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Outdoor Activities
in Scotland
Bushcraft
Bushcraft Ventures offers a variety of courses including skills such as shelter building, fire-lighting, wilderness safety, wild foods, outback cooking, wood carving and animal tracking.
Run by qualified Bushcraft instructor Lawrence Clark who was apprentice for 5 years to Ray Mears. Based in Deeside within the Cairngorms National Park.
Hiking / Walking / Climbing
Be responsible and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
LONG DISTANCE TRAILS:
The West Highland Way
Scotland's most famous trail, runs 95 miles from Milngavie (near Glasgow) north to Fort William.
For detailed information, see the official West Highland Way Guide web site.
Also see westhighland-way.com
and read the personal experiences encountered by
Thomas Keijzer and
Robert Nugent and
William Shaw (inc. background on history and geology).
- Bespoke Highland Tours offer a range of self-led trekking tours including the West Highland Way in 7 or 8 days.
- escape2scotland offer self-led walking holidays with luggage transfers and a choice of pre-booked accommodation.
- C-N-Do Scotland operate guided walking holidays to the West Highland Way and offer a choice of accommodation.
- Macs Adventure operate
West Highland Way guided walking holidays with weekly departures.
Transport from/to Glasgow at the start/finish is included.
Alternatively, try the self guided option. They specialise in the 18 - 35 year old market for backpackers. Choice of accommodation.
- North-West Frontiers offer the West Highland Way on a 10-day self-led trek any time from May to September.
- Wilderness Scotland offer self-guided walking trips along the West Highland Way with pre-booked accommodation.
The Great Glen Way
A 70 mile hike across Scotland between Inverness in the east and Fort William in the west. In part it follows the Caledonian Canal. See web sites: greatglenway.com
and greatglenway.org
- Bespoke Highland Tours offer a self-led trekking tour along the Great Glen.
-
C-N-Do Scotland organise guided hiking trips along the Great Glen. If their dates don't fit your plans, but you can get together a group of at least 4 people, they may be able to arrange something to suit you.
- escape2scotland offer self-led walking holidays with luggage transfers and a choice of pre-booked accommodation.
- Macs Adventure operate
5-day Great Glen Way guided walking holidays with weekly departures.
Transport from/to Glasgow at the start/finish is included.
Alternatively, try the self guided option. They specialise in the 18 - 35 year old market for backpackers. Choice of accommodation.
- North-West Frontiers offer a special trip walking the Great Glen by day and sleeping on a 1930s Belgian barge by night!
- Wilderness Scotland offer self-guided walking trips along the Great Glen Way with pre-booked accommodation.
The Speyside Way
This stretches from the coast at Buckie inland to Aviemore (a total distance of 84 miles/135 km). There are 2 offshoots to Dufftown and Tomintoul.
escape2scotland offer self-led trip on this route
based on 6 days walking and 7 nights accommodation.
Wilderness Scotland offer self-guided walking trips along the Speyside Way with pre-booked accommodation.
Moray Firth Trail
Although not a long distant continuous route, this is an interesting network of existing footpaths and trails which covers some 470 miles of coastline all the way from John o'Groats to Findhorn and Cullen (via Dornoch, Inverness and Nairn).
East Highland Way
A proposed long distance walking route between Fort William and Aviemore (84 miles).
Rob Roy Way
Following the tracks and paths used by Rob Roy MacGregor.
Two routes are possible covering either 79 miles or 92 miles. Starts at Drymen and finishes in Pitlochry (Perthshire).
Transcotland Walking Holidays operate tours on this route.
escape2scotland offer self-led trip on this route
based on 7 days walking and 8 nights accommodation.
The Southern Upland Way
It stretches 212 miles between the west and east coasts from Portpatrick to Cockburnspath in southern Scotland.
C-N-Do Scotland organise a 2-week guided walking holiday to cover this long distance path.
St. Cuthbert's Way
This stretches 62 miles from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) in northern England.
C-N-Do Scotland organise this as a 6-day guided walking holiday.
