I am planning a trip along the great glen canoe trail in the summer and i was wondering if anyone had done it before and could give me any tips and advice. The great glen canoe trail is for canoeists and kayakers following the caledonian canal. The great glen way, which was opened in 2002, is one of scotlands official great trails. Plan a paddle what you need to know for your canoe trail. The degreee of difficulty is mainly determined by the open water of the lochs and the weather that has a great influence on it. Wonderful resource if you are planning this paddle. Open canoeing great glen canoe trail by wilderness scotland. Being offered the opportunity to develop and promote what donald refers to as my back garden has been a fantastic opportunity and as the owner of his own paddlesport business and freelance instructor for glenmore lodge, there was only one person for the post of project officer for the great glen canoe trail. Of the trails 60 miles 96 kilometers, 40 miles 64 kilometers traverse the countrys lochs lakes, including loch ness, reputed home of the loch ness monster.
Welcome to great glen trails great glen trails 603 4662333. Great glen shuttle service explore highland offer bespoke and an emergency great glen canoe trail shuttle services for those taking on this formal canoe trail. We did the great glen canoe trail self guided from fort william to inverness and hired the canoe and equipment. Oct 22, 2011 this is a complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail, the great glen canoe trail. The great glen canoe trail is a 60 mile coast to coast journey through the heart of scotland on the caledonian canal and across loch ness taking in the scenery, wildlife and history as we paddle along. Introduced by to top scottish coaches, nancy chambers and dave rossetter, the video features demonstrations of various canoe and sea kayak rescues skills. We didnt stay in the lodge so cant comment on that, but we did complete an afternoon open canadian canoe course, and rent two canoes for 5 days on the great glean canoe trail and loved every bit of it. Apr 10, 2020 no one knows the trail better than donald. Oct 24, 2011 your safety and the safety of your travelling companions are of paramount importance when paddling the great glen. The degreee of difficulty is mainly determined by the open water of the lochs and the weather that has a.
We started in fort william and walked along the trail to inverness. The caledonian canal is one the most famous and historic in great britain built by the engineer thomas telford and completed in1822. Well, actually banavie, just outside fort william and where we were starting our great glen canoe trail from. Discover the great glen canoe trail great glen way one of scotlands great trails, the great glen way takes you 79 miles across scotland from fort william in the west to inverness in the east. We didnt put down all the equipment we wanted but donald the owner had extra out just in case which we did need and used his mini bus service to drop us off with equipment at the canal end. The local area places to visit within the great glen.
This chapter will provide a few pointers to help you, especially how you can help. Of the trail s 60 miles 96 kilometers, 40 miles 64 kilometers traverse the countrys lochs lakes, including loch ness, reputed home of the loch ness monster. Maybe youve heard of the great glen canoe trail, maybe youve paddled it, or maybe youve driven through the great glen and wondered what it would be like on the water. The information within this book has been well researched, however neither the author, the great glen ways partnership nor pesda press can be held responsible. Aug, 2019 we did the great glen canoe trail self guided from fort william to inverness and hired the canoe and equipment. Located just 25 minutes north of north conway on scenic nh route 16, great glen trails unique location in pinkham notch provides spectacular views up to the great gulf wilderness and the presidential mountain range. Great glen way national trail os map booklet cicerone press. It makes a great trip from west to east over 5 days, taking in fantastic views down the glen and spotting any wildlife along the way including nessie. A wonderful adventure holiday travelling by canoe or kayak across scotland along the great glen canoe trail from fort william to inverness. In scotland the canal network was originally built between 1768 and 1822. Much of the route involves paddling on open water rather than on the canal. We have a great range of outdoor activities available from adrenaline pumping adventures to more relaxing scenic tours. A geographical fault line forms the great glen way splitting scotland in two.
Join our guided trip across the great glen canoe trail, a geological fault that stretches from loch linnhe in the west, to inverness in the east and is over 200 million years old. Time to pack your kit into hired dry bags and canoe barrels advice on route and services available advice on loading canoes, movinghandling at pontoons, plus the use of portage trolleys advice on tandem downwind canoe sails hire your. Sep 16, 2015 if you want an amazing hike with varied scenery, try the great glen way. Canoeing the great glen canoe trail in scotland from fort william to inverness. If you want an amazing hike with varied scenery, try the great glen way. Shuttle service from muirtown basin, inverness to banavie fort, william which is the start of the great glen canoe trail. The trail is scotlands first dedicated long distance canoe trail. The great glen canoe trail, scotlands first dedicated long distance trail for canoes and kayaks, runs along the great glen, close to the great glen way. We would definitely book with wilderness scotland again. Guided wildlife kayak tours great glen trails 603 4662333. The trail takes you along several lochs including loch ness, rivers, streams, and mossy covered forest. Steeped in history and folklore tales this trail will uncover many of scotlands secrets.
Active highs are based on the shores of loch oich which is part of the great glen canoe trail and the caledonian canal system. Great glen way canoe trail active outdoors pursuits ltd. The adventure begins just outside fort william on the easy, sheltered water of the caledonia canal. A complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail. The great glen canoe trail runs from coast to coast canoeing along the length of loch ness.
One of scotlands great trails, the great glen way takes you 79 miles across scotland from fort william in the west to inverness in the east. Open canoeing great glen canoe trail includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more. Loch oich is the smallest and therefore the most sheltered loch in the great glen making it an ideal location for beginner and intermediate open canoe trips. We bought his great glen canoe trail book which was very helpful for getting excellent. A complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail by donald macpherson isbn. Watch this short video of the great glen canoe trail and you will be inspired to visit. The great glen canoe trail guidebook written by donald macpherson of explore highland, a must for anyone taking on scotlands first formal. Novice paddlers are strongly advised to book on one of the frequent. Your safety and the safety of your travelling companions are of paramount importance when paddling the great glen. You will paddle on flat water for 60 miles 100km, canoeing the caledonian canal and traversing legendary lochs such as loch ness and the wonderful loch lochy. Join us for the trip of a lifetime beginning at fort william and journeying through the magnificent waterways of the great glen to finish at inverness.
Map of the 79 mile 124km great glen way one of scotlands great trails, between fort william and inverness. Great glen canoe trail, scotland 10 places to take a. The leaders were excellent, encouraging, supportive, clear and fun. The great glen funders include british waterways scotland, highland council, scottish natural. Outdoor activities scotland fort william active highs. Welcome to great glen trails great glen trails 603 466. This guide is an essential resource to help you plan your journey through the great glen across scotland. We had a lovely chat to the lock keeper, dumped the canoe, and got back in the car to continue driving north to inverness where we picked up our keys to the lock facilities and ditched the car. Tim peal and nikki woodroffe recently undertook a charity challenge on the great glen canoe trail and this is how it went. The great glen canoe trail is a truly awesome five day canoe expedition from coast to coast, paddling through lochs including the entire length of loch ness, rivers, and sections of the caledonian canal.
Great glen canoe trail great glen canoe trail a complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail. The great glen way canoe trail is one of scotlands most challenging and rewarding canoe journeys. Great glen canoe trail 5 day expedition in your element. The great glen canoe trail takes you across the scottish highlands from fort william in the west to inverness near the northeastern coast. The great glen canoe trail is for canoeists and kayakers following the caledonian canal and the lochs of the great glen. Great glen canoe trail expedition report in your element. We bought his great glen canoe trail book which was very helpful for getting excellent advice. The great glen canoe trail is a classic canoe journey from coast to coast through the spectacular loch and river system of the great glen, including canoeing in loch ness. Donald macpherson project officer for the ggct in partnership with pesda press have published the great glen canoe trail a complete guide to.
The guide is an essential resource to help you plan your paddling journey through the great glen across scotland. Plan a paddle what you need to know for your canoe trail the local area places to visit within the great glen useful services hire, guiding and shuttle services. This booklet is included with the cicerone guidebook to the trail, and shows the full route on ordnance survey 1. The books lists contact numbers for permits, daily lengths with portages and resources in each location.
We will be using a 16ft venture ranger canoe crewed by my yr old son and 25yr old niece. Local information for dofe leaders and participants. Lots of bed and breakfasts along the way and great places to sample the local whiskeys. Great glen bespoke shuttle service groups meet normally at the coop, telford street car park, just. Hiking scotland great glen way walking tours hiking. Download the great glen canoe trail map for useful information and view our paddling activity providers listings for details of equipment hire, guided trips and shuttle services.
The designated routes are primarily intended for walkers, but may have sections suitable for cyclists and horseriders. The 96kilometre route includes 29 locks which must be portaged, and takes between 35 days to complete. There are also options to paddle the river oich and the river. This guidebook is the resource of everything you will need to know about planning your adventure. These are situated at most lock gates and consist of an area of mowed grass on the canal side which, in most cases, is associated with. This is a complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail, the great glen canoe trail. Great glen open canoe expeditions mountain water canoe. Mar 14, 2016 map of the 79 mile 124km great glen way one of scotlands great trails, between fort william and inverness.
Join us on pristine northern rivers with the mahoosuc mountains providing a stunning backdrop and the opportunity for wildlife sightings including deer, moose, river otters, blue herons, ducks, bald eagles and owls. Donald macpherson project officer for the ggct in partnership with pesda press have published the great glen canoe trail a complete guide to scotlands first formal canoe trail this guidebook is the resource of everything you will need to know about planning your adventure. As well as the calm waters of the caledonian canal there are the challenging open waters of loch lochy and loch ness. I have made plans and been in contact with the author. A fabulous great glen canoe trail adventure holiday, travelling by canadian canoe or kayak across scotland from fort william on the west coast to inverness in the east. We have two trips running in 2018 spring 2018 23rd 27th april autumn 2018 24th 28th september. Our 360 degree photo tour gives you the opportunity to see what its like from the paddlers perspective, as they make their way through this awesome glen.
The great glen canoe trail by mr p c 15, 12 sep 2015. Through his work with british waterways scotland now scottish canals as canoe trail project officer, he set up this formal canoe trail, and as part of this works wrote the great glen canoe trail guidebook published by pesda press. Great glen open canoe expeditions coast to coast takes in short sections of the caledonian canal to link loch lochy, loch oich and loch ness. Open canoeing great glen canoe trail by wilderness. This book is a great guide to the great glen canoe trail. Paddle through some of the most dramatic and inspiring sceneries in the whole of scotland from fort william in the west to inverness in the east. Canoe across scotland via the dramatic great glen canoe trail on a 5 day holiday. Active highs offers outdoor activities in scotland near fort william and fort augustus and are based in the heart of the great glen near loch oich and the caledonian canal.
Based in inverness we offer a costeffective shuttle service for canoes, kayaks and paddleboard groups of any size. Aug 08, 20 canoeing the great glen canoe trail in scotland from fort william to inverness. Donald was heavily involved in setting up the trail, and wrote the book his passion for it was unbelievable. 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. The great glen canoe trail is 60 miles long through the highland great glen and the entire length of loch ness. Great glen canoe trail shuttle service explore highland. The great glen canoe trail is no easy paddling route for kayak and canoes, but never reaches the level where you need white water experience.