Monsters on Maneuvers!

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Maximum adventurers: 7
Departure point: Inverness airport or railway station
Drop off point: ATWS, Aviemore
This Adventure is FULL

Join us on a three-day adventure sampling the fantastic scenery of Glen Mhor (The Great Glen), a fault line which cuts a swathe across Scotland from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east. The three lochs along the route have been linked together by the man-made Caledonian Canal, giving us a 100km complete coast-to-coast canoe journey, which is destined in 2011 to become Scotland’s first official Canoe Trail.

As well as wonderful natural heritage, The Great Glen has fascinating cultural and built heritage to experience. Included in the itinerary will be visits to Urquhart Castle, Fort Augustus Abbey and the 19th century engineering marvel which is the Caledonian Canal.

We shall base ourselves halfway through the glen at the Lovat Arms Hotel, in the care of Caroline Gregory and her team. The Lovat is an award-winning eco-conscious hotel based in the picturesque village of Fort Augustus on the shores of world-famous Loch Ness. It serves amazing food and is a great example of sustainable development.

On two days, the expert guides from Boots N Paddles will take us out in open 2-man canoes to experience paddling sections of the canal and also (weather permitting) a few hours paddling on Loch Ness itself. A spot of Monster hunting anyone?

Boots N Paddles will supply the guides, canoes, paddles, buoyancy aids, waterproof barrels to protect clothes and valuables and the transport to each location. Accommodation at the Lovat Arms will be in single ensuite rooms. We suggest that guests bring layers of clothing, including a waterproof jacket and lightweight shoes. Be prepared for these to get wet, so a change of clothes will always be needed. A small backpack for lunch and a flask can be protected in the waterproof barrels, together with cameras and binoculars.

Day 1 – Thursday, 30th September: You will be met in Inverness and transferred down Loch Ness to the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition in Drumnadrochit, with an introduction to the loch from Adrian Shine, before continuing on to The Lovat Arms Hotel in Fort Augustus, our base for the next 3 nights.

Dinner will be followed with a briefing on the canoe trips ahead and the wildlife we may see.

Day 2 – Friday, 1st October: We shall transfer this morning to Banavie near Fort William, where we shall start our journey along the Great Glen Canoe Trail. The striking image here is the series of eight lochs that make up Neptune’s Staircase, all overshadowed by Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest peak.

Entering the canal at Banavie, we shall canoe gently up the water towards Loch Lochy. This will take us most of the day, with ample time to take in the majestic mountains around us and the wildlife they contain.

We shall stop in a deserted cove for a picnic lunch, before continuing our leisurely trail up the loch. There are numerous pick-up points along the route, so how far we get is entirely up to us. From there we shall transfer back to The Lovat Arms for dinner and a talk from Caroline Gregory about the sustainability work being done by the hotel.

Day 3 – Saturday, 2nd October: The second day in canoes will see us travelling out onto Loch Ness from Fort Augustus to Urquhart Bay. This will be dependent on the weather, so if too windy we’ll return to Loch Lochy and canoe up to Fort Augustus.

Either way, we shall still have plenty of time to take in the beautiful mountain scenery that surrounds us and to find a secret cove for our packed lunch.

In the afternoon we shall visit Urquhart Castle, which sits on a promontory jutting out into Loch Ness, where we shall take a guided tour with a guide from Historic Scotland.

In the evening we shall return to The Lovat Arms for our last night and dinner, followed by a presentation from the CEO of Destination Loch Ness.

Day 4 – Sunday, 3rd October: Leaving the hotel we shall take a leisurely drive over the Monadliath Mountains, stopping at one or two hidden lochans to view the wildlife around, before joining the Strathspey Steam Railway at Broomhill.

We shall meander slowly down the Spey whilst dining on a traditional Sunday lunch, before arriving in Aviemore where you’ll be escorted to the conference venue.

Trip Design, Logistics & Guiding: The tour will be operated by Speyside Wildlife and delivered by Boots N Paddles

Speyside Wildlife has been running wildlife holidays for over 20 years and is one of the leading wildlife holiday companies in the UK. From their base near Aviemore in Cairngorms National Park, Speyside Wildlife run holidays throughout Scotland and across the world. The company is also a founding member of Wild Scotland, the Scottish wildlife tourism association.

This Pre-Summit Adventure is supported by Highland Council.