Open Canoe 5 day Wilderness Trip (Scotland)

This course is for paddlers who would like to enjoy the experience of an extended canoe journey, without having to organise the planning and logistics unassisted.

Our aim is to operate as a self-sufficient team, carrying everything we need with us as we go. We meet on the first morning, pack the canoes with food and equipment for the trip, and set off. Throughout the journey your guides will share with you their knowledge and experience in such areas as:

- Route planning - Weather
- Loading a canoe - Campcraft and Bushcraft
- Navigation - Wildlife
- Portage skills

We also include the coaching of various paddling skills as appropriate, to ensure the group has the necessary skills to undertake the journey safely.

The exact itinerary will depend on the prevailing weather conditions and group ability.

The trip will include skills tuition but is not just about paddling - we will also look at other useful skills such as poling and sailing.

We will also be taking along a Tipi for group use, so you can experience this fantastic form of camping firsthand!

Itineraries:

Loch Shiel - The plan is to paddle the length of Loch Shiel, then down the river Shiel to explore Loch Moidart, and back into Loch Shiel, camping at various sites along the way (all depending on the group and the prevailing weather conditions).

Loch Ness and the Great Glen -A classic trip in Nessie territory - a big loch with options to paddle on the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal, in the midst of stunning scenery of grandeur.

The River Spey - This brilliant salmon river takes us all the way from the Cairngorm Mountains through to the east coast of Scotland, it's a fast moving and beautiful introduction to moving water canoeing for the novice.

All trips are suitable for beginners but those with experience will be sure to add to their existing skill sets with the help of our superb coaches.

Please Note - Young people aged 14 to 17 years must be accompanied by a participating adult. We are unable to offer a reduced rate for Under 18s for any of our wilderness canoe activities.

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£375.00

3 Star award pass fees

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£12.00

BCU Moderate Water Endorsement White Water Kayak Training and Assessment

This award is designed for BCU UKCC Level 2 Coaches who hold a 4* leader award and wish to introduce paddlers to the moderate water environment.
This is a great award to take your Level two coaching skills into a more dynamic environment. It also allows you register to become a three star assessor in the chosen discipline.
We run this course as a one day training, then one day assessment take a look at the prerequisites if you have all the training ones in place you can do the training and assessment over two consecutive days get in touch if you need advice.
Equipment hire is not included

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£150.00

Equipment hire for BCU courses.

Equipment hire for BCU Star Awards or Safety and Rescue courses.

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£40.00

White Water Rafting Voucher for the Adrenaline Session at Bala - Individual Place

A voucher for one rafting on the Mighty River Tryweryn

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£70.00

Bunkhouse B&B

1 night Bunkhouse B&B for 1 person.

To book 2 nights for 2 people please enter the quantity as 4, to book 2 nights for 3 people enter the quantity as 6, etc.

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£25.00

Explore White Water Kayaking 2 day course

If you have ever fancied running the rapids on a river then this is the course for you. We take pride in this course. You will learn a lot, do a lot of kayaking and if you are not superhuman your muscles will be aching for most of the following week! Take it from us, those aching limbs bring back plenty of memories to cheer your working days. Kayaking keeps many office workers sane, though their colleagues may disagree!

We include a lecture, a flat water session to develop your basic paddling skills, and then it is on to the adrenaline-pumping white water for the rest of the 2 days.

Moving water skills include breaking in, breaking out, ferry gliding and running small drops. Flat water skills include turning, edging, low brace, high recovery, turning under pressure.

Building on the content of the one day course, these two days are totally focused on you being able to pick your own way down a river, as opposed to being pushed by the flow! We love this course - it's paddling at its best. This course is for those who are fairly new to the sport, have held a paddle, floated around and loved it but desperately want to increase the tempo! (or with no experience, good balance, and a will to work hard!).
Please Note - Young people aged 14 to 17 years must be accompanied by a participating adult. We are unable to offer a reduced rate for Under 18s for any of our White Water activities.

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£178.20

Gift Voucher - Any Activity or Course - £100.00

Gift Vouchers can be used as full or part payment for any of our courses or activities. Any shortfall in the cost will be payable at the time of booking.

Gift Vouchers are undated and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase - the activity must take place during this period.

Gift Vouchers have no cash value and are non-transferable and non-extendable. On receipt of your voucher you will need to contact us to book a date for your activity.

Minimum ages apply for all of our courses and all Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult.

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£100.00

Explore Bushcraft and Survival 2 day course

Bushcraft is all about being able to use the land to make surviving easier and more comfortable. This is the course that teaches you how to be warm, dry, fed and safe while outdoors. This knowledge will help you if you go camping, if you like to walk in the hills, if you go canoeing or if you want to rough it out in the sticks.

We will cover:-
Fire lighting – sparks, one match, friction
Water Filtration – natural and pumps
Shelters – Tarps, debris, woven walls
Cooking – Cantilever, height adjustable, multi pot, ovens
Food prep – Rabbits and trout
Navigation – basic natural compasses
Tools – Saws, knifes, care, use and sharpening
Cordage – roots and nettles
Order/plans – what comes first? Where to site your camp?

This is not a militaristic course at all and is taught in a friendly fun manner, fully catered to enable you to get the most out of it.

Please Note - Young people aged 14 to 17 years must be accompanied by a participating adult.

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£200.00

3 Star Kayak Training and Assessment

Two-day 3 Star Kayak Training and assessment course.

The 3 Star is where the skills become discipline specific so this course is for Kayak. This is a progression from the 2 Star and is aimed at getting the paddler to an intermediate level.


A successful performance at 3 Star level shows that the paddler is competent to paddle on moving. They can do this in a competent manner as part of a led group. There also have the knowledge and ability to help with the running of a trip while being led down a section of a grade 2 river.

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£150.00