Canoe the Great Glen 2024
The Great Glen offers a classic canoe trip from coast to coast, following an ancient route through the Highlands that has been used since time immemorial to journey through the rugged and mountainous landscape of northern Scotland.
Our adventure begins near Fort William (FW), and for the next five days we will paddle our way northeast along several lochs and sections of the Caledonian Canal, culminating in the famous waters of Loch Ness.
This is old school journeying at a slow pace where we can take in the detail of the scenes around us. Enjoy the sound satisfaction of every mile earned by honest hard work.
While no previous experience is required for this trip, some previous canoeing experience along with a good level of fitness will be helpful. Paddling on Canal and Loch we will provide coaching and guidance along the way. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are appropriately fit and capable for the grade of the trip you wish to join.
The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable at times which can make activities more challenging, so please bear this in mind when booking. We will work with you during your booking process to help ensure that you are matched to a journey that will allow your to explore your limits in safe and sustainable manner.
Your Equal Adventure Mentor will guide and coach you through your journey to help you develop your independence and safe efficient performance.
As with all great adventure plans thinking ahead helps, so we would ask you to help us understand your needs prior to the journey so that you can make the most of your time in the wilderness.
On this trip, we wild camp beside the river each night. We provide tents and also carry a base camp tipi, which means that we can all gather together for dinner and a hot drink even if the weather is inclement. If you require a single tent we are happy to provide this, but otherwise, we do ask that those who are happy to share a tent with other travellers do so. This helps to keep our camp size small, giving us more options of where to pitch and reducing our environmental impact on these precious places.
- Accommodation Type – Supported Wilderness Camping
- Geographical Area – Scottish Highlands / Great Glen
- Nights Accommodation – 5
- Days Activity: 6
- Price From (£) 750.00
- Deposit (£) 500.00
- Min Group Size: 6
- Max Group Size: 8
Equal Adventure Charity has inclusion and sustainability at the heart of its values, mission and practice. Our team will work hard behind the scenes to help ensure that your venture with Equal Adventure is minimized in terms of its Carbon Footprint and is as low impact as possible. This includes being culturally and environmentally aware and practice in our leave no trace and positive relationships with both the environment and communities you will travel through with us.
Day by Day Itinerary (dependent on weather and water levels).
Day 1 – Neptune’s Staircase to Loch Lochy
This section is on the Caledonian Canal with Night 1 Camp at the start of Loch Lochy. This section allows for time to practice canoeing skills & get clients comfortable in the boat. Paddling at a leisurely pace for the day to get clients warmed up for their journey. Take time to go through packing equipment, how to get in / out the boats, general tips and on water safety. You should aim to arrive at camp to allow for time to go over setting up of tents, leave no trace procedures & SOAC. If you get to camp and feel you have time on your hands after the portage & tent chat – then popping on the water for another skills session for a paddle out into Loch Lochy is an option. The paddle ends with the portage from the Canal up to the start of the Loch.
Day 2 – Loch Lochy to Loch Oich
Paddling the North side of Loch Lochy is recommended as the sound of the main road is eliminated. It is a lovely paddle along one of the longer lochs of the Great Glen, steep mountains really showcasing the Glens of Scotland – with views behind of Ben Nevis.
Day 3 – Loch Oich to Loch Ness
This day starts off a short section on the Canal before entering Loch Oich. Paddling the North side of the Loch allows you to stop at the Well of the 7 Heads for a leg stretch & tell the history behind the monument & also view what is left of Invergarry Castle from the water. As we approach the end of the Loch we head back onto the Caledonian Canal, ending our day in Fort Augustus.
Day 4 – Loch Ness to Foyers
This is a committing paddle as there are little options for get outs until we reach the camp for the evening. There is a stoney beach / headland with a stand alone tree that is a great spot for lunch at (GR NH451 157).
You may see wild goats on this south side of Loch Ness – usually around the Horse Shoe Crag area. Our camp site for the evening will be the commercial site at Foyers.
Day 5 – Foyers to Dores
Our last paddling day takes us from Foyers to Dores This route passes the big hydro dam system at Foyers, small hamlet of Inverfarigaig, Mowai Fish Farm & a house that owns pet llamas that can be seen from the Loch most days. We will finish with a celebratory drink at the Dores Inn before returning to our campsite at Foyers for a last evening meal together.
Day 6 – Returning to Inverness from Foyers Camp site
After breakfast we will visit the falls at Foyers before returning you to Inverness Railway station.
Note –
This trip is very water dependent and there may be times when we have to end our Great Glen crossing at other places on the Great Glen Trail due to the safety of group participants. In this case we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.
- 5 nights wild camping.
- All meals, from lunch on day of arrival through to breakfast on day of departure.
- All transport throughout the trip, starting and finishing at Aviemore Railway Station.
- The services of experienced and knowledgeable canoe guides / driver throughout your trip.
- All group equipment including tents, group safety equipment and cooking/eating equipment and utensils. Please note that sleeping bags are not included but are available for hire.
- All specialist open canoe equipment, including canoes and buoyancy aids.
- Virtual pre journey briefing
Great food is essential to all our trips and expeditions are no different. While the guide will co-ordinate the cooking and help out, everyone is asked to lend a hand as this ensures the best meals in the shortest possible time after long days. We will carry plenty of food to cater a varied and satisfying menu throughout the trip. Dietary requirements can still be catered for but please ensure we know at the time of booking. Included dinners are two courses as standard.
A full equipment list will be sent to you as part of your booking.
Arrival and Departure Information
You will be met by your Equal Adventure Leader at Fort William Railway Station at 11am on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Inverness Railway Station for 12.00pm on the final day of the trip.
Prior to your journey the EA team will work with you to ensure that you are reasonably prepared for your venture. This will will include advice on pre and post journey booking and travel.
We guarantee that this journey will run as long as six people are booked. There are a maximim of eight places on this journey.
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- We guarantee this trip will run as soon as 6 people have booked
- Maximum of 8 places available per departure.
Please note: The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of the Equal Adventure Mentor with regard to weather conditions and other factors
