OPEN CANOE & SEA KAYAK OVERNIGHT TOURS & EXPEDITIONS

Snowgoose Mountain Centre provides a wide range of spring, summer and autumn journey based paddling holidays & courses by sea kayak or open canoe.

These courses are only led by local, friendly, professionally qualified and experienced instructors & guides.
These journey based holidays are based on the mainly marine coastal fringes of the west coast as well as our deep fresh water inland lochs – we can often offer the unique opportunity to combine these different paddling environments.

Our inland freshwater paddling takes place on Loch Lochy, Loch Arkaig, Loch Sheil, Loch Garry, Loch Etive – all surrounded by magnificent highland mountain scenery down to the shores of the lochs.

There are 3 coast to coast paddling options available by paddling the “overland” challenging paddling route from Rannoch Moor to the east and south and then down to the River Tay; the 70 mile long inland Caledonian Canal Open Canoe Trail from Fort William takes in the open water of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness and is an ideal introduction to mulitday canoe touring. However the open waters can be a major challenge to novice paddlers in adverse weather conditions.

The tidal coastal inlets of upper Loch Linnhe, Loch Eil and Loch Leven are our locally our nearest salt water – more or less on our door step!
The marine fringes around and off the Sound of Arisaig from sheltered Loch Morar to Arisaig – exploring the many inlets, islands, remote peninsulas and skerries on the way. This area has dramatic views out to the Small Isles and the Isle of Skye.
We have a starting point in the deep coastal inlet of Loch Sunart which gives us access to the most westerly fringes of Europe – then we either turn left and south-east down towards Loch Aline in the Sound of Mull or right and north-west up towards Ardnamurchan Point and on towards the Sound of Arisaig.

We have access to excellent Coastal Paddling in lower Loch Linnhe further down towards the Sound of Mull and the Linn of Lorne off the Argyll coastline. Here there are slightly more challenging and brisk tidal conditions flowing between the many islands.

Participants going on our paddling expeditions – whether by Open Canoe or Sea Kayak, both in the UK and overseas find that our courses are an excellent value preparation for such expeditions.
If your group, college, university or club has some specific needs we are more than happy to custom tailor courses your requirements

Previous Experience
In order that you and your fellow paddlers can get the most from these highly enjoyable multi day paddling journeys we strongly suggest that you should have at least 2 full days of previous paddling experience in an open canoe or sea kayak for the Wild Camping Overnight trips along with some skills training. The longer expeditions are most suitable for paddlers who are already at BCU 2* + Level/Proficiency Level or who wish to take part in "journeying" by Open Canoe or Sea Kayak with a guide.
If you do not have this then you are more than welcome to join one of our Introductory or Intermediate Skills training courses prior to taking part. It is also suggested that you have at least some previous camping experience. Our longer trips do need some extra commitment in terms personal fitness, skills level and previous experience.
Details
Accommodation will be in a bothy or wild camp – usually the later. All equipment provided, but no food. 
Course Itineraries: - This is an ideal introduction to the ethos of the traditional use of open Canadian Canoes or Sea Kayaks for travelling, trading & journeying in wilderness locations. Most importantly this is the opportunity to enjoy the wide and varied remote wilderness areas, which can only be reached by open canoe or sea kayak.
The journey will: -

• Develop personal paddling skills through individual coaching during the journey so that participants are more personally competant and confident at the end of the expedition.
• Develop methods of canoe sailing
• Give participants the chance to take part in the planning of  each stage of the journey under supervision - weather, logistics, tides etc - if they so wish.
• Enable students take part in decision making and leadership roles during the expedition if they so wish

Objectives: -By the end of the journey students should: feel totally confident about taking part in this level of expedition; be able to plan and execute their own expeditions of this type with paddlers of their own ability; be able to take part in more advanced expeditions under supervision.

 WILD CAMPING OVERNIGHT TOURS                                                                                                 Open Canoe & Sea Kayak 
Ratio1:8                                                                                                                                                                    2 days  / 1 overnight
Previous experience required: Paddlers should have already taken part in several  full days of paddling and be reasonably fit. Participants should be able to put into practice at least BCU 2* proficiency skills at an appropriate level and is an ideal opportunity for those who wish to take part in "journeying" by Open Canoe or Sea Kayak.
Minimum Age: - 16 years unaccompanied (or 14 years as part of a specific youth or school paddling group or family group on the advice of Snowgoose Mountain Centre).

Loch Linnhe & Loch Eil                                                                                                                                    Open Canoe or Sea Kayak
2 days / 1 over night wild camp
Ratio  1:8
Guided 2 day paddling tour & skills training with 1 overnight wild camp. This is an ideal introduction to an over night The itinerary will include: - From Corpach paddle down the wild side of Loch Linnhe with the tide camping along the way down as far as Corran narrows with a return to Corpach - or if the tides are right paddle out round & past the islands into Loch Eil to camp at the head of the Loch - return to Corpach on the tide. In open canoes this can also be an introduction to canoe sailing in rafted canoes if the wind is fair.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Remote Loch Sheil
Open Canoe
2 days / 1 over night wild camp
Ratio  1:8
Guided 2 day paddling tour & skills training with 1 overnight wild camp. The itinerary will include: - From Glenfinnan paddle down Loch Sheil camping along the way, with return to Glenfinnan. In open canoes this can also be an introduction to canoe sailing in rafted canoes if the wind is

Wild Loch Arkaig
Open Canoe
2 days / 1 over night
Ratio  1:8
Guided local paddle & skills training with an overnight wild camp on the shores of Loch Arkaig - maybe visit the Burial Isle then either finish at White Bridge. Excellent location for wild life on this very deep loch.

LochLochy                                                                                                     Open Canoe                                                                                                   2 days / 1 over night Ratio1:8                                                                                                     Guided local paddle & skills training with an overnight wild camp on the shores of Loch Lochy as part of the Caledonian Canal Canoe Trail - if the wind is fair then maybe start at Gairlochy and paddle up to a wild camp site near Achnacarry Castle or Clunes at the botton of the River Arkaig - explore the wild side of Loch Lochy.  Excellent location for wild life watching - pike - trout - salmon - occassional ospreys along with a variety of ducks, geese, herons & visiting sea birds with big dragon flies in summer.                                                                                                                          

OVERNIGHT JOURNEYS & EXPEDITIONS

The Rough Bounds
Open Canoe
3 or 5 Days
Ratio  1:6
Guided 3 or 5 day paddling tour & skills training with 4 overnight wild camps. The itinerary will include: - From Glenfinnan paddle down Loch Sheil camping along the way, then down to Loch Moidart via the River Sheil into Loch Moidart with a camp near the North Channel or island of Eilean Shona, paddle round the headland into Glen Uig and Loch Ailort or round Ardnish peninsular to Arisaig.

Arisaig,the Skerries and Ardnish Peninsula
Sea Kayak
3 Days
Ratio  1:6
Take our minibus trip “out west” to explore the far coastal fringes with its small tidal islands – skerries, plus many inlets, creeks and headlands. This sheltered coastal tour will usually start at Arisaig or alternatively Loch Ailort but we can launch these journeys to begin at various more secluded locations and times depending upon the day's weather and tide conditions.

We'll launch our sea kayaks and continue on out to sea or along the coastline probably heading into the breeze for the first leg of our tour, so we can coast downwind on the way back cruising the shoreline for a mellow finish to the days’ paddling. There are staggering locations to camp on a variety of small secluded headland along the way

The unique panoramic views of Knoydart and the Small Isles from these more sheltered, sometimes calm waters offer breathtaking views of beaches and mountains. This excursion provides an excellent introduction to the secrets that coastal and sea kayaking can unveil

The Western Fringes - Loch Sunnart
Sea kayak
3 Days
Ratio  1:6
Guided paddling tour dropping off from the head of Loch Sunnart near Strontian – a first day paddle down the south side of the loch to camp near Eilean mo Shlinneag. An exceptional day can follow exploring this wonderful southern coastal fringe of Loch Sunnart which can be sheltered from prevailing westerly Atlantic swells. Another wild camp will take us to within easy striking distance of a pick up from Glenborrowdale or Kilchoan – depending on the weather conditions. The mouth of Loch Sunnart can be well exposed to swell and winds. This journey can be taken from either the west or east of the Loch Sunnart – depending on tides and prevailing weather.

GREAT GLEN PADDLING EXPEDITIONS
Open Canoe
4 Days
Ratio  1:6
Previous experience required:
Paddlers should have already taken part in several (4) full days of paddling and be reasonably fit. Participants should be able to put into practice BCU 3* -4* proficiency skills for open canoes or sea kayaks at an appropriate level
70 mile paddle West to East along the Caledonian Canal
Wild camping along the way between Fort William and Inverness. Depending on weather, excellent canoe sailing opportunity on Loch Lochy & Ness.

OPEN CANOE SAILING
2 days
Ratio 1:6
The aim of the course is to equip students with the additional skills needed to combine open canoeing and sailing in a safe and competent manner. These skills will enable students to undertake more adventurous and efficient journeys in open canoes.
Previous experience required: All students should be at a level for the BCU 3 or 4* Open Canoe. A choice of sailing rigs will be experimented with, after covering the basic course sailing skills. These will be put into practice for a full sailing trip on the second day.
Minimum Age 16 years