Guided canoeing excursion on the Great Glen Canoe Trail

Discover rural Scotland from its infamous freshwater lochs on this guided canoeing excursion in the heart of the Highlands.

A landscape designed by Mother Nature’s slow march towards the North Sea, what was once an enormous glacier is now a series of interconnected lochs that have defined life in the Scottish Highlands for centuries. Explore Fort William’s local Loch Oich in the Caledonian Canal System on this scenic canoe trip - learning about the myth, legend, and interesting facts that make this region of Great Glen so special.

Location
Loch Oich is a 1km freshwater loch in the Highlands of Scotland. Near Fort William and Fort Augustus, it forms of the Caledonian Canal, lying between Loch Ness and Loch Lochy in the Great Glen. A two-hour drive from Inverness, Citylink runs regular services from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Oban and Skye. You can also get a bus directly from Glasgow Airport to Fort William (twice a day in the summer).

Activity
Meet your instructor at the activity base for a guided canoeing tour in Loch Oich. Part of the Caledonian Canal System, choose from a two-hour or half-day excursion that will explore part of this local freshwater loch in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Suitable for young families from 6 years old and groups of friends alike, everyone will get an introduction to the canoe equipment and the basic techniques that are used to paddle the boat forwards and backward as well as stopping and turning your boat (two people per canoe).  A scenic excursion for adventure nomads and animal lovers alike, learn about the loch’s unique biodiversity that is tied to local legend and experience its stunning heather moors, sloping fens, and crystal clear water from the safety of your own open-top canoe.

Conditions
Loch Oich is part of the Great Glen Canoe Trail and Caledonian Canal System. The most sheltered loch in a series of 4 that stretches from Inverness to Fort William, it offers great conditions for canoe trips. Rich in wildlife with a wide variety of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, every autumn the Atlantic salmon migration becomes a popular attraction – with ‘salmon leaping spots’ and a designated trail upstream.