Wilderness Scotland - Canoe & Kayaking Holidays

Nothing quite beats the thrill of exploring from the water. Let Wilderness Scotland take through tranquil gorges or underneath rugged cliffs, enjoy the opportunity to get close to the local wildlife and discover hidden places unaccessible to landlubbers. 

Scotland is a wonderful destination for sea kayaking holidays with white sand beaches, rugged coastlines and fascinating seastacks. Many of our trips are suitable for people with limited experience of sea kayaking. 

Our canoeing holidays range from multi-day river descents to a crossing of the infamous Great Glen. One of the ancient forms of transport and discovery, a canoe is a great way to go out and explore new places. Pack everything you need and let the river take you away somewhere special.

Under the watchful eye of our experienced and highly qualified guides, you can develop your paddling skills while discovering the amazing landscapes and wildlife of Scotland. On each one of our trips you will receive personal coaching throughout. As well as being very knowledgeable on the local flora, fauna, history and culture - our guides will ensure that you have a safe and incredible holiday. 

Most of our guided group departures leave and return to railway stations as we encourage our clients to book rail travel where possible and travel in a sustainable way.

If you’re a beginner our Introduction Course is a perfect play to start, allowing you to learn the basic skills while exploring beautiful surroundings. A bit harder but still on the easy side we have our Scottish Highlands sea kayaking holiday and our green-graded trip to the Isle of Mull. 

We also offer expeditions for the more experienced kayaker with wild camping on remote beaches and islands - a genuine wilderness experience.

• Isle of Mull : Based on the beautiful Ross of Mull peninsula, this paddling journey explores the hidden bays scattered along Mull’s coastline and the sheltered stretches of water that link them. You’ll enjoy private lodgings, located just less than a mile from Fionnphort. Equipped with a bright and airy lounge area and outdoor seating, there’s no better way to relax and enjoy the sunset after a great day on the water.
• Scottish Highlands : Combine adventure with comfort as you enjoy day trips exploring the coast and returning to cozy Highland Inns. 
• With a 1:4 guide to client ratio, learn essential sea kayaking skills as you explore the outstanding coastal scenery of the north west Highlands, kayaking in the sheltered waters of its sea lochs.
• The Atlantic Coast : With overnights in comfortable accommodations, we’ll take to the water on some of Scotland’s wildest, most beautiful sea lochs that lie between the Sound of Mull and the Rough Bounds. On these waters, you can expect stunning scenery, great paddling, wildlife sightings and a lot of laughs as your expert guides lead you through marine wildlife reserves, past ruined castles and gorgeous sandy beaches.

• Introduction Course : If you haven’t tried sea kayaking in Scotland before, this short break will equip you with the essential kayaking skills to get you started while exploring the beautiful surroundings. At the end of a day on the water enjoy cosy accommodation at a private bunkhouse on the shores of Upper Loch Torridon.
• The Summer Isles : The Summer Isles are some of the most scenic islands in Scotland. Gor for an inspiring journey through this stunning seascape. This area is known for its rich marine wildlife with dolphins, porpoises, seals and even whales inhabiting these waters. In the sky, there are many varieties of sea birds and golden eagles can sometimes be seen as well. We’ll go ashore on many of the islands, allowing you to really get to know the character of the islands during the trip, from both land and sea.
• Sound of Arisaig : Our exploration of the Sound of Arisaig is the perfect trip for sampling the amazing beauty of the West Coast and Inner Hebrides. At the end of each day unwind on remote campsites on isolated beaches and on islands covered by colourful natural woodlands.
• Island Hopping the Outer Hebrides : Kayaking around the Outer Hebrides is a superb way to discover the crystal clear turquoise waters, incredible wildlife and stunning coastal scenery. For the first 3 nights of the trip we will be based from a bunkhouse at a thatched heritage village on the west coast of Lewis, before setting out for 2 nights wild camping on an expedition by sea kayak. For the last night of the trip, we return to Stornoway where a celebration meal, hot showers and warm beds await us after a wonderful time of Outer Hebrides sea kayaking.

• Canoeing the Scottish Highlands : Canoe on silver lochs and flowing rivers, relax at charming Highland accommodation and learn new canoe skills in the company of an expert wilderness guide on this fantastic Scottish canoe adventure. Suitable for both beginners and intermediate canoeists, you will learn new skills and develop good technique while enjoying classic day trips on Scottish rivers and lochs.

• The Great Glen Canoe Trail : This 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.
• The River Spey Descent : This exhilarating Scottish river trip descends the famous River Spey passing through pine forests, heather-covered hills and Scotland’s most celebrated whisky region. Along the way we'll camp along beautiful spots on the river bank. 
• The North West Highlands : For a truly push-the-boundaries experience explore Scotland’s North West Highlands via canoe. Journey through one of the most primeval wilderness areas of Scotland. Be one of the few that paddle these secluded waters and enjoy the stunning scenery of undulating heather moorland, peat bogs and lochs. Mix of bunkhouse overnights and wild camping.

We can also run private sea kayaking and canoeing trips  - contact us to discuss your ideas and let us design the perfect itinerary for you, regardless of what standard of paddler you are.

As well as sea kayaking and canoeing trips, Wilderness Scotland runs guided and self guided walking holidays, mountain biking, sailing, road cycling, wildlife and photography holidays. We also offer a range of family multi-activity holidays and self-driving itineraries, as well as a bespoke holiday service. Please see our website for full details of our trips and services.

We are firmly committed to responsible tourism and all of our tours reflect that commitment. Our holidays are purposefully designed to provide a visitor experience that maximises the positive benefits of tourism while minimising any negative impacts. We are staunch advocates of the Leave No Trace principles, in which our guides are fully trained. On all of our activities, our guides will ensure that the impact on the environment, wildlife and local community is minimised. During your trip, our guides will teach you how to do this so that the knowledge is spread on your travels in Scotland and further afield. Our guides are ambassadors for Scotland's wild places and are passionate about sharing their knowledge. 

It's not just on trips that we promote sustainable processes! We operate our holidays out of a carbon-neutral headquarters which is powered by renewable energy. We reduce, reuse and recycle, using environmentally friendly products from local suppliers where possible. In addition, our office car park hosts two public EV charging stations, and we subsidise staff usage. We encourage car-sharing and compete monthly for the most environmentally friendly commute! Lastly, we are committed to contributing annually to a nature-based charity that promotes conservation in Scotland. Check out our Sustainability Page for more info. 

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