[Closed] Great Glen Canoe Trail

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That looks superb, it's on my to do list.

Look fantastic - hoping to it this summer.

I have some questions!!

Was there a reason for going from Inverness to Fort Bill?

Did you carry a trolley for the portages?

Can you recommend some good wild camping spots?

Did you hire the boat or take your own and get transport back?

cheers

Was it the Caledonian Canal you canoed then? (not being a smartarse of course)

Normal route is FB to Inver isn't it...because of prevailing winds. I think it gets changed if the forecast is for northerly winds for a few days.

I did this with ElVino a few years back using sea kayaks - it was brilliant - but we did end up plugging into the wind for quite a bit of it. I had no ideas the swells (or whatever they are on lochs) could be that scary.

EDIT: There are grand spots for camping at the lochs. Sometimes there are trolleys padlocked for portages. Sometimes there aren't. Our guide had a key for all the shower blocks and washing facilities along the way which he purchased from British Waterways. If I was going self-guided, I'd make sure I had one of these keys.

As part of the GG Canoe Trail infrastructure, there are now portage trolleys along the way.
http://greatglencanoetrail.info/

there are now portage trolleys along the way.

Woo hoo!

(wish they'd been there when we did it). TBF, they were at the long portages. The short ones we managed ok. Bit of a schlep but nothing we weren't expecting.

Yes we hired canoes with trolleys, in fact everything you needed even down to a waterproof bag w toilet roll a trowel and hand wash was provided in the package, hence recommending Explore Highland, Donald was heavily involved in setting up the trail, and wrote the book his passion for it was unbelievable
You definately need a trolley, they are at the locks but only one so of your in a group it would take a while to get all canoes across
We went east to west as that was the wind direction (had been for about a week which was unusual, however on our 2nd day it switched and was slightly against us, third day no wind at all but we only had 8km left by then, we basically completed it in 2 10 hour days which included plenty of stops (prob 7-8 hours paddling)
Plenty of camping spots, we camped at Foyers and on Loch Oich

Yep the waves did get a bit scary on first day, about 7 foot on loch ness, and came from nowhere, was surprising how quick the water could change, we where lucky it was bordering on getting dangerous and we did get a bit swamped when we tried to head back into the coast and got washed against some rocks, was quite challenging to bAil out and get going again!

Shower / toilet key was £5 per person (you need a canoe permit a week in advance so they know how many people in your group, the money goes towards maintaining the facilities so its worth it) from Scottish Waterways office at either end, think that worked out at £2.50 a wee for me!

In the process of trying to sort this out in the next few weeks. Might give them a call.

Can't thank you enough for posting this. I travel up to the Hebrides each year and always dream of having a play on the canal. Having no canoe experience this will make it attainable.

so how feasible is it to do this with minimal experience? How hard is the paddling?

How hard is the paddling?

Too hard for you I reckon TeeJ. Maybe drop in for a day - you'd probably get by - but the whole trip? Nah...

TJ I hadn't canoed since I was about 12, rest of the group never had so yes it's feasible assuming your relatively fit
Donald will tailor packages and include half a days tuition if you request it

Cool- I have done a multiday trip in a canoe about 20 years ago - on rivers as well

Sorry, I was joking of course. My friend and I did the kayak version (INTO THE ****ING WIND) a couple of years ago and we managed ok - it was hard work but doable.

I guessed that DD

Nice post. Was thinking about doing this myself after my visit to ft bill. Would probably prefer a kayak (open top).

I would go with a sit-in kayak with splash-deck myself. Open top could get bloody cold if the wind and swell is up.

We did a similar holiday last year, one of the best holidays I've had in Scotland, looking forward to doing something similar this year!

Glenfinnan - Loch Shiel - Acharacle - River Moidart - Loch Moidart

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Thinking of the next one now - Ireland coast to coast
Dublin to Limerick
230km
Grand Canal, River Shannon
Struggling to find info on Irish canoe hire companies that will do one way hire though

Got weeks to spare?

We wanted to trace the footsteps of Sir Alexander Mackenzie and paddle across Canada. Didn't have the time so we did the latter part of his trip and paddled from Hay river on Great slave lake to Inuvik near the Arctic Ocean. 5 Weeks on the water and 1000 miles.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/northwest-territories/inuvik/activities/watersports/western-arctic-adventures

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11 year ago now. We only had a couple of canoe trips in the lakes as practice but we were 18 so immune from death.