Great Glen

EXPED NO.- EAEX0060

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.

What is Included

4 nights wild camping (single or two-person)
All meals, from lunch on the day of arrival through to lunch on the day of departure
All transport, starting and finishing in Aviemore
The services of at least one experienced and knowledgeable canoe mentor/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
Pre-journey video group call with follow-up.

Nights Accomodation

4 nights

Days Activity

5 days

Deposit (£)

£100

Price from (£)

£720

Min Group Size

6

Max Group Size

6

Guiding Ratio

1:3

Reserve Your
Place for £100

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.

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.

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

Mike Devlin

Mike is an experienced outdoor instructor and paddle sport specialist, with a lifetime of leading and guiding across rivers, mountains, and remote environments worldwide, bringing a wealth of real-world knowledge and adventure to every session.

Suresh Paul

Founder of Equal Adventure and experienced educator, Suresh brings decades of expertise in inclusive adventure, combining innovative design, research, and hands-on leadership to create accessible outdoor experiences for all.

Chris Heaney

As a paddlesport coach and outdoor educator. Chris is known for delivering engaging, real-world learning both in formal education and adventure sport coaching settings. With a strong background paddling on inland waters from Utah to the Zanskar, and coastal waters ranging from North Africa to Greenland. He brings experience, energy, empathy and authenticity to every session and prioritises your needs to ensure you get the most out of every session.

James Dyer

James is an award-winning leadership coach with nearly 30 years of experience leading teams in remote and challenging environments. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a recognised professional with the Institute of Outdoor Learning, he brings valuable real-world insight to his coaching, helping individuals and organisations grow with confidence and purpose.

Andy Hall

Andy brings decades of experience across climbing, kayaking, skiing, and outdoor education. After 20 years as a head teacher at an outdoor cenatre in North Wales, he now splits his time between ski teaching in Italy and guiding across Scotland’s mountains, coasts, and rivers. His adventures have taken him from Arctic river expeditions to Nepal and Patagonia, but his heart remains in the Cairngorms, where he continues to explore and share his passion for the outdoors.

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QUICK LINKS

CONTACT

(+44) 1479861200

Equal Adventure Developments
The Old Dairy
Grantown on Spey
Morayshire
PH26 3NA
Scotland, UK

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Great Glen

Dates

What is Included

Details

Coaches

What is Included

4 nights

5 days

£100

£720

6

6

1:3

Full Details

Grading, Challenge and Difficulty

Safety and Comfort

Accommodation Description

Key Facts

Ethics and Inclusion

Itinerary

What is Included

Meals

Equipment List

Arrival and Departure Information

Before and After Your Journey

Booking Guarantee

Our Adventure Promise.

Coaches

Mike Devlin

Suresh Paul

Chris Heaney

James Dyer

Andy Hall

QUICK LINKS

CONTACT