Open Canoe Escape

Family time is the best time.

Time in nature is a close second.

Freshly-made pizza or burgers might be right behind those...

Doing all that AND having a canoe adventure in one weekend, what's not to like?

This unique experience is for families (min. 10 years) or for couples and friends to 'get away from it all' and relax. No cooking and no internet! So, grab some friends and join one of our local guides on a weekend 'escape' in Ardnamurchan.

The distances paddled each day will be quite small, making them ideal for novice and younger adventurers. Your guide ensures you get the most from your trip by tailoring it to you and ensuring your safety and comfort.

We aim to make a linear journey (A-B-C) on Loch Sunart, but the winds may force us to paddle elsewhere or make an 'out and back' (A-B-A) journey. If you have some canoe experience already, then ask us for a longer route or more remote location for your wild camp.

Food is included from Saturday lunch through to Sunday lunch with the opportunity to make your own pizza or burgers (subject to availability and your dietary requirements) from scratch on Saturday evening.

While we certainly intend you to stay in your canoe and dry, on very rare occasions people do capsize and fall in. It does (only occasionally) rain in Scotland, so please dress appropriately. We can supply waterproof jackets and trousers for paddling, but you may wish to bring dry waterproofs to wear on land (if it looks like being a rainy weekend).

The requirements for a canoe experience are minimal. You should:

1. be at least 10 years old,
2. have an average level of fitness,
3. be prepared to have fun exploring on the water and land,
4. enjoy being outdoors and working, generally, at a leisurely pace.

For all our activities under-18's must be accompanied on the activity by their parent or legal guardian on a maximum ratio of 1 adult to 2 children.

If any of the following apply, please get in touch with us before booking and we'll do our best to accommodate you on an adventure:

1. your height or weight are above average,
2. lack experience in canoeing,
3. or have a specific medical or dietary needs.

CAMPING EQUIPMENT

1. Sleeping bag
2. Sleeping mat
3. We can supply waterpoof jackets and trousers for teens and upwards to wear whilst paddling, but you may wish to bring your own waterproofs to wear on land in the evening.
4. Extra warm clothes for the evening
5. Head torch
6. Personal wash kit & small towel
7. Family first aid kit, including any personal medications
8. We supply plates, bowls, cutlery, etc. but you may prefer to bring your own

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

1. Clothes to wear under your waterproofs (please avoid jeans and cotton clothes - outdoor or fitness clothing will be an excellent choice)
2. Shoes to wear during the activity - these may get wet, so old trainers are fine
3. Sunhat and beanie (one for day, the other for evening)
4. Gloves and beanie for the evening
5. Sunglasses (with retainer cord)
6. Suncream and midge repellant
7. Water bottle and snacks
8. Spare clothes and towel (just in case)
9. Personal accident and possessions insurance

Day 1: 10:00

Meet at Otter Adventures to kit up and pack your waterpoof bags (one 100 litre dry bag and 30 litre barrel per canoe) before heading on to the start point

We aim to make an A-B-C journey on Loch Sunart, but the wind may force us to use a more sheltered location or make an A-B-A journey

We may have lunch at our start point before canoeing anywhere - it's all very flexible.

After a few hours paddling and wildife watching (hopefully), you'll help cook dinner over an open fire before camping under the stars at an appropriate wild camp spot.

Day 2:

After a hearty breakfast, we will get back in the canoes and paddle to the finish for between 14:00 and 15:00 to allow time to load the canoes on the trailer, get back to Otter Adventures and sort out all the equipment from the weekend..

You should be on your way home by 16:00 after an amazing weekend cretaing memories to share and stories to tell in the coming weeks and years.