Main Menu

Scottish Loch & River Canoeing - Tay

Create you own journey
Loch Tay only 18-20 August 2023
Loch and River 18-24 August 2023

From Lake to River past Castles and Mountains

Few places are more spectacular and steeped in history than the famous glens of Scotland

No need to be a paddling hero

You do have to have done a bit of canoeing for this trip. The terrain can be challenging but perfectly do-able by regular non athletes. Join us for a weekend to brush up your moving water skills beforehand if its been a while.

Just do the Loch or Stay for the river

You are welcome to join us only for a couple of wild days on the loch and depart before the river or to book the river section also. We are not currently taking river only bookings

800%20Girl%20smiles%20river%20canoing%201

Comfort and wonder

A variety of travelling accommodation along the way keeps things interesting. Hostels, campsites and wilderness camping. We will ensure you are warm and comfortable with our great tents and sleep systems.

Self-sufficiency - wonderful simplicity

Like all great adventures, living and travelling simply allows you to relax into the journey and enjoy the moment.

Great food

Sometimes it is freshly cooked on a stove, or over an open fire and sometimes it is a cheeky chippy to celebrate a good day, but we love good food, so our trips are always well catered.

Open Canoes - the original adventure boat

An expeditionary adventure by paddle

The open canoe: a shape and style developed over centuries that is used to traverse so many terrains, carries everything required for a journey and can take advantage of the wind when it is in your favour.

On this trip we launch onto Loch Tay and then progress down onto the river Tay flowing from the eastern end.

The Plan

Meet the evening before at the accommodation for a briefing and the fitting and checking of equipment followed by a Full day on Loch Tay with an overnight camp. This is a fantastic loch complete with castles and forts. It is a great chance to knock the dust off your paddling skills and tune your mind into the coming adventure.

The Second day will see us completing the lake passage, visiting a castle and progressing onto the first section of moving water with some nice warm-up rapids before another wild camping night under canvas.

Day 3 sees the most moving water action bouncing down some lovely rapids before stopping at the paddler's campsite at Grantully. There is an option to discuss here at the end of the day (or the beginning of the next day) if Grantully rapids - a challenging competition rapid section with some meaningful rapids - would be a fun challenge. By then we will be able to make some informed decisions about whether to run them or not. This night will have showers and pints.

On the last day, we put in either above or below the rapids for a nice bouncy but kind and beautiful last stretch to the trailer eventually finishing up in some nice accommodation in Dunkeld

Adventure Living

Relax after a great day in beautiful surroundings

Like the vagabonds we pretend to be for a week, we utilise a variety of accommodation options; sleeping on beds, on mown grass and under trees (in a tent of course!).

It is one of the lovely things about this trip - meeting other fellow travellers, with the same form of chosen transport and sharing the love of being outdoors but also finding a quiet spot where we can just hear the lake and crackling of a campfire.

We have great tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags - we pride ourselves on having excellent, comfortable equipment - the kind of kit that makes you glad to be outside.

The washing facitlies are basic here and generally carried in by us, we have a great hygenic and private toilet for people to use theat we bring with us

There are showers at the indoor accommodation sites and the paddlers campsite at Grantully.

Fantastic Food

Fuel for fun

Lovely simple food is prepared by the instructors, with all meals provided.

This is a shared adventure experience so we expect that everyone will want to get involved in the whole experience including pitching tents, finding drinking water and cooking.

The stoves are always available to you to make a brew, cup of soup or popcorn if you feel the need.

Breakfast is generally something hot to warm you up - sometimes meaty and sometimes Vicky’s porridge with yummy bits.

Lunch is normally wraps with fillings, sandwiches or oatcakes and pate, with dried fruit and snacks.

Dinners vary - sometimes they are freshly prepared curries and dahl or pasta dishes and sometimes we eat together at a real table and chairs - with someone else looking after the washing up. We always have a pudding too! Every meal within a trip is included - you may wish to buy an extra pud or pint of beer (you will have earned it - go on!).

The trip at a glance

Download the draft itnerary here

Dates and Costs

4 days adventure and 5 nights accommodation
Pickup:
Dunkeld 1800. 18 August 2023
Drop off: Dunkeld Train Station 09:00 24 August 2023
£412 Loch Tay 2 days 3 Nights
£669 Loch and River Tay 4 days 5 nights
Bunks and Tents

What is included?

Indoor accommodation in a shared room, camping in a single or double tent
All meals from Saturday breakfast to Thursday Breakfast
All technical equipment
British qualified Canoeing Instructors
Transport from and to the train stations
Bring only a small bag as we are travelling by Canoe - we provide everything for outdoor living
(and it is good quality)

What do we actually do

Brush up your Canoe skills on the first day
Paddle the heart of Scotland
Camp in amazing places
Watch sunsets, with a brew/dram
Cook on a campfire, cook on a stove, cook in a communal kitchen, buy dinner
Have a laugh as a friendly welcoming group of like-minded people

Loch Tay Accessibility Statement

Vision

Suitable for people able to navigate short stretches of rough ground unaided and longer walks with assistance
We are well staffed for this trip, a lot of help is available for support both on and off travel time
Or
Come with an adventure buddy
Or
Arrange an Anyone Can volunteer guide

Cognition

Suitable for those able to self manage without dedicated support or with a dedicated carer (who could drive between sites)
We will help with meals, reminding about medications etc
Participants should be able to learn and dynamically apply skills and instructions
Or
Come with an adventure buddy

Mobility

Suitable for people who can travel short distances unaided and longer distances with support
Canoe access requires rough ground travel and up to 500m to access campspots. Loads of assistnace available if needed
The trip is possible for walking aid users.
There is space to bring a folding wheelchair for part-time users
We have supportive seating for the canoes
The canoes can be stabilased to prevent capsize
Raise beds, framed toilet, toilet anchored to the ground, transfer stool, high and wide door tipi tent, rasied height cooking and prep

Auditory

Suitable for people with most auditory impairments that do not require signing to communicate
A BSL assistant instructor is occasionally available
We have radios and Tloop transmission units to aid hearing when seperated in differing boats
Or
Come with an adventure buddy
Or
Arrange an Anyone Can volunteer guide