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Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 12 > canoeing
Scotland can offer a wide variety of canoeing and kayaking opportunities with awe-inspiring lochs and mountain scenery, tumbling rivers, inland waterways and canals and a marvellous coastline with a multitude of islands to explore.
Particularly suitable for families is the Canadian, or open, canoe. These can take two adults and two children comfortably with all the kit stowed in between. On flat water this would give the younger members of the group a chance to paddle and feel part of the experience.
Canadian canoeing is especially popular on lochs such as Loch Lomond and the lochs that are part of the Great Glen Waterway - Loch Ness being the most famous of these. For a wilderness experience there is Loch Ba set in the remote and beautiful Rannoch Moor.
The appealing aspect of these trips is, that being a relatively small country, you can experience these different landscapes with little travelling. The River Spey is famous for its canoeing experience and many have enjoyed the Spey descent with its changing scenery and canoeing challenges.
For quiet paddling why not try the canal network. The Crinan Canal is particularly picturesque taking you from sea to inland loch. The Lowland canals between Glasgow and Edinburgh are now open and accessible with the new Falkirk Wheel mid-way to give a visitor attraction on the way.
A more exciting experience could be enjoyed by kayaking some of Scotland?s rivers to get that adrenaline rush. The best white water rivers are in the north of the country - on the west try the Roy, Orchy and Etive in the Fort William/Glencoe area while towards the east there are the Findhorn and Feshie in the Aviemore area.
Sea kayaking is also popular and with such a varied coastline there are all levels of difficulty. The west and north coast are rugged and indented while the east is gentler but colder with the breezes coming in from the North Sea. There are awesome sea caves to visit in Shetland, and nooks and crannies among the Hebridean Islands and Skye.
Dotted throughout Scotland are centres where you can hire equipment and guides for the various types of canoeing and kayaking, so you do not even have to bring your own equipment.
Preferably you should be able to swim 50 metres fully clothed, but canoeing is carried out on the water and not in it! It is also important to get some initial training from a coach or an experienced canoeist on how to control and paddle your boat. Swimming pools are often used for such basic training.
Approved centres offer courses at all levels and provide excellent resources for learning too, so there?s no reason not to try out canoeing or build on skills you already have.
Dave Rossetter
Scottish Canoe Association
The following holiday cottages are situated within easy reach of the locations mentioned above: