Day 1 – Banavie to Gairlochy (11km · 3hrs)
Meet in Inverness, drive to Banavie, pack canoes and paddle to Gairlochy. Wild camp under the stars.
Day 2 – Loch Oich (25km · 7hrs)
Paddle across Loch Lochy, pass Laggan Locks, and camp by Loch Oich.
Day 3 – Loch Ness (24km · 6hrs)
Portage locks, stop at Fort Augustus, then tackle Loch Ness. Camp on a remote beach.
Day 4 – Head of the Loch (22km · 6hrs)
Scenic paddle past Urquhart Castle. Camp at the head of Loch Ness and celebrate at Dores Inn.
Day 5 – Inverness (10km · 3hrs)
Final paddle via Loch Dochfour to Inverness. Trip ends in the city centre.
100km Canoe Across Scotland
Starts
Central Inverness
09:00 on Day 1
Ends
Inverness town centre, train station, bus station, or your accommodation in town.
Early afternoon on Day 5
Your adventure begins at the car park at the Tesco Metro on Tomnahurich Street in Inverness at 09:00.
You will then be transferred by minibus to Fort William (2 hour drive). We recommend you arrive the night before to ensure you don't miss your transfer.Your trip will end in Inverness mid-afternoon. Your host will transfer you to the town centre train station, bus station, or your accommodation in Inverness. It is also easy to get a 25-minute taxi ride to Inverness Airport to catch a flight from late afternoon onwards. Please don't book any onwards travel before 5 pm in case of bad weather and a delayed arrival into Inverness.
Guides
- Expert, local, certified canoe guides
Accommodation
- 4 nights wild camping
- Day 1-4：Camp Twin Share
Meals
- Day 1： Lunch, Dinner
- Day 2-4： Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5： Breakfast
Transfer
- Group arrival transfers from central Inverness on Day 1
- Group departure transfers to Inverness on Day 5
- All transfers during the trip
Equipment
- All canoeing equipment
- All camping equipment and safety equipment
❌Travel to and from the trip
- Our trips do not include flights to the start point and back from the end point.
❌ Meals that didn't mention
❌ Tips as you wish
❌ Travel insurance
- Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it's essential to check the details carefully. There are adventure-specific providers that many travellers have used in the past, such as True Traveller (for those based in the UK or Europe), or Rise + Shield, both of which offer cover for a wide range of adventurous activities.
❌ Visas
❌ Personal Expenses
- Our trips do not include flights to the start point and back from the end point.
✅ What’s Included
Tent, inflatable sleeping mat
Cutlery, mug, bowl, plate
Buoyancy aid
Waterproof barrel (for personal kit)
Canoe helmet🎒 What to Bring
Sleeping bag & liner (for warmth)
Waterproof jacket & trousers (for camp use)
2 sets paddling clothes (quick-dry trousers, base layers, socks, shirts)
Thermals or pyjamas 2 fleeces (1 paddling, 1 evening)
Wellies/old trainers with grip (for paddling; neoprene socks recommended)
Dry trainers for evenings
Warm evening clothes (campfire-friendly)
Warm gloves & hat / sun hat (seasonal)
Spare socks & underwear
Sun cream, lip balm, sunglasses (with case)
Midge net & repellent (June–Sept)
Toiletries (biodegradable soap)
Towel, toothbrush/paste
Swimwear (optional)
Torch / head torch
Day sack (for waterproofs, snacks, sun cream)
Camera (in waterproof bag), spare batteries
Water bottle
Hand sanitizer
Light snacks (must fit in barrel)
⚠️ Note: Cotton/denim not recommended for paddling (no insulation when wet).
👉 All kit (including sleeping bag & tent share) must fit in a 60L canoe barrel (like an expedition rucksack).>> Wild Camping
You’ll wild camp in single and twin share tents in remote and beautiful spots by the loch side. Accommodation is basic with only one opportunity for a shower along the way in Fort Augustus. On most trips, your host provides a portable camping toilet for use at each of the wild camping spots. Small and packable, this camping toilet allows waste to be packed out and disposed of properly when facilities are available.
>> How hard isit?
You can expect up to six or seven hours of paddling each day, so a good level of overall fitness and stamina is required. You will be paddling 100km over the course of the trip on consecutive days, and back to back days can be tiring. For safety reasons, to join this trip, you must be able to swim a distance of at least 25 metres (although you will be given a buoyancy aid). This is a participatory camping trip, so you'll also need to muck in with putting up and breaking down camp throughout the trip. It is also important to note that the Caledonian Canal section includes a number of locks, and you will need to lift your boats and the equipment, helping portage around these. The distances covered are generally quite short, but the boats can be pretty heavy to carry when packed with the equipment, so you will need to be prepared for this. It's all part of the adventure!>> Where can I leave my car？
Rose Street Car Park in central Inverness is the best option for this trip.>> Weight limitation？
For comfort and safety reasons, unfortunately we are not able to accommodate people over 18 stone (110 kilos) on this trip.>> Facilities at wild camping？
Whilst outdoor toileting is all part of a wilderness adventure, it can have a negative impact on the surrounding environment if not practiced carefully. To avoid this, on most trips, your host provides a portable camping toilet for use at each of the wild camping spots. Small and packable, this camping toilet allows waste to be packed-out and disposed of properly when facilities are available. Not only does this help to minimise impact on the countryside, but many adventurers find it a bit more comfortable!>> Can I leave my exceed luggage?
You can securely leave any excess luggage before setting off on the trek for free of charge.>> Midges problem?
Midges are very tiny winged flies, often found in Northern Scotland between May and October when conditions are damp, humid and warmish. While they don’t have a great reputation, they generally aren’t as bad as they are made out to be: they can be an annoyance, but they don’t carry any diseases. So they're pretty harmless, apart from a small itchy red bite.They don't like direct sunlight and they can’t fly in anything more than a light wind, so on very sunny or breezy days you're unlikely to be bothered by them.There are preventative measures you can take if you do find there are some midges around. Wear white or light-coloured clothing – midges are drawn to dark colours. Use a repellent, such as Smidge (a DEET-free insect repellent developed in Scotland) – Avon's Skin So Soft is also often recommended as an effective deterrent. Antihistamine creams or tablets will help with any itchy bites. Whilst midges are so small that they can pass through a mosquito net, you can buy 'midge-proof' head nets made with a fine mesh that will keep them away.>> Who else on my tour?
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.