river tay canoe trip

Paul Kirtley

Wilderness bushcraft. survival skills. outdoor life..

Canoeing The River Tay – Wonderful Water And Wild Camping

Paul kirtley comments 19 comments.

Canoeing the River Tay in its entirety had been on my trip list for a while. Previously I’d paddled sections of the river as day trips but never the whole river. Having been impressed by the qualities of the sections of the river I’d seen, I was keen to canoe the river from start to finish in a single multi-day trip.

The Tay flows into the sea on the east coast of Scotland, via the Tay estuary, or Firth of Tay . This tidal section is lenghty (to paddle the whole section as the tide is going out) and contains fast moving water but under the right conditions is navigable by canoe if you know what you are doing.

The River Tay proper starts at the outflow of Loch Tay at Kenmore and flows first east then south to Perth, where the river than becomes tidal. There are a number of tributaries flowing into Loch Tay, however, and the headwaters of the Tay system as a whole are generally considered to be on the flanks of Ben Lui .

I wanted to start our journey as far upstream as practical. We settled on putting onto the River Fillan near the village of Crianlarich. You may have heard of this place as it is on the route of the West Highland Way as well as the point at which two railway lines converge. One rail route serves Fort William, the other Oban.

So, this is all quite far west. Indeed, Ben Lui is only 25 miles from the west coast. Starting at Crianlarich, then, our trip canoeing the Tay to this extent, meant we would be crossing a good chunk the lower Scottish highlands and ending up on the east coast. Indeed, the River Tay is Scotland’s longest river . The planned trip, then, would take us the best part of a week, with the intention of including the estuary section as far as Broughty Ferry.

Watch an account of the trip in the video below…

There is a satisfaction that comes from planning and executing a self contained, self-propelled journey. It’s a satisfaction independent of the details of the journey in question. For a trip to be memorable after the fact, though, it generally needs to have contained some challenges.

Even though we were early in the season, we had fine, sunny weather, which wasn’t entirely expected. The prevailing wind in the UK is generally westerly but on this trip we had and easterly wind, which was was against us as we crossed from west to east. Also, it had been a poor winter for snow, so there wasn’t much water in some of the tributaries. This combination of low water and headwind slowed us down, particularly in the early stages of the trip.

Despite the challenges, there were some wonderful wild camps, along the waterways and by the side of lochs, one of which we would never have witnessed had we stuck to our original plan. You can see more details of our camps in the video above.

For this trip I invited Paul “Spoons” Nicholls to join me and the intention for him was for this trip to increase his experience of multi-day canoe tripping. Spoons had canoed the River Spey with Ray Goodwin and me but the Tay was going to be a more varied, and in some ways more difficult journey, with us having to apply a wider range of canoe journeying techniques, including lining and portaging as well as paddling.

There were small streams up to big bouncy rapids to negotiate, calm river sections of crystal clear water as well as at least one large lake, Loch Tay. This canoe trip down the River Tay exceeded our expectations, providing a magical mix of canoeing, nature and wild camping, with ample opportunity to apply everyday bushcraft techniques along the way.

I hope you enjoy the virtual experience of joining us on the trip, canoeing the River Tay and wild camping via the video embedded above. I’d love to know what you think in the comments below . I read every comment on my blog and, as always, replies are from me personally.

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19 thoughts on “ Canoeing The River Tay – Wonderful Water And Wild Camping ”

Very enjoyable Paul, You and Spoons were a fun Team to watch and I liked learning of the methods you use to avoid swamping and or getting through difficult areas. Had you had time to film more of your camp set ups I would have liked that as well. Great Job, Thank You & as Always, Blessings from Oregon! … Mike.

As always, it’s good to hear from you. I’m pleased you found this video both fun and educational.

I’ve noted your comments about camp set-ups. I’ll try to get more footage of this aspect on future trips.

Warm regards,

Great read Paul. Thank you. Looked a real adventure braced by craft and skill to make wild camping more comfortable and enjoyable. Great tips that encourage spending more time outdoors.

Hi Murray, thanks for your feedback on this blog. I’m glad you appreciated what we shared here.

Inspirational, proving wilderness canoe adventure is right on our doorstep and can be great fun. Thanks for putting in the time to get all the footage into an enjoyable watch.

Hi there, thanks for your feedback. Yes, adventures can usually be found where you look for them. I’m happy you enjoyed coming along on this one with us 🙂

Hi Paul. Boy I can’t wait to paddle with you after the GBS. Watching this video is so much like what we are doing over here. I noticed that the canoes are outfitted with lash loops exactly like we do our boats. Thats awesome. Thanks for the video and see you soon.

It’s good to hear from you here on my blog. Welcome!

I’m glad you enjoyed this video. I’m very much looking forward to our forthcoming paddling trip.

See you soon!

Great video Paul, thanks for sharing. Coincidentally, I have just returned from Ullswater on a family canoe/bushcraft weekend and I asked the young guide what his favourite experience was. He said “canoeing the length of the River Tay… with Ray Goodwin!” (MBE)

Thanks for your comments Mark. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. The Tay is a great river to paddle, with or without Ray haha.

As for Ullswater, I also really enjoy paddling that lake. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Hope you had a good time.

Paul, what type or brand of Canadian Canoe would you recommend for a big pup like myself I’m 6ft 6 and 24 stone.

After a first canoe for wilderness bushcraft trips in my area. I want something sturdy and well put together that can carry me and good bit of kit but not too heavy for a portage or two. Think I’ll also have to book myself onto a course with you an Ray.

Hi Russell,

Sorry I missed your comment until now. My bad.

I would look at 16ft boats. If you want something not too heavy then look for a second hand Royalex boat. If you don’t want too much gear in the boat, then look for a Wenonah Prospector (16ft). If you want to load a bit more gear, then maybe a Nova Craft Prospector (16ft). A really good boat for you if you want to do more white water would be be a new Esquif Prospecteur 16 in Tformex, if your budget will stretch to it.

I hope this helps.

Great trip, company & techniques 🙂

Thanks for sharing and this is how we do it down South.

https://youtu.be/SI-8QSjfFmE

That looked really good Paul ,can’t beat camping by river ,great filming .

Thanks Alex. I’m glad you enjoyed the film and the journey.

A lovely and inspiring post and video. Thank you, Paul. Really enjoyed the music in the video, sets the scene perfectly! Looking forward to reading more of you stories. Ben from http://www.consciousroots.co.uk

Hi, we are looking to do a R. Tay trip. There’s 10 of us, and we need someone to hire the boats from and then a way of collecting us from Perth at the end.

Any suggestions?

What time of year did you do this trip?

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River Tay Descent

© Active Outdoor Pursuits

Grantully - River Tay

Loch Tay & River Tay Descent

The Loch & River Tay canoe descent journeys from the central highlands of Killin down to Perth, Lowland Scotland. Passing through Perthshire’s most beautiful countryside the River Tay is Scotland’s largest volume river.

It’s a diverse journey crossing the 23 kilometres of Loch Tay under the shadow of Ben Lawers and entering the River Tay at Kenmore. In addition to the river journey you can visit historic sites of interest, Crannog centre and the Cathedral at Dunkeld.

The river Tay canoe descent is a 5 day and 4 night paddling journey. By their very nature journeys on the water can be affected by weather and other environmental factors. Your guide/s may have to alter the itinerary to ensure group safety.

This trip is moderately challenging. The open waters of Loch Tay can be tough in windy conditions but can be sailed making it relatively relaxing. The white water sections are mainly fun and straight-forward. River skills can be picked up as the journey progresses downstream and gets progressively more challenging. There are a couple of grade 2 or 2/3 rapids, however these can be inspected and portaged easily. No previous experience is required for the river tay canoe descent however we do recommend some previous paddling or white water experience. We can offer 1 or 2 day canoe skills courses prior to your trip is you wish.

Killin to Eilean nam Ban-naomh

Our journey begins at the east end of Loch Tay at the picturesque village of Killin, famous for the Falls of Dochart which flow through the village into Loch Tay. We hope to take advantage of Scotland’s dominant westerly winds to enable us to sail down the loch beneath the mighty Ben Lawers, towering some 1200 meters above us. As we approach Kenmore we will visit the Crannog – an ancient dwelling built over the loch dating back some 5,000 years. We will make camp on the lovely island, opposite the Crannog, of Eilean nam Ban-naomh, ‘Isle of Holy Women’ with its 12th century remains of a nunnery and castle.

Eilean nam Ban-naomh to Grandtully

A day steeped in history. We take a short paddle to the mainland and take time to stroll through the village of Kenmore with its old buildings and Scotland’s oldest Inn built in 1572. Here you can still see a poem written and inscribed in pencil on the fireplace by Robert Burns himself during a visit to Kenmore in 1787. Continuing down river we soon come to the Chinese falls – a fun grade 2 rapid. Beyond here we pass Taymouth castle built in 1862. The next few miles contain some fun minor rapids before reaching Aberfeldy. Here we paddle under Wade’s bridge, built by General Wade in 1733, to help connect his military road network used to suppress the Scots. Beyond Aberfeldy we come to the best section of the river for white water; there are many grade 2 rapids before reaching the grade 3 Grandtully rapid which can be easily portaged if preferred. We will camp here for the night.

Grandtully to Dunkeld

You will have the chance this morning to run the Grandtully rapid one more time before heading off towards Dunkeld. The next section is quieter with occasional gentle rapids as the valley floor widens and the river merges with the River Tummel. We soon reach the historic town of Dunkeld where we will camp tonight and take some time to see the Cathedral built between 1260 and 1501. The streets around the cathedral is where the battle of Dunkeld took place in 1689 between the Jacobites and a government regiment of Covenanters.

Dunkeld to Inchtuthill

Today we travel through the farmlands and forests of the Tay valley but before heading off we will take a short walk to the Hermitage and the Falls of Braan. This forest is home to Britain’s tallest trees – these mighty Douglas Firs stand over 200 feet high and are protected by the National Trust for Scotland. Further down river the scenery changes dramatically – as we pass Caputh the scenery becomes more like a sea estuary for a while. This area is home to thousands of nesting birds. At Inchtuthill we can see the remains of an ancient roman fortress built by Agricola in 82AD as an advance base in his campaign against the Caledonian tribes. We will make camp at a convenient site in this area.

Inchtuthill to Perth

Our final day and another day of diversity. This section flows through stretches of steep tree-lined banks. where it meanders for a couple of miles until we reach its confluence with the River Isla, flowing down from the Angus Glens. For those of us who enjoy white water paddling, the next 8 miles contains a succession of fun grade 2 rapids – a great experience on our last day. The final few miles to Perth are more gentle; our routes passes Scone Palace – once the crowning place of Scottish Kings and home to the Stone of Destiny. The final few miles flow gently into Perth where this mighty river system meets the North Sea.

Note – By their very nature journeys in remote or mountainous country can be affected by weather and other environmental factors. Your guide/s may have to alter the River & Loch Tay Canoe Descent Itinerary to ensure group safety.

Depart Craigower Lodge on day one at 8am

Return to Craigower 5pm

From £595 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

May — September

Contact details

• +44 (01540) 210000
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Key facilities

• Disabled Parking

Tour information

• Aberfeldy, Loch Tay and Glen Lyon
• Small Group (1-16)
• Canoeing/Kayaking
• Outdoor Activities

Tour prices

From £595 Per Adult

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Active outdoor pursuits.

Active Outdoor Pursuits, born in 1999, is one of the most established providers of outdoor activities, education and training in Scotland. We have developed our facilities & services to provide a comprehensive and dynamic approach to supporting people of all ages and experience to realise their outdoor adventure dreams and ambitions. We offer a wide range of outdoor activities and, we can offer packages and holidays to suit all outdoor tastes. Looking for an outdoor adventure or holiday? Then you've come to the right place!

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OPEN CANOE HOLIDAYS

Guided descent of the river tay, east highlands, scotland.

Moderate - 5

Participants

Min: 4 Max: 8

Trip rating

What's Included?

✓ Highly experienced & qualified guide

✓ On-course transport

✓ Buoyancy aids, helmets

✓ Canoes & paddles

✓ Waterproof storage, 60ltr barrels per person

✓ Fresh food, from first lunch till lunch on the last day

✓ Camping stoves, tea, coffe etc

✓ Inflatable camping mats

✓ Tents 2 or 3 man

✓ Group shelter

✓ First Aid kit

✓ Photos from your adventure

What's not Included?

✗   Trip Insurance

✗   Personal Expenses

✗   Accommodation

What do I need to bring?

Waterproofs, top and bottoms

Walking trousers (synthetic materials; jeans or similar are not suitable)

Spare shoes to get wet plus dry shoes for camp

Quality, breathable waterproof jacket and trousers. We recommend Gore-tex or similar

Spare insulating layer

Hat & gloves

Sleeping bag, 3 season

Spare insulating layer for camp

Spare set of clothes x 2

Some large zip-lock bags to keep your clothes and equipment organised 

Head torch, plus spare batteries

Water bottle or flask

Midge net and/or cream (smidge)

Camping foldable chair (optional)

Inflatable pillow (optional)

Ear plugs (optional)

Sunglasses and sun cream (you just never know!) 

Personal medications

A video to help with packing before and when attending the trip can be found here

What else can we provide?

Pick up & drop-offs

Accommodation 

The longest river in the UK which has the biggest volume of water passing through annually makes for an exciting canoe trip on The River Tay. Starting near Killin at the west side of Loch Tay we take in the views of the Lawler mountain range to the north before we head on to the river where we navigate our way down through some white water all the way to the picturesque town of Perth.

Highlights for guided descent of the river tay

Learn how to paddle the traditional style open canoe

Paddle from Killin all the way to Perth, taking in majestic views of Strath Tay

Paddle some exciting white water, with an option of some more challenging rapids

Sleep under canvas or B&B options available

Visit an ancient Roman settlement 

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Need some extra help.

The team here at SRW can tailor a trip to suit your time and budget for as little as £300pd for private tuition/guiding, this includes all technical equipment. If your part of a group we can chat through options & prices. We're here to help you book the trip of a lifetime! Drop us an email or call us

USEFUL INFO

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Keswick Canoe & Bushcraft

Mob: 0771 757 2042

Loch Tay and River Tay Canoe Expedition

The Tay carries the highest flow of water in Scotland, and is a Scottish classic

• Loch Tay and the River Tay is ‘Scottish classic’.
• Suitable for competent paddlers with previous experience.
• This trip offers everything for the experienced paddler: Canoe instruction, stunning scenery, grade 2 – 3 rapids, canoe sailing, camp fire cookery and wild camping.

Included in cost: All specialist equipment and instruction. On the expedition all food and drinks will be provided. Also included – your last night’s accommodation, evening meal (drinks will not be included in this) and breakfast the following morning. Transport back to start point.

The canoe expedition will be a 5 day paddling journey from Killin to Dunkeld and it’ll take us through Perthshire’s beautiful and diverse countryside.

Loch tay is fringed by mountains, with the Ben Lawers range filling the horizon to the north. It’s 24km long, and is a good 2 days paddling. We also might be able to canoe sail some of the loch depending on wind conditions. It gives us plenty of time to recap on skills previously learnt, and go through additional moving water skills in preparation for the next part of our journey.

We join the river Tay at Kenmore and from there we have an additional 3 days to paddle to our end point – Dunkeld.

The River Tay carries the highest flow in Scotland, and is a Scottish classic. On our journey we will encounter some grade 2 rapids along its course, and a grade 3 (The famous Grandtully rapid) that can easily be portaged if required or necessary!

The Tay can be paddled in almost any water, and for much of the year tends to be high when others have lost their water.

We will wild camp for 4 nights, and then stay in a hotel for our last night to celebrate the end of our journey.

Click on the following link for an Example Expedition Menu

• Meet at our Hotel in Killin on Sunday at 9.30am.
• 5 days paddling from Sunday – Thursday. Wild camping in the evenings.
• On Thursday evening, we will return back to Killin and stay at the Hotel, were we will be spending the night to celebrate the end of our journey.
• We will depart for home the following morning (Friday) after a hearty breakfast!