Sir Walter Scott Way
A 92 mile / 148 kilometre cross country walk between Moffat in south central Scotland to Cockburnspath on the south east Scottish coastline.
Tips
If you are walking the hills and moors during the hunting season, make
sure that there is no deer stalking or grouse shooting in progress, as
I'm sure you wouldn't want to get shot. Ask your host or the people at
the Tourist Office which are the areas to avoid at this time. The usual
season for deer-stalking is from August to 20 October for stags. Hinds
are culled from 21 October until 15 February. No stalking on Sundays. You should also take care during
the grouse-shooting season from 12 August to 10 December.
Details about access to hills on some of the major estates when stalking is taking place can be obtained via the
Hillphones service.
And don't forget that Scotland is famous for its midges, so remember
to take some insect repellant with you whether you are camping or just walking. Also take a look at the online Midge Forecast.
WALKING / HIKING TRIP OPERATORS:
- About Argyll Walking Holidays - guided walking / hiking holidays in the southwest Highlands and Islands of Scotland, designed for people who like to explore the beautiful countryside and discover the secrets of its history and wildlife on the way. Argyll, Mull, Islay, Jura, Glen Coe, Cowal, Lorn and Loch Lomond National Park. Small groups (8 maximum). Accommodation in comfortable B&B's or hotels.
- Caledonia Hilltreks - a professional guide for groups or individuals, for one or more days. Specialises in Munro Bagging. Based in Aberdeen.
- Can You Experience Co based at Loch Lomond offer guided hiking trips (day or half day).
-
C-N-Do Scotland organises
guided walking and climbing holidays throughout Scotland - both in summer and winter - from single day trips to two-week packages for all ages and levels of ability.
You can go island hopping in the Hebrides, try backpacking to bag Munros or walk some of the country's long-distance paths. A choice of accommodation is available.
- escape2scotland offer a wide choice of
self-guided walking holidays with pre-booked accommodation and luggage transfers. Includes the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, the Speyside Way and the Rob Roy Way.
- The Four Seasons Hotel near Crieff in Perthshire offers guided walking breaks at various times during the year. This includes 5 nights accommodation, meals and guiding. Group size 4 - 12.
- Highland Ascent - guided hillwaking in the Cairngorms, Torridon, Skye and many other locations in the Highlands of Scotland.
- Hooked on Walking offers a choice of self guided walking holidays including island hopping (Arran, Islay and Jura), Loch Lomond and Trossachs. Includes pre-booked accommodation, route maps, luggage transfer, etc.
- Kushi Adventures (based in Inverness)
offer sailing, canoeing, expeditions, navigation, hillwalking, climbing and team building.
- Macs Adventure operate
guided walking holidays on the Great Glen Way and West Highland Way with weekly departures. Transport from/to Glasgow at the start/finish is included.
Self guided options also available. Choice of accommodation.
In addition, day trips from Glasgow can include walking, rocking climbing, cycling or extreme sports. They specialise in the 18 - 35 year old market for backpackers.
- Make Tracks Walking Holidays
- self-guided walks with high quality accommodation, written maps and guides, and luggage transfer.
Long distance paths or other walks suitable for all levels of fitness and experience.
- Moriston Adventure Company (based near Loch Ness) offers guided outdoor trips in the Highlands. Half day & full day trips, or multi-day expeditions. Sea kaying, canoeing and mountain biking also available.
- Mountain Freedom - Ian Stephenson is a mountain walking guide based in North West Scotland who operates mainly in Torridon, Wester Ross, Skye and the Glencoe/Lochaber areas. He offers private guiding and small group trips for walking, scrambling, climbing, wilderness camping and mountain activities.
- Mountain Innovations
offer a choice of guided walking holidays, self-drive activity touring holidays, accommodation and transport packages for independent walkers, residential courses in navigation, winter skills and mountaineering.
Hostel accommodation in Boat of Garten in the Cairngorm area.
- Mountain and Glen
offer a range of walking adventures including Ben Lomond, Trossachs, Glencoe, Ben Nevis and the Southern Uplands.
Day walks and short breaks (3 - 5 days). All with experienced leaders. Teambuilding and rock climbing available if required.
- Mountain & Sea Guides based in Applecross
offer guided holidays and courses for summer and winter in the Highlands and Skye. Mountaineering skills, navigation and rock climbing available.
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North-West Frontiers, based in Ullapool. Week-long guided walking holidays in the Highlands, including Skye, Harris, Lewis, Orkney, Glen Affric, Ullapool, Sutherland, Torridon, Knoydart and other wilderness regions. Experienced leaders; choice of moderate / strenuous coast and mountain walking; hotel, B&B or hostel accommodation - or arrange your own.
- Osprey Adventures (based in Inverness) can arrange wilderness expeditions, guided walking holidays for all abilities, winter walking breaks and winter skills packages. Accommodation included. They also offer guided and self guided walks on the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way and the Speyside Way. Mountain biking also possible.
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Rua Reidh. From their lighthouse base near Gairloch, you can go on
a self-led walking holiday around Torridon. Guided day walks in July and August. Rock climbing courses.
Customised walking holidays. B&B accommodation in the lighthouse.
- Transcotland - customised self guided holidays with pre-arranged itinerary, accommodation, baggage transfer and maps. West Highland Way, Great Glen Way, Coast to Coast (Perth - Fort William), Road to the Isles, Highland Perthshire, Atholl Trail (Perthshire), Borders Trail (Peebles - Melrose)
- Walkabout Scotland
has a range of hillwalking tours in small groups. Pick up and transport from Edinburgh (or en-route by arrangement). Weekend breaks to Arran, Glencoe, Glen Affric, Speyside.
Week-long holidays to the Trossachs, Loch Lomond, Torridon, Assynt, Skye, Cairngorms.
Choice of half or full board accommodation. Day tours available to mountains in the Southern Highlands (within 2.5 hours drive of Edinburgh). Web site includes a huge photo gallery.
- Walk Wild Loch Lomond offer a choice of
guided walking holidays and day tours mixed with historic sightseeing on and off the beaten track.
Holidays are based in the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Day tours can include Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Inveraray Castle, Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh & Hopetoun House.
- Wilderness Scotland offer a wide range of guided walking holidays, wilderness expeditions and sailing holidays throughout the Highlands & Islands, including the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland.
- Wild Adventures offer a good selection of wild walking and biking (on- or off-road) holidays in Scotland. Varying degrees of difficulty. Accommodation in B&Bs, bunkhouses, hostels or camping. Groups of 6 people max.
Also visit the web site by Activity Scotland which is an association
representing activity holiday providers in a multitude of fields throughout Scotland. Their site has a page listing fully qualified members who offer walking holidays and climbing instruction.
Climbing & Mountain Skills
- Alan Crichton Mountain Skills Ltd. -
guided and instructional walking, mountaineering and climbing courses (winter and summer).
- Alpha Mountaineering (based in the Highlands) -
instruction and guiding in walking, scrambling and climbing, both in summer and winter.
Courses available include climbing, scrambling, navigation and winter skills
- Aultsigh Adventures (based in Inverness) - guided hill treks for small groups with a Qualified Mountain Leader.
- Aviemore indoor climbing wall
- Boots n Paddles (near Inverness) - climbing, abseiling, hill walking, orienteering, winter skills courses, skiing courses, etc.
- C-N-Do Scotland - holidays and skills courses, summer and winter.
- Craggan Outdoors near Grantown on Spey (Cairngorms) offers various activities including mountaineering, climbing, high ropes course and gorge walking.
- G2 based in Aviemore. Winter walking and skills courses, rock climbing, abseiling, gorge walking, hill walking, expeditions, etc. Mobile climbing wall.
- Go Country (based in Paisley). A not-for-profit organisation offering hill walking, rock climbing, abseiling, indoor climbing wall, etc. For all ages, abilities and and capabilities.
- Kushi Adventures (based in Inverness)
offer sailing, canoeing, expeditions, navigation, hillwalking, climbing and team building.
- Mountain & Sea Guides offer summer and winter courses and holidays in the Highlands and Skye including mountaineering skills, navigation and rock climbing.
- Mountain Freedom - Ian Stephenson is a mountain walking guide based in North West Scotland who operates mainly in Torridon, Wester Ross, Skye and the Glencoe/Lochaber areas. He offers private guiding and small group trips for walking, scrambling, climbing, wilderness camping and mountain activities.
- Mountain Skills Ltd. - professional mountaineering services, including mountain skills, navigation, winter skills, mountaineering and climbing. Private guide for walking holidays. Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms, also all other parts of the Highlands of Scotland.
- Snowgoose Mountain Centre - outdoor skills courses & breaks (residential or non-residential). From half a day to 5 days for all levels. Summer high mountain walking. Rock climbing, scrambling & abseiling. Winter mountain skills and navigation courses. Based near Fort William.
- West Coast Mountain Guides - professional mountain guide based in Fort William offering instruction and holidays.
- Woolly Mammoth Activities (based in Inverness) - walking, mountaineering and first aid training
More online resources for walking/climbing:
Skiing / Snowsports
- Active Outdoor Pursuits based at
Craigower Lodge Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Newtonmore.
- Adventure Scotland based in Aviemore. Alpine / telemark / Nordic skiing.
- Boots n Paddles (near Inverness) - winter skills courses, skiing courses, etc.
- Craggan Outdoors near Grantown on Spey (Cairngorms) specialises in kayaking, canoeing and raft building.
- Full On Adventure based in Aviemore. Winter skills courses, skiing, snowboarding, adventure tours, etc.
- G2 based in Aviemore. Alpine ski instruction, telemark skiing, winter walking and skills courses.
- Highland Adventure Centre based near Blairgowrie in Perthshire. Cross country skiing for individuals & groups.
- Lagganlia Centre based in the Cairngorm mountains. Skiing and snowboarding for groups of 10 or more.
- Loch Insh Watersports & Skiing Centre near Aviemore. Downhill skiing hire and/or instruction. Dry ski slope skiing.
- SKIBRAEMAR - snowsport services for The Lecht and Glenshee - including instruction and hire (skis, skiblades, snowboards).
- The Ski School - the offical ski school of Cairngorm Mountain
- VisitScotland Skiing web site includes details of Scotland's ski resorts.
- SportScotland Avalanche Information Service
- Wilderness Scotland offer a range of ski touring and winter walking trips and courses in the Scottish Highlands.
Cycling / Mountain Biking
There are many opportunities for on and off road cycling in Scotland. You can often cycle on roads in remote areas without hardly seeing a car.
Then there trails in 46 different forests covering over 1000 miles. Details are available from:
Forest Entreprise - 21 Church Street - Inverness (telephone 01463 232 811) and Forest Entreprise - 55/57 Moffat Road - Dumfries (telephone 01387 269 171).
Check out my list of some places where you can hire bikes.
Don't forget that it might cost a few pounds extra to take your bike on some ferries and trains. When buying railway tickets, make sure that the train service does accept cycles and book your bike onboard.
Mountain bike links:
- Bothy Bikes at Rothiemurchus near Aviemore offer bike hire and details of local trails.
- Cairngorm Mountain Bikers
- Castle Venlaw (a 4 star country house hotel in Peebles, 23 miles from Edinburgh) is a convenient base for cycling trails and mountain biking (close to the courses at Glentress Forest and Innerleithen).
- Craggan Outdoors near Grantown on Spey (Cairngorms) offers various activities including mountain biking.
- Cycle Highlands in Ballater (Royal Deeside / Aberdeenshire) can offer mountain bike hire, servicing, local trail information, plus guided rides.
- escape2scotland - mountain bike holiday packages
- Fairburn Conference and Activity Centre near Inverness offers
multi-activity breaks including mountain biking.
- Highlands and Islands Adventures - mountain bike holidays, day trips and tuition
- Highland Mountain Biking Association
- mAc Guiding (based near Loch Ness) offers guided tours and bike hire
- mb7 offers mountain biking holidays and skills courses based in Southern Scotland.
