The Great Glen Canoe Trail
Trip overview
The Great Glen Canoe Trail follows the 60 miles of the Caledonian Canal from Corpach
(Fort William) in the West to Clachnaharry (Inverness) in the East. Our Journey finishes
slightly short of Inverness, at Dochgarroch.
You will be paddling on man-made canals, the open waters of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness,
the slightly more sheltered waters of Loch Oich and Loch Dochfour.
The trail is Scotland’s first dedicated long distance canoe trail. It was launched in 2012 with
dedicated facilities such as low-level pontoons and Trailblazer rest sites.
The route includes 29 locks which must be portaged around, and takes most paddlers about
3 to 5 days days.
A challenging multi-day Journey which comprises 22 miles of man-made canal and 38 miles
of open water on the lochs. The Great Glen Canoe Trail is perfect for less experienced
paddlers who want to experience an adventure as part of an organised trip.
At a Glance
4 nights wild camping
5 days guided kayaking journey with instruction
Group normally 5 to 8, per leader
Meet at Corpach train station near Fort William.
Trip Highlights
A unique opportunity to paddle from the Atlantic to the North Sea
Water-level perspective on very beautiful Highland scenery
Wild camping opportunities on the shores of the lochs
Access to all of the canal’s toilets and showers
Expert instruction from our first class guides
Is This Trip for You?
A week for complete beginners or individuals with kayaking experience. Inevitably we start
with the basics, building your ability as the journey progresses.
You will be in your kayak for at least 5-6 hours a day with a focus on tuition, getting
comfortable in your kayak and building towards independent journeying.
This trip may be suitable for persons of reduced mobility. Please contact us to discuss
the trip and your personal condition.
Scroll down for an outline itinerary
Outline Itinerary
Day -1 Optional
Fort William
If you are travelling from afar then you may wish to stay the night before.
Day 1
Start Corpach
0800 - 1700
Today we will take it easy. The aim is to get you familiar with your kayak.
We will go through all the basic paddle strokes and what to do if you are unfortunate
enough to capsize.
Before we even get on the water we will look at how to pack the kayak for the journey
and at the group equipment you will be carrying. Once the basics are covered we will
set off and use the start of the journey to practice your paddling and enhance your skills.
Camping near Gairlochy
Day 2
Loch Lochy
0800 - 1700
Today we take on our first large Loch, Loch Lochy. Approximately 16km long this loch can be
challenging. We will hug the north shore and pass by Bunarkaig were if we are lucky
we may see osprey fishing in the bay. Staying close to bank we will travel alongside
the forested shore line, stopping for regular breaks on small beaches along the way.
Camping at Laggan Locks
Day 3 Loch Oich
0800 - 1700
This is the shortest day but one of the nicest, passing through the beautiful Loch Oich which
is the smallest Loch on our journey but always a highlight.
The final part of the day is portaging the locks at For Augustus before setting up camp
on the shores of Loch Ness.
Camping at Loch Ness
Day 4
Loch Ness - South
0800 - 1700
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the heart of The Great Glen.
Loch Ness extends for approximately 37 kilometres and has the largest volume of
freshwater in Great Britain. This will be our home for two days.
Setting off from Fort Augustus we will paddle along the more remote south side of the Loch.
On a clear day we will see our destination Foyers in the distance, and along the way there
are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the dramatic scenery on offer.
Camping at Foyers
Day 5
Loch Ness - North
0800 - 1700
The final leg of our journey, we travel to the very top of loch Ness before entering the final
stretch of canal to Dochgarroch.
Optional
We will end our journey late in the afternoon, as such travel links for some may be difficult. You may wish to arrange some local accommodation and start your homeward journey the following day.