Regarding payment, we only require a 25% deposit to be paid on booking, and the remaining balance is be paid 3/4 weeks before the trip departure date.

Once clients have booked, we send a payment invoice receipt accordingly, email a recommended kit list ( some items of equipment we can provide), finalise/confirm meeting instructions, and advise on transport options too.

Hope you can join us!

• Activity Grade:Moderate / Difficult
• Ages:Minimum age 18 years.
• Suitability:Previous moving water experience required
• Time:Sunday 29th September – Friday 4th October 2019.

Killin, Loch Tay

• What to wear: Check our Kit Lists
• Price:£595 per person
• Availability:Please use our availability calendar below, if you can’t find a date that suits you please give us a call!

COMPANY INFO

Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft,

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T: 07950 559 623 or 077175 72042 E: [email protected]

AALA License Number: R2168

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• Coasteering
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• Mountain Biking
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• Bespoke Adventure Holidays
• Canoe Expeditions
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Canoeing Edinburgh

Canoeing Tour | The River Tay

• Groups (14+) – from £85 per person
• Groups (6+) – from £95 per person
• Groups (3-5) – from £125 per person
• Full day adventure
• Transport included

The River Tay

Canoeing day trip from Edinburgh to the River Tay. The tremendous River Tay has a transfer time of 1 hour 20 minutes from Edinburgh and is one of Scotland’s greatest rivers. We will start the day by learning the skills required to canoe effectively on moving water, and then putting these skills into practise as we descend the incredible River Tay.  This is the perfect canoeing venue for people with previous canoeing experience, as there are some technical sections or moving water and rapids to negotiate.

A canoe day trip to the River Tay is a great way to escape Edinburgh for the day and explore one of Scotland’s most amazing rivers.

Your Canoeing Tour

On the day of your activity, we will collect you in our minibus from your hotel or a convenient Edinburgh location, and drive you to the River Tay.  We will provide you with all the equipment that you need to have a great day exploring Scotland by canoe.

Before we begin, we will teach you any skills or techniques that you need to know, to control the boat and to keep you safe, and then take you out onto the water to start your canoeing adventure. After we have descended an awesome section of the River Tay, we will return you to your hotel, having explored this amazing Scottish river in style.

What you need to know

• Spend the day canoeing one of Scotland’s most amazing rivers
• Collection from Edinburgh and we’ll return you to your door
• An awesome way to explore Scotland
• We provide all technical equipment
• Qualified Instructors
• Optional extras (breakfast, lunch and towel hire)

We are Intrepidus

#IntrepidusOutdoors #WeAdventureVertically

Intrepidus Outdoors – Adventures Edinburgh , Scotland !

Intrepidus Outdoors is based in Edinburgh , Scotland and specialises in Outdoor Activities.  We are an  adventure tourism and outdoor education provider based in Edinburgh . However, we also operate out of Glasgow , East Lothian , Midlothian , Scottish Borders , Tweed Valley ,  Perth , Fort William , Cairngorm National Park , Pitlochry , Aberfeldy and Loch Tay .

We specialise in canyoning , coasteering , mountain biking and hill walking , and deliver these adventurous experiences across Scotland . The experiences that we provide take clients into some of the most exquisite, incredible and extreme environments the UK has to offer. Through our MY Adventure (Edinburgh)  brand we are also a provider of the  Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions  where we run  bronze , silver and gold level awards for young people. These expeditions are through the disciplines of hill walking as well as canoeing.  

Mission Statment :

To deliver the highest quality adventurous experiences to entertain, thrill and inspire.

Outdoor Activities: Edinburgh & Scotland

Our values reflect those of a business started by a small group of rock climbers and mountain bikers. The experiences that we have had adventuring, and our passion for the outdoors, has led us to choose a lifestyle dedicated to sharing our love for the outdoors with others. The approach that we take to the experiences that we provide, and the business that we run, is that of sustainability, and an unapologetic quest for quality.

For us at Intrepidus Outdoors, we recognise that our experiences kayaking in clean rivers, surfing on unpolluted beaches and climbing frozen waterfalls have contributed to who we are as people. Therefore, protecting the planet so that the next generation of adventurers can have their own experiences, is hugely important for us. We believe that for people, communities and businesses to make the choice to minimise their impact on our planet, they must first value the planet that we have. We feel that the best way for people to value our blue planet, is to have first hand quality experiences in nature. They can then see the beauty of a forest, feel the power of an ocean and learn to love what is outside our towns and cities, so that they then fight to protect them. We strive to through the products that we deliver make a small difference to peoples understanding of the impact that they have on our world.

Our experiences adventuring have made us who we are and Intrepidus Outdoors is a reflection of us. We provide real adventurous experience that we hope you will cherish.

Adventure Activities: Edinburgh & Scotland

There are cities where stuff is happening all year round and where you will never get bored. Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of these cities. It’s an extraordinary place, full of history, festivals, impressive architecture and plenty of attractions you won’t find anywhere else. Not to mention that we are located on the door step of so many amazing adventures and outdoor experiences.

We would like to introduce you to this extraordinary city, giving you a full range of possibilities that can be found north of the wall! Edinburgh has a huge dose of beautiful history, world-famous festivals, fantastic attractions, adrenaline fuled expereinces and great food. Edinburgh is calling you and you simply cannot refuse its invitation.

There are a many outdoor and adventurous experiences to be had in Edinburgh. If you are a thrill seeker visiting Edinburgh and interested in a canyoning , coasteering or mountain biking adventure in Scotland, Get In Touch!

Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is a fantastic destination with a rich history, stunning architecture, and a vibrant cultural scene. Here are 11 reasons why Edinburgh is a great city to visit with friends:

Historic Architecture: Edinburgh is known for its historic and impressive architecture. Explore the medieval Old Town, with its narrow alleys and the iconic Edinburgh Castle perched on Castle Rock. The contrasting Georgian New Town offers elegant streets and squares.

Edinburgh Castle: Dominating the city’s skyline, Edinburgh Castle is a must-visit. Explore the various sections of the castle, learn about its history, and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its vantage points.

Royal Mile: The Royal Mile is the main street of the Old Town, running from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. It’s lined with shops, pubs, and street performers, making it a lively and entertaining stroll.

Festivals: Edinburgh is famous for its festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival. If you visit during August, you’ll be treated to a vibrant atmosphere with countless performances, events, and shows.

Scenic Views: Climb Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano located in Holyrood Park, for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. It’s a great place for a hike or a picnic with friends.

Cultural Museums: Edinburgh boasts several excellent museums, including the National Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh, and the Scottish National Gallery. These institutions offer a diverse range of exhibits, from art and history to science and technology.

Whisky Tasting: Scotland is renowned for its whisky, and Edinburgh is a great place to sample some of the finest Scotch whiskies. Explore local pubs and whisky bars to experience the rich and varied world of Scottish spirits.

Haunted History: Edinburgh is known for its haunted history, and there are various ghost tours that take you through the city’s spookiest spots. It’s a fun and eerie way to learn about the darker side of Edinburgh’s past.

Dynamic Arts Scene: The city has a vibrant arts scene, with numerous theaters, galleries, and performance spaces. Whether you’re into traditional or contemporary arts, you’re likely to find something that suits your tastes.

Friendly Atmosphere: Scots are known for their friendliness, and you’ll likely find the welcoming atmosphere extends to the city itself. The friendly locals and the convivial ambiance of Edinburgh make it an excellent destination for a memorable trip with friends.

• Outdoor Activities on your Doorstep:  Edinburgh is on the edge of the Pentland Hills, Ochil Hills, East Lothian, the East Neuk of Fife and a hour and a half drive from the Cairngorm National Park. We deliver outdoor adventures, activities and exciting pursuits to all of these amazing locations. 

Outdoor Adventures Scotland.

We operate out of edinburgh,  glasgow , east lothian , midlothian , scottish borders , tweed valley ,  perth , fort william , cairngorm national park , pitlochry , aberfeldy and loch tay ..

It’s no secret that Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From the rural coastlines to vast mountain ranges, we have it all. Whatever kind of experience you’re after you’re sure to find it here, so we’ve put together an adventurer’s guide to Scotland to help get you started. Our guide breaks down all the outdoor activities Edinburgh has to offer and many more adventures to keep you entertained on your holiday.

Scotland’s allure for outdoor adventures is rooted in its unparalleled natural beauty and diverse landscapes. From the rugged peaks of the Scottish Highlands to the tranquil shores of its countless lochs, the country provides a stunning backdrop for a myriad of outdoor activities. Hikers can traverse historic trails like the West Highland Way, while mountaineers are drawn to the challenge of scaling iconic peaks such as Ben Nevis. The expansive coastline and intricate network of rivers offer opportunities for water enthusiasts, from thrilling white-water rafting to peaceful kayaking. Scotland’s commitment to preserving its wilderness allows for accessible exploration, inviting both seasoned adventurers and casual nature lovers alike. With a rich cultural heritage woven into its landscapes, including ancient castles and historic sites, Scotland stands as an exceptional destination for those seeking not just outdoor excitement, but a profound connection with the untamed beauty of the natural world.

Moreover, Scotland’s outdoor appeal extends to its diverse range of activities, accommodating adventurers with varying interests and skill levels. Cyclists can navigate scenic routes, taking in the breathtaking views of rolling hills and coastal panoramas. As winter blankets the land, the Cairngorms and Glencoe transform into playgrounds for skiers and snowboarders, offering a thrilling winter sports experience. Wildlife enthusiasts find solace in the country’s natural habitats, where red deer roam freely, eagles soar overhead, and seals bask along the rugged shoreline. The proximity of Edinburgh, the capital city, further enhances the Scottish adventure, providing a seamless transition from urban exploration to the untamed wonders that lie just beyond its borders. In every season, Scotland’s outdoor wonders beckon, promising a tapestry of experiences that blend natural splendor with a rich tapestry of history and culture.

MY Adventure  and Intrepidus Outdoors are adventure tours and outdoor experience providers, both based in  Edinburgh , Scotland. We specialise in private and open  canyoning ,  coasteering ,  mountain biking  and  hill walking  tours, and deliver these adventurous experiences across Scotland. We are also a provider of the  Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions  where we run  bronze , silver and gold level awards for young people.

If you are looking for additional information about  adventures  from Edinburgh, we have published a number of  blogs :

• Welcome to Edinburgh- A guide to the Scottish Capital:  here
• 6 steps to being happy like a Scot:  here 
• Adventures guide to Scotland: here
• You’ll never get bored in Edinburgh:  here 
• Best Budget Hotels and Hostels Edinburgh:  here 
• Hen Party Adventures Edinburgh:  here
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If you haven’t already seen it, check out the our   Trip Advisor ,  Youtube channel ,  Visit Scotland page  and  blog  to hear about how others found their outdoor adventures with us! Equally, if there is any gear that you would like us to review, drop us a DM.

Here is a list of our Frequently Asked Questions about Outdoor Adventures from Edinburgh!

Canyoning, Coasteering, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Canoeing and Rock Climbing!

Edinburgh is on the doorstep of incredible locations for outdoor adventures. Only a short minibus ride and you are in world class venues for coasteering, canyoning, mountain biking and hiking.

Yes. Our outdoor adventures are great for everyone!

We provide all technical equipment for your outdoor adventures with us. This includes canyoning and coasteering boots!

Yes. Edinburgh is a fantastic city to visit, offering a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty.

If you live in the south of England, No. If you live in the Midlands or the North of England, Yes.

Between £4 and £6

Yes. On our private adventure tours we collect clients from their hotels.

Edinburgh Waverley Train Station – The Market Street Entrance.

Open groups 14+. Private groups all ages!

Canyoning and coasteering has jumps up to 10meters and the canyoning has waterfall abseiling uptimes 17 meters. So you tell us?!

Days trips from £95 per person including transport.

Canyoning. People LOVE canyoning. We also love canyoning!

Yes. All instructors will take pictures with their iPhones and GoPro’s. They will send them to you after the adventure.

Our team like lots of different adventures! Some like the extreme trips like canoeing while others like the more mellow tours like canoeing.

We aim the exceed the expectations of our clients on all our outdoor adventure tours from Edinburgh!

We operate out of Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Tweed Valley, Perth, Fort William, Bruar, Dollar, Alva, Cairngorm National Park, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Loch Tay.  .

Between 8 and 80!

Yes! We have a National Operators License to operate our own fleet of 17 seater minibuses.

With over 350 5star TripAdvisor reviews the Intrepidus team aims to exceed our customers expectations in every trip!

Intrepidus Outdoors run canyoning, coasteering and hiking almost every day and we have over 350 5star TripAdvisor reviews!

Unit 2/2 Edlin Industrial Estate Edgefield Road Loanhead EH20 9QX

Phone: 0131 357 1990 Email: info@intrepidusoutdoors.co.uk

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River Tay Expedition

RIVER TAY EXPEDITION

Green Course | Beginner Riverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 202

This is an opportunity to canoe the length of Scotland’s largest volume river, starting at the southern end of Loch Tay and paddling to where it meets the tidal estuary at Perth. 5 days and 4 nights in local hilltop accommodation exploring the River Tay, Scotland’s longest river and Loch Tay Perthshire’s largest loch situated in the heart of the country. Choose between the introductory and improver trip to give yourself the perfect canoeing holiday. The River Tay and Loch Tay provide the perfect canvas to improve your canoeing skills whilst exploring some of the most scenic countryside in the central highlands. Whether it is open water that interests you or if you want to start paddling in moving water and rapids these trips are perfect for the canoeist wanting to improve their skills amongst the stunning scenery of the central highlands.

Key Information

£695 / adult

£1390 / group

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© BEYOND ADVENTURE

“RIVER TAY EXPEDITION”

This is an opportunity to canoe the length of Scotland’s largest volume river, starting at the southern end of Loch Tay and paddling to where it meets the tidal estuary at Perth. 5 days and 4 nights in local hilltop accommodation exploring the River Tay, Scotland’s longest river and Loch Tay Perthshire’s largest loch situated in the heart of the country. Choose between the introductory and improver trip to give yourself the perfect canoeing holiday. The River Tay and Loch Tay provide the perfect canvas to improve your canoeing skills whilst exploring some of the most scenic countryside in the central highlands. Whether it is open water that interests you or if you want to start paddling in moving water and rapids these trips are perfect for the canoeist wanting to improve their skills amongst the stunning scenery of the central highlands.

GREEN COURSE

A great beginners trip for individuals wanting to experience travelling by canoe and camping under the stars for the first time.

Intro to Canoe Skills Itinerary

Based from The Bunkhouse in Aberfeldy we will depart each morning to a local venue best suited for the group. Everyday we will look to build your canoeing skills, from basic principles like packing your boat for the day to controlling your boat on flat and moving water, this is the perfect week to boost your knowledge and confidence!

Improver Canoe Skills Itinerary

The Improver course takes the foundations laid on the Intro course and looks to build and expand on them whilst travelling through Highland Perthshire. You will look at more skills to deploy in both moving and open water and play with techniques such as lining and poling. Everyday will provide another venue that is perfect to give you an unforgettable experience whilst letting you take advantage of the expert tuition our guides can provide!

Beyond Adventure will provide all necessary group equipment including waterproof barrels, camp seats, tents, cooking utensils, maps, group shelters as well as all necessary personal paddling equipment.

Personal Equipment 

3 season sleeping bag

Lightweight sleeping mat or thermarest

Waterproof jacket and trousers

Fleece jacket x2

Sun hat ideally with a peak or brim

Quick drying lightweight trousers x 2

Base layers - thermal tops and bottoms

Tee shirts x2 (thermal fabric - not cotton)

Gloves, wool is still warm when wet

Paddling footwear (could be wellies, trainers or old boots, but make sure comfortable when kneeling)

Camp footwear - sandals, trainers or lightweight boots

1 litre water bottle (minimum)

Sun glasses and sunscreen

Personal first aid including blister kit and insect repellant

Midge net & midge repellant (Scotland in summer)

Light weight wash kit (with biodegradable soap)

A few plastic carrier bags (to separate wet/dry clothes if necessary)

Lightweight towel

Headtorch plus spare battery

Personal Medication 

You will be able to leave extra clothes worn for travelling in the vehicle whilst we are on expedition.

GET IN TOUCH IF YOU CANNOT FIND THE DATES YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR

Customer Reviews

MORE EXPEDITIONS

Great glen way.

Great Glen Way Expedition GREAT GLEN WAY EXPEDITION Green Course | BeginnerRiverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 202This 5 day expedition gives the opportunity to paddle from the west coast to the east coast along one of the most famous Glens in Scotland. We start paddling on the west just outside Fort William…

North West Highlands

North West Highlands NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS EXPEDITION Blue Course | IntermediateRiverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 202The North West Highlands is one of the last true wilderness areas on the British Isles. This fantastic trip combines open canoeing with hill walking to allow us to explore some of Scotland’s most remote mountains and…

Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor Expedition RANNOCH MOOR EXPEDITION Red Course | AdvancedRiverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 202 <img class=”vce-single-image” src=”https://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/visualcomposer-assets/templates/600fd94656c719.85024553/assets/elements/Good-To-Go-Scotland.jpeg” width=”100″ height=”100″ alt=”” title=”Good To Go Scotland” /> Starting high up on the vast moorlands of Rannoch Moor we descend over 1000 meters in height to join Scotland’s biggest river, the River Tay 80…

River Tay Expedition RIVER TAY EXPEDITION Green Course | BeginnerRiverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 202This is an opportunity to canoe the length of Scotland’s largest volume river, starting at the southern end of Loch Tay and paddling to where it meets the tidal estuary at Perth. 5 days and 4 nights in local…

Spey Descent

The Spey Descent Expedition THE SPEY DESCENT EXPEDITION Blue Course | IntermediateRiverside, Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, PH15 2EB 01887 829 2025 days paddling on one of the most famous rivers in Scotland all the way from Loch Insh, in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, to the sea at Spey Bay. The River Spey is 107…

FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

Ready to adventure again? Take a look at all our other fantastic experiences that we offer. We can plan your special, one-off day to suit your needs or a few hours of enjoyment in the water whenever that may be.

From day trips, coaching sessions, wilderness expeditions we are here to help make your experience one to remember and inspire your next adventure.

Choose any of our excellent activities or combine them for a truly adventurous day. Design your own expedition holiday or get in touch to organize a group booking. Our friendly team are available to help make your next adventure the best one possible.

CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU WANT?

With so much of the outdoors to enjoy there are always new and adventurous experiences to explore. If you cannot find exactly what you would like to do please get in touch. We want to make your adventure a memory that lasts a lifetime so get in touch and we will do all we can to help create your own bespoke adventure or tweak one of our exisiting outdoor packages to your needs.

The best rivers to canoe or kayak in Scotland

With several major rivers, large wilderness areas, and lots of National Parks, the beautiful scenery of Scotland is home to some of the best places to go kayaking or canoeing in europe. The highlands are especially great for whitewater enthusiasts, providing rapids of all grades. If you enjoy being out at sea, there are great sea kayaking expeditions off the West Coast and in the Hebrides. Check out our sea kayaking tour. If exploring Scotland from the water tickles your fancy, check out this introduction to kayaking and canoeing in Scotland.

If you’re a complete beginner or you’re still trying to find your sea legs, not to worry. There are many opportunities to try out kayaking lessons or even venture on a kayaking course to get you up to speed. Don’t worry about equipment either, you’ll be provided with all the essential gear when you arrive. Maybe just remember a spare change of warm clothes for after! So… Where are the best rivers for canoeing and kayaking in Scotland ?

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CANOE A ND A KAYAK ?

Well the difference is relatively simple; it’s related to the position in the boat and the type of paddle they use to propel the boat. In a kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a double-bladed paddle pulling the blade through the water on alternate sides to move forward. In a canoe, the paddler kneels and uses a single-bladed paddle to propel the boat forward.

CANOEING AND KAYAKING LICENSE FOR SCOTLAND

Scotland’s outdoors provides great opportunities for open-air recreation and education, with great benefits for people’s enjoyment, and their health and well-being. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 ensures everyone has statutory access rights to most of Scotland’s outdoors, if these rights are exercised responsibly, with respect for people’s privacy, safety and livelihoods, and for Scotland’s environment. Equally, land managers have to manage their land and water responsibly in relation to access rights. The Code is based on three key principles, and paddlers have a responsibility to:

-Care for the environment

-Take responsibility for our own actions

-Respect the interests of others

The Paddlers’ Access Code, which revolves around care for others, the environment and responsibility for your actions, must be followed of course, and you will also need a license to dock your kayak or canoe in certain places, and for using locks on the Scottish canals.

THE BEST RIVERS TO KAYAK OR CANOE IN SCOTLAND

1. river spey.

The River Spey is located in the northeast of Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, as well as the third longest and fastest-flowing river in Scotland. It is important for salmon fishing and whisky production. The River Spey is one of the classic open canoe journeys in Scotland and in the UK. The Spey has stretches of flat water and lochs, gentle moving water and exciting grade 2 rapids. It can be paddled as a complete journey or, if using the agreed access and egress points, can be broken down into superb day paddles. The Spey starts its journey high in the mountains at Loch Spey, and flows down to the sea passing many villages and beautiful rural spots on the way. There are usually many wonderful wildlife sightings when on the river, ranging from ospreys to dippers, otters and salmon. The journey down the River Spey from Lochain Uvie to Spey Bay is 135 kilometers. It is a stunning journey to complete and should be a must on every paddler’s tick list. Check our trip for more information .

2. RIVER TAY

Scotland’s longest river, the river Tay can be canoed in sections or – if you’ve got a good bit of time on your hands – in its entirety. It runs from the slopes of Ben Lui in the west of the country across to Loch Tay, where the river then starts proper, and from there it runs over to the east coast at Dundee where it joins the sea via the Firth of Tay. Aberfeldy, not far from Loch Tay, is a particularly popular spot for kayaking, with beginner options on the loch itself. but if its proper white water you’re after, head for Grandtully. The place takes its name from the gaelic term “garan tullach” or “rough mound” – and it’s certainly rough.The Grandtully rapids include the “boat breaker” and are some of the trickiest on the River Tay (they’re rated at grade 3 out of 5) so you want to have a reasonable amount of experience under your belt before heading there. Contact us for more informations.

3. RIVER FINDHORN

One of Scotland’s classic white water rivers, the Findhorn can be found in the north east of the country, flowing into the Moray firth. It attracts paddlers from around the country with rapids ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 4. Particularly past the point of Randolph’s Leap – a viewpoint with a nice bit of Scottish folklore behind it – there’s great kayaking opportunities, and the scenery round here – as in so much of Scotland – is absolutely stunning too. Contact us for more informations.

4. THE CALEDONIAN CANAL

Running from Fort William to Inverness, the Caledonian Canal offers fabulous options for paddlers of all abilities and can be enjoyed as a long distance canoeing challenge or a relaxing day paddle. Paddle solo or in two with Adventures-Scotland. The detectives among you will have worked out that the Caledonian Canal is not actually a river. It’s a canal. The first clue was in the name. But we thought it was worthy of a mention on this list since it grants access to the Great Glen Canoe Trail – a beauty of a kayak trip, traversing the legendary Loch Ness. Contact us for more informations.

5. RIVER TEITH

The River Teith flows out of the picturesque highland town of Callander draining the hills of the Trossachs. This beautiful river travels along the valley floor, giving us great opportunities to see plenty of wildlife as well as getting our adrenaline buzz on the rapids along the way. The Teith can be done as two possible sections (about 2-3 hours each) or 1 long-ish day. Contact us for more informations.

Inspired ? Check out our canoe & kayak holidays.

The UK Rivers Guidebook

The tay, source to sea by canoe.

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The Tay, Source to Sea by Canoe - Three guys, one gal and a dog called Wobble.

By Paul Cromey.

Saturday morning, phone rang at 9am (OK I was still in bed). "Would I like to cross Scotland by Canoe in 4 days starting on Tuesday"? Er em Yes!

Ash, Al and Mark arrived from the Lake District on Monday night. Eats, route decision, gear sort, then cups of tea. Route revised to do the Tay confluence, source to sea. According to a display in the Perth Museum it takes 440 days for a drop of water that falls on Ben Lui to reach Dundee. 420 days are spent getting through Loch Tay. Our aim was to take the canoes as far up the track to the foot of Ben Lui as possible, summit Ben Lui and then commence the journey down to Dundee along the River Cononish, River Fillan, River Dochart, Loch Tay and River Tay. We also wanted to learn and test journeying skills such as lining, tracking, poling, sailing and general ropework. Accommodation would be in bivis with the sail doubling up as a sociable tarp using the canoes as walls.

On Tuesday morning we loaded the car with 2 canoes, 4 days gear, 5 folk and one dog. Isla very kindly drove us up to Dalrigh between Crianlarich and Tyndrum.

We hoped to drive along the track to the foot of Ben Lui but a ford prevented that (A four wheel drive could cross with the water levels we had) so we set about portaging the canoes. We put one canoe on top of the other and put two full packs in as well. Result was one collapsed trolley (Not a KCS model I hear Mike Thompson shout). Ash is an outdoor instructor and one of his hobbies is testing gear to destruction!

On the Water

We opted to put in at this point (OS 50 340289) and save the Ben Lui start for another trip. Having packed the boats a guy came over to us and expressed surprise that we were not getting in below the fall just downstream! We paddled off nevertheless and found that we could comfortably line the boats through the small drop under a bridge (OS 50 345288). We were off and paddling.

The River Cononish becomes the River Fillan and runs parallel to the A82 to Crianlarich with some gentle bends to warm up the back paddling and setting techniques. We passed the castle on Loch Dochart (another reason to return!) and entered Loch Lubhair. With light fading in a drizzly evening we opted for the opportunity to make our first camp with the benefit of day light, a wise decision as the other two camps were set up at night! We made camp in the trees on a point on the south shore of the loch looking over to Lochdochart House.

The combination of tarp, canoes and bivis worked well. The camp site was "open plan" with plenty of head room. There were none of the hassles of getting in and out of tents. It also saved on the weight of a tent.

Might be different in midge season though. We had a very enjoyable evening round a camp fire.

On the water about 10.30am on Wednesday morning. The paddle towards Killin was meandering with plenty of time to admire the many surrounding Munros. Wobble the dog, would often be dropped off on the bank to have a run and get off the water. Wobble doesn't like water, particularly rapids!

We inspected the rapids about 2km above Killin before running them.

Wobble was on the other bank and eventually decided she could be parted from her owners no longer. Just as the first boat was about to set off Wobble jumped into the grade 2 water downstream and swam (ferry glided) across to our bank!

The Dochart Falls

We arrived at Killin later than planned and had lunch at 4pm, after a long inspection of the rapids with a view to lining the canoes through. We walked down the right chute under the bridge which takes less water but is quite tight at points and decided it would take lined canoes!

We paddled and lined our way down the top part of the rapids. We were getting quite slick now assisted with coaching from Ash. Prepare bow and stern ropes, bridle, paddle down rapids, must make break out, jump onto rock, line down drop, back in boat, ferry glide across to tiny eddy jump out, line down, rest. The crux was next. A tricky powerful chute with a diagonal wave and a large rock blocking bank movement downstream with the rocky bank slippy and slopping towards the river. Within 5 minutes the first canoe had broached and was pinned hull downstream against a large flat midstream rock. Fortunately we had retained both the stern and bow ropes. The gear was secured in two large dry/portage sacs that meant that the gear was safe and also kept a lot water out of the boat. By now we had attracted a lot of interest on the bank with the coach parties having a field day!

The rope attached to the far end of the canoe was tensioned against an upstream tree on the bank and we set about applying tension to the near end of the canoe to pull it of the rock. After the first attempt we set up a Z drag. A photographer arrived with a large camera bag and settled down on the rock slabs selecting his equipment carefully! Soon the coffee and hamburger van would arrive! Very soon the canoe showed signs of movement. Encouraged we put on more strain. The canoe slipped off the rock. It was now back in the flow but back in danger because it was under tension from two ropes and side on to the current. One of us ran over to the rope attached to the tree. It was too tight to loosen quickly. Ash shouted "Cut it", Pull the knife off the buoyancy aid and slash rope....or not...non cutting edge......turn the knife round and ping. The coach parties would really be able to dine out on this........."and do you know what happened next, he shouted CUT IT and the rope was cut". The photographer had missed his chance, repacked and trudged off disconsolately.

We pulled the canoe ashore and inspected the damage. The gunwales were badly bent from where the canoe had broached upstream of the pin. The hull had a couple of ripples but was otherwise fine. A couple of kicks and the gunwale was back in reasonable shape. Next the gear, sleeping bags etc. The Sealline 115 litre boundary bags were bone dry. I was impressed. The trip was still on.

The broach was caused by the gunwale dipping below the water on the diagonal wave taking in water which made directional control difficult. The canoe had briefly broadsided on rocks at each end with the main current hiting the unsupported middle and causing the broach. We believed the pin which lasted about 45minutes caused little or no damage. The downstream line had not been caught by the downstream person because of line of sight problems and therefore had been unable to exert pull on the canoe which may have kept it on line better.

In retrospect we didn't identify the hardest part of the portage and make special plans for it. We were too spaced out along the bank. A third side rope may have helped keep the gunwale above the water. This could have been attached either to the centre thwart or by putting a sliding karabiner on the rear rope. Finally we attempted a difficult task at 5pm after a late lunch, a low spot in the body's day, when concentration was perhaps low.

Plan B - Ask a kind person with a box trailer if we could borrow it for a portage through Killin (Having broken our own trolley). No problem, we were towed through Killin. So this is what a sponsored End to End walk with Canoes would feel like!

We launched onto the River Lochy and made our way onto Loch Tay in the dark. It was a lovely still night for a paddle. We decided to head over to the south shore and began looking for a camp spot and at 8.30pm finding one in the clearing 1.5k to the east of Firbush point. 2 people on food and 2 on accommodation, very soon we had a cosy camp eating lovely pizzas.

We wanted a south westerly the next day to sail down Loch Tay. It duly arrived and the tarp was rigged up. This was no ordinary tarp. Mark 4, it was very light, strong material, 3m x 3m, with fixings for sailing and camp use. By Mark 5 or 6 it is hoped a model will be commercially available.

The canoes were rafted up using a 9m length of wood, the sail hoisted and we did about 7km/hour down the loch even being able to brew up an expresso for our elevenses.

A quick loo and demasting stop at Kenmore before heading down the lovely bumpy stretch to Grandtully. Some rapids were difficult enough without Wobble moving from the bow to the middle of the canoe in mid rapid!

Fast Progress

Our objective was still to reach Dundee but we were behind schedule. The tide would turn at Perth at 8.30am the next morning. Progress was now up to 11km/hour with the river flowing fast and energy restored after the efficient sail down the Loch. We slickly ran Grandtully with bank support and only a stand up inspection to save time and lined the weir below the bridge. A quick snack. It was 5pm and we decided to push on and get to Dunkeld or possibly Campsie Linn before stopping. Progress continued at pace. By 7pm we were at Dunkeld and we decided to call it a day pitching camp in the dark and rain on the left hand bank below Dunkeld. A slick pitch and we were soon snug under the tarp.

A decision to be made. To go for Dundee or opt for Perth. We worked back from the tide starting to flood at Perth and decided a 3am wake up call to be on the water by 4am was needed to catch the ebb at Perth to give the best chance of beating the flood at Dundee. We choose to try for Dundee.

We couldn't communicate this to poor Wobble who spent most of the night rootling for rabbits and only came to bed at 2am. We stirred at 3am, up at 3.30pm and on the water by 4.15am not bad. Poor Wobble was in shock and kept falling asleep. We were confident that there were no rapids of consequence before Campsie nevertheless water makes a noise out of all proportion in the dark. At 6am we rafted up for breakfast and caught the sunrise as we passed the Isla confluence. We lined Campsie and had a warm up session/second breakfast on the bank.

Ominously we had felt the start of a head wind and after running the Stanley to Thistlebrigg section we knew the game was pretty much up. Energy was low after yesterday's 59km paddle and a cold easterly had arrived which would make the leg to Dundee a tricky slog in wind against tide conditions. At 9am we reached Perth and took out just above the first bridge. The Caf and Gallery near the bridge on proved wonderfully welcoming to 4 tired, bedraggled canoeists.

Isla brought the car down and within a nanosecond Wobble was asleep on the back seat. Back to our house and Wobble was fast asleep on the doormat as everyone trundled in and out!

This route goes through great scenery and could be extended to take in the many munros en route. It provides excellent open canoe journeying opportunities and some long stretches of fun rapids. The Tay confluence is the longest in Britain. I'll be back. The one disappointment was the amount of litter left by "users of the outdoors". The first camp site, on Loch Lubhair, although off the beaten track had numerous beer bottles part buried in the long grass. The spot on Loch Tay had a lot of litter, many fireplaces and even two carrier bags of litter carefully collected then hung from a tree.

Some Stats and Gear

The trip started at 2pm on Day 1 and finished at 9am on Day 4. Two Mad River Canoes were ideal for the trip with each person taking no more gear than could fit in the large cascade Boundary bags. 2 poles were used for sailing, poling and camp erection. Sailing Loch Tay can be done with a prevailing wind. The river was flowing fast though not especially high. The upper part of the Cononish would need inspected to work out feasibility of running or lining canoe. Upstream of our start point there were two or three large drops. Longer daylight hours in Spring may be of assistance though the darker nights possibly made camping more discrete. We believed Dochart falls could be lined. A trolley would be necessary as a back up and may also be useful on the upper Cononish. Munros en route include the Ben Lui horseshoe, Ben More, Lawyers range.

OS Maps 50 to 53

• the "upper" Tay River , which runs six kms. (four miles) from near the outlet of Bobs Lake, at Bolingbroke, to Christie Lake - this section is largely uninhabited and optionally includes crossing Christie Lake (six kms.);
• the " "middle" Tay , covering the 17 km. (eleven mile) section from Christie Lake to Perth, has a magnificent mixture of isolation, historic mills, and, near the end, houses, a golf course and small dams (take out in Perth at Haggart Dam or portage to the Perth Basin and have lunch at a great restaurant);
• and, the "lower" section, which is the ten km. long, Tay Canal , from Perth to the Beveridge Locks at Lower Rideau Lake, through the Tay marsh.

• Your Guided Tour on the Tay Canal ~ This guide was produced by the "Tay Canal Tours", which provided guided tours on this historic canal on the Blue Goose between 2014 and 2016.
• " Paddling the Tay " brochure ~ The Tay River is a hidden jewel. It gives one the impression that it is miles from civilization and yet it is literally at our back door. It is a marvelous river to paddle. Printed copies of this brochure are available through the Friend of the Tay Watershed. Many thanks to the team that put this one together.
• Aerial photos of many areas in the Tay watershed ~ click on the aerial photo icon for your area of interest
• Tay River from Glen Tay to Perth; and from Upper Tay to Christie Lake ~ provided by Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists ~ you will need to scroll down the page
• Canoe Routes in the Area ~ including 3 routes in Tay Watershed (#21, #25 & #28) ~ provided by Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists ~ be sure to click on the PDF document Lanark County Canoe & Kayak Journeys and the related canoe journey map .
• Tay River from Christie Lake to Perth ~ perhaps the most popular single route in the watershed ~ provided by John Cole
• Tay Canal ~ Rideau Day Paddling Guide 10
• Tay Canal ~ Rideau Heritage Route ~ See page 7
• Tay Canal ~ see page three of this Rideau Canal Office pdf document
• Tay Canal (upper portion) ~ provided by Canadian Canoe Routes
• Tay Canal from Beveridge Locks up to Perth ~ provided by Scott Crouse
• Tay Canal ~ very brief reference to Tay Canal under "Rideau Lakes Section" in Pat's Rideau Waterway Cruising Guide.
• Tay River - from Beveridge Dam to the Port Elmsley (Mouth of the Tay) ~ provided by Denis Myers
• Docking facilities in Perth for paddlers and other boaters
• Camping at Last Duel Park ~ information, reservations,etc.
• Bird Sightings Along the Tay Canal ~ August 12, 2017 ~ thanks to the many bird watchers who have provided this list of sightings, including the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
• "The Dammed Lakes" , by Lloyd Jones, 1999 - history and ecology of the Bobs and Crow Lakes
• "Living By The Chase" , by Lloyd Jones, 2002 - on the First Nations peoples of the Bobs and Crow Lakes region
• "A Paddle Down the Tay" , by Susan Code - a great, short history of the contentious Tay Canal ~ click here
• The First Tay Canal , by H. R. Morgan - An Abortive Upper Canadian Transportation Enterprise of a Century Ago ~ click here
• "Mills of the Tay" , by David Taylor ~ check out this interesting and informative book on the Mills of the Tay and see if you can locate the remaining mills and mill sites on your journey ~ Click Here for the PDF version.
• A Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
• A buoyant heaving line no less than 15 m (49'3") in length
• A manual propelling device (a paddle or oar)
• A bailer with a certain capacity or a manual water pump
• A sound-signaling device (whistle)
• Navigation lights, if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

Kayaking in Scotland – River Tay, Perth

River tay, perth loop, tay country, perthshire.

Explore the old Scottish capital, Perth City from the water perspective. This Fair City has been shaped by the mighty River Tay, running through it’s heart. These waters are tidal so for your comfort we will use double sea kayaks, making a novice friendly trip. Other crafts are also available, contact us to discuss.

Perth offers over 2000 years of fascinating history facts which we can share with you or at least as much as we can fit into this guided tour. We will tell you as well about some amazing wildlife we have encoutered here; herons, beavers, kingfishers, ottres, buzzards, ospreys and occasionally seals!

Distance: 6.4km

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate , depending on tide and river water level

PADDLING TYPE

Meeting point address.

Meet us in the heart of the city. A small slipway on the right bank of the Tay just upstream of the railway bridge. It’s a short walk from the South Inch Park

///spends.beams.loyal

REQUIREMENTS

Some kayaking experience necessary. Suitable for age 5+

Easy/Moderate

WHAT TO BRING?

Warm clothes, no jeans, suitable for the weather, including shoes you don’t mind to get wet, that’s it. We will have dry bags available so you can carry spare hats, gloves, food, camera, drink and any medications safely with you.

Main point (at the moment) for Outdoor Explore is from Willowgate Activity Centre (Trust run company offering taster sessions to schools, stag, hen parties) – postcode PH2 7JU, next to Perth’s Sailing Club (easy to find by sat nav), with access to toilets.

Additional landing spots:

• Pontoon under M90 Friarton Bridge, east shore at Willowgate Fisheries
• A causeway linking east shore and north edge of Moncrieffe Island
• West shore in Perth has few sets of stairs located by the flood gates
• Pontoon in South Inch Park, west shore at Fergusson Gallery
• Slipway, west shore, north end of Perth’s port

Brief river description

River Tay takes west side (river right) of Moncrieffe (Friarton) Island in Perth City. A causeway (ford – underwater road to the island) located at the north-east edge of the island allowing slower flow river left, manageable even for novice paddlers to travel upstream.

Take upstream direction, to start with. Follow the river left shore for easier travel, e.g. if very windy day, high water flow, little paddling experience by participants… Travel towards the top of the island and return to the main flow of the River Tay once reaching city centre. Take river right all the way back.

You might come across 3 shallow areas, maybe even portages, tide dependant when taking river left side of the island. First one between Willowgate Fisheries pond and the eastern railway bridge. Second under the eastern railway bridge and third, most likely to happen at the causeway. The last one, after trying on many water levels it’s easier to manage when portaging on the mainland, east shore rather than through the island.

Portages will be avoided if high water takes place exactly when you are crossing the causeway. Check tides every time you traveling to built own experience and know what to expect.

Historical facts

• Railway bridges (west and east one) built originally on 1849 have been updated in 1864. Built by the present iron and masonry viaduct opened in May 1864, designed by B. H. Blyth [1819-1866] and erected by Lee & Freeman at a cost of about £27 000. More can be found here .

Perth City – an ancient capital of Scotland. Called by Roman Bertha/Perth is translated as “wood” from Cumbric and Pictish Gaelic languages and from Celtic as “Aber The”, meaning “mouth of the Tay”. More can be found here .

St Matthews’s Church – an iconic structure at the west shore of the River Tay. Constructed in 1871, a very interesting place to be for anyone who has an interest in architecture, stained glass, history, war memorabilia and more. More can be hound here .  

It’s also worth reading about the road crossings in the city, it’s Georgians waterfront and botanical aspects of the city. Théâtre, museums and parks are also a good idea to point along the way

Often we came across oyster catchers, herons, beavers, buzzards, osprey, deer, dippers, otters, salmon. There have been records of seal even reaching the city!

Some of these animals will be more active during the day, some towards evening (e.g. beavers). Traffic on the water also will affect it (recently launched city boat tours – check Perth City website for timings), rare but still happening larger ships coming in to Perth Port and jety skies launching from the Port’s slipway.

Tide dependant, you can extend the trip by another 1.5km when reaching the old road bridge in Perth. Even more when you can paddle as far as Scone Palace and back to Willowgate Activity Centre within two and a half hours!

River Tay is the longest one in Scotland. It’s 117 miles (188km) long, starting at Allt Coire Laoigh, Ben Lui, Scottish Highlands. It becomes tidal from Perth. T he River Tay is Scotland’s longest river and the United Kingdom’s 7th longest river and largest river by water volume discharge, at 100 cubic metres per second.

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Canoe Expeditions with Frontier Bushcraft

Scroll below to browse our canoe trips and skills training offerings, then click on “find out more” for each to see the full details…

River Spey Canoe Expedition

If you want to graduate to wilderness canoe touring there is no better way in Britain than this classic Scottish river journey. Starting at Loch Insh, in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountains, your descent of the River Spey will lead you to the sea at Spey Bay, wild camping each night along the way. Find out more…

The Missinaibi Canoe Expedition

A two-week voyage through the Canadian wilderness of northern Ontario, on a river which was one of the arterial trade routes of the canoe era. Since then, the Missiniabi’s remoteness has helped protect its natural heritage. This journey is a wilderness canoe expedition in the truest sense and there is great potential for spotting and observing wildlife throughout the trip. Find out more…

The Bloodvein River Canoe Expedition

The Bloodvein represents a big trip in big country. The land through which the Bloodvein flows is a region of boreal forest the size of Denmark called Pimachiowin Aki (The Land That Gives Life), which Manitoba, Ontario and five First Nations are proposing be a UNESCO world heritage site. The David Suzuki foundation calls it the largest intact piece of boreal forest on the planet. Find out more…

The Porcupine River Canoe Expedition

The Porcupine is Saskatchewan’s most northerly river. Starting on the border between northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, this is a true northern wilderness river, in the land of “the little sticks”. The Porcupine is remote and spectacular. Paddling aficionados consider it possibly the best river trip in this part of the world. Yet very few paddle the route in any given year. Find out more…

Expedition Canoe Skills Training

Expedition canoeing skills course (5 days).

If you’d love to make canoe journeys – large or small – then this week-long programme delivers the paddling and campcraft skills you need to get under way with canoe-camping trips… Find out more…

KAYAK TOURS TO SHELL KEY 

On our clear or coastal kayaks.

Come join us on St Pete's best guided kayak tour to Shell Key, launching from Tierra Verde. You'll get the finest kayaking tour around the Shell Key nature preserve, exploring Mangrove tunnels from either a Clear transparent kayak or from one of our traditional Coastal kayaks. From either Clear or Coastal kayak, you'll get a memorable experience as your professional guide gives you a fascinating narration on the background and the biology of the 1,800 acre preserve, including the fascinating Mangrove tunnels of the Shell Key preserve. At Shell Key, you get an opportunity to see dolphins, manatees, rays, horseshoe crab, and a variety of shore birds. St Pete Kayaking offers the finest Clear and Coastal kayaking tours in St Pete! All of our kayaking tours launch from beautiful island of Tierra Verde. Only we let you choose between single kayaks and double kayaks. 

Clear Kayaks in the Mangrove Tunnels

Coastal Kayak in the late afternoon

Coastal Kayak greeted by a Manatee

Our guided kayak tours to shell key can accommodate from 2 persons to 32 people, and are approximately 3  hours long, depending on conditions, and the pace of the group.  the tours launch from tierra verde, and paddle through the protected waters and mangroves tunnels of the shell key wildlife preserve in pinellas county. an 1,800 acre preserve, these waters are well traveled by dolphins, manatees, rays, as well as a variety of shore birds, including pelicans, egrets, herons, cormorants, osprey, and sometimes roseate spoonbills. as a guided kayak eco-tour, our tour guides will provide narration to our guests, highlighting the natural beauty of the shell key preserve. just as we do from our boat tours..

OUR TOUR GUIDES

PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED, PASSIONATE

Island ferry tour guides have all of these traits and more. above all else, our tour guides thrive on passing on their experiences to our customers, and helping create memories that will last a lifetime. they carry certifications in wilderness first-aid, river rescue, and more., expectations.

Please be advised that kayaking is a physically strenuous activity. This tour is a 4-mile paddle, and you must at least be in moderate physical condition to complete the tour.

Don't forget to bring water.

This is a tour of a nature preserve, away from civilization. If you are averse to mud, ants, insects, or wild brush, this tour is NOT for you.

Minimum age is 8+ years old. Children 14 and under must ride tandem with an adult. 

Because of limited capacity of the kayaks,  there is a weight limit of 250lbs (113k) per individual.

What To Bring

Bring plenty of bottled water.

Wear your swimsuit, or anything that is comfortable when wet.

Water shoes or flip-flops. ​

Sunscreen, hat, and glasses.

A towel to keep in your car for afterward.

$54+tax per person for Coastal Kayaks.

$59+tax per person for Clear Kayaks.

Trips run 7 days a week, 2 daytime trips, and a sunset tour late in the day. Call ahead for exact departure times.

FREE parking at our launch site in Tierra Verde. ​

We supply life jackets and dry bags

Trip duration is approximately 3 hours.

You can purchase tickets online or by phone!

Cancellations: No refunds for cancellations less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure. No refunds for "no shows".  We give FULL refunds if Island Ferry cancels for inclement weather.

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This Glass-bottomed Kayak Tour in Florida Was Just Named the Best Activity in the U.S.

Clear kayaks, full hearts, can't lose.

Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel.

What you do on vacation is just as important as where you go. And some experiences are so great , travelers can't help but leave five-star review after five-star review, providing other travelers with a rundown of what activities are truly worth your time.

The clear kayak tour through Shell Key Preserve near St. Petersburg, Florida, is one such activity. It was rated the best activity in the U.S . by almost 2,000 TripAdvisor reviews in 2021. Travelers raved about the unbeatable views of dolphins , rays, manatees, turtles, and even small sharks thanks to the clear kayaks' unique vantage point. The trip, which is offered by Get Up And Go Kayaking in Tierra Verde, Florida, takes travelers along Florida's mangroves and even through a mangrove tunnel (tide permitting). The journey also includes a stop at Shell Key where you can enjoy the pristine sandbars and beach and a visit to the preserve's wildlife sanctuary for a little birdwatching.

This Beach Destination Is Florida's Most Underrated Seaside City

One traveler posted on Tripadvisor that "the water was crystal clear. We could see fish, diving birds, some dolphins, rays, and a small shark." And almost 2,000 other travelers agree, ranking the experience as "excellent" and giving it five out of five stars on Tripadvisor.

If you want to take the clear-kayak adventure one step further , the company also offers a night trip, where LED lights on clear kayaks illuminate the water below you. The nighttime trip also includes a trip to the Shelly Key Preserve, where Get Up And Go Kayaking's website says "there may be some surprise visits from wildlife."

The daytime tour is $64 per person and lasts two to two-and-a-half hours. The night tour is $69 for a one-and-a-half-hour trip and is only available for kids ages 12 and up. Both trips leave from Billy's Stone Crab restaurant in Tierra Verde, Florida.

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