- Mountain Beach offers mountain biking holidays in the Scottish Highlands & Hebrides.
- Mountain Biking Highlands & Islands (based in Cromarty) - bike hire, repairs, customised routes.
- Mountainbike Scotland -
web site featuring lots of photos throughout Scotland, plus details of a useful guidebook you can buy with details of routes, etc.
- Osprey Adventures (based in Inverness) can arrange mountain biking in the Highlands with Scottish MTB champion Dagmar Borrowman. Bike hire, guiding, transport and accommodation can be provided.
- Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike Association
- TrailBrakes (based in Dalbeattie,
Dumfries and Galloway) - mountain biking holidays (2, 3 or 7 days). Expert guiding, tuition, bike hire and transport available.
- Tulloch Outdoor Activity Centre (19 miles north of Fort William) offers mountain biking, plus lots of other activities.
- UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Finals at Fort William
- Wilderness Scotland offer a range of guided mountain biking holidays in the Scottish Highlands.
- X Bikes Argyll - based in Dunoon on the Cowal
Peninsula
Cycling links:
- Hooked on Cycling
offers self guided touring holidays with different themes (castles, islands, lochs) or exploring particular regions of the country.
Pre-booked accommodation, luggage transfers, maps, etc. all provided.
- Scottish Cycling Holidays
offer a wide choice of tours covering different areas of mainland Scotland as well as Orkney and the Hebrides. Services include cycle hire, luggage carrying, accommodation booking, airport transfers, etc. Short break tours in Perthshire. Mountain bike tours. Self-led tours, group tours and customised tours available.
- cycling.visitscotland.com: the official tourist board web site.
- Cycling Scotland
- The National Cycle Network covers 7000 miles throughout the UK.
- P.J.'s Cycling Scotland Pages by P.J. Meisch who spent 3 weeks cycling around the country and details everywhere he went from Balloch, Oban, Glenfinnan, Skye, Inverness, Aberdeen, St. Andrews, Edinburgh to Ayr.
-
Spokes site in Edinburgh featuring the Lothian Cycle Campaign and lots of links to bike-related pages.
- James Henkel's biking trip in Scotland features lots of photos of Inverness, Loch Ness, Torridon, Applecross, Skye, Spean Bridge taken in 1998.
- Martin Wittram cycled across the UK mainland from Land's End in southern England to John o'Groats in the far north of Scotland.
Useful cycling books to buy online.
Off Roading / 4x4 / Karting / Quad Bikes
Multi Activities
Organisations and outdoor centres in Scotland offering multi activity holidays and short breaks include:
- Abernethy Trust
- Active Outdoor Pursuits
- Adventure Scotland based in Aviemore.
Mountainsports, paddlesports and snowsports. Courses and expeditions.
- Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre
- Badaguish Centre near Aviemore (Cairngorms) offers multi-activities including indoor climbing, rock climbing, scrambling, abseiling, mountain biking, mountain walking, archery, canoeing, orienteering, etc. Accommodation available.
- Boots n Paddles near Inverness offers
open canoeing, archery, climbing, abseiling, hill walking, orienteering, mountain biking, gorge walking, canyoning and weaseling. Winter skills courses, skiing courses, canoe hire, wildlife holidays, team building also available.
- Can You Experience Co - based at Loch Lomond
offer guided hikes, guided cycling, bike hire, canoe hire, guided canoe trips. Also available: weekend breaks and activity weeks suitable for families and groups of all ages and abilities.
- Craggan Outdoors near Grantown on Spey (Cairngorms) specialises in kayaking, canoeing, raft building, mountaineering, climbing, high ropes course, gorge walking, mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting, quad treks and archery.
- Dunolly Adventure Outdoors
- outdoor activity centre in Aberfeldy (Perthshire) offers white water rafting, gorge walking, hillwalking, mountain biking and archery for groups. Charity challenges, stag & hen weekends, summer camp for children and residential school trips also available. Accommodation on site.
- Fairburn Conference and Activity Centre near Inverness offers
multi-activities including archery, paintball, