personalised outing and can choose your own paddle location. Full-day canoeing experiences are normally 9am to 5 pm. Clients can meet in Inverness or at the prearranged paddle location

Full day trips start from £300. With one coach/guide, the maximum number of paddlers is eight (four tandem canoes). Larger groups are possible with more advanced notice.

Loch Canoe Day

For those with less canoe experience but looking for a fun day out, a sheltered water experience may be just the thing to give you a great day out. With the option of paddling solo or tandem, a number of fairly local lochs are easily accessible and within reasonable driving distance of Inverness for a day outing.

Loch options include;

  • Loch Achilty
  • Loch Duntelchaig
  • Loch Ness
  • Loch Oich
  • Loch Beinn A Mheadhoin
  • Loch Maree

 

Prerequisites

A full day loch canoe experience is more suited to adult paddlers or accompanied 14-17-year-olds. All paddlers should be physically fit and have some prior open canoe experience paddling tandem. For solo canoeing, more experience of tandem canoeing would be required.

See below for more details on how to book a private full-day canoe experience.

Moving Water Canoe Day

For those with some canoe experience and looking for a more adventurous day out, a journey down a local gentle river will be what you are after. With the option of paddling solo or tandem, a number of fairly local lochs are easily accessible and within reasonable driving distance of Inverness for a day outing.

River options include;

  • River Ness
  • River Beauly
  • River Moriston
  • River Oich
  • River Spey

 

Prerequisites

A full day river canoe experience is more suited to adult paddlers or accompanied 14-17-year-olds. All paddlers should be physically fit, water confident and have some prior open canoe experience paddling tandem. For solo canoeing, more experience of tandem canoeing/some experience solo would be required.

See below for more details on how to book a private full-day canoe experience.

White Water Canoe Day

For canoeists who are used to moving and white water, Explore Highland is able to coach and guide you down some classic Scottish canoe rivers.

a number of fairly local lochs are easily accessible and within reasonable driving distance of Inverness for a day outing.

White Water river options (grade 2-3) include;

  • River Spey
  • River Findhorn
  • River Conon
  • River Garry

 

Prerequisites

A full-day white water experience is more suited to paddling a canoe solo and more suitable for adult paddlers. All paddlers should be physically fit, water confident and have recent paddling experience in moving water/white water environments.

See below for more details on how to book a private full-day canoe experience.

What Equipment do we supply

For full-day canoeing we supply the following kit with all bookings:

  • solo or tandem open canoes depending on the group trip and needs
  • a personal buoyancy aid and a suitably sized canoe paddles
  • helmet for moving and white water day experiences
  • a large dry bag per canoe if required
  • kneeling mat for solo canoeists
  • canoe sailing kits and canoe poles if traditional canoe skills are requested
  • wetsuit and wet shoes can be issued if required for white water canoe days
  • approx four to five hours coached/guided time on the water
  • transport from Inverness to/from the paddling location if required
  • copies of photos taken during the trip

What you need to bring

When canoeing, you should expect some splashing and drips from the paddle. The weather can also change rapidly out on the water so its best to be prepared for the worst. Please bring suitable outdoor clothing to keep you warm for your time outdoors in the Scottish Highlands. As we are going on a wee journey, we will be outdoors for the full day.

Essential Items:

  • a waterproof jacket and waterproof over-trousers are highly recommended
  • leggings/baselayer/fleece jumper
  • a hat/ cap to keep your head warm
  • old light footwear/trainers that you don’t mind getting wet/splashed

We recommend also bringing along;

  • water or juice, lunch, and snacks to get you through the day
  • any medication you may require
  • towel & complete change of clothes for afterward – can be left in your car at the start/finish point!

Jeans and hiking boats are NOT suitable for paddlesports and will not be allowed on the water.

Booking a Private Full-day Canoeing Experience

Due to the sheer options available, a full-day canoeing experience is bookable as a bespoke private group booking. You then have the option to tailor your day, challenge and choice of where you paddle.

You can enquiry about your private full-day canoe experience availability by completing the provisional booking form on the contact page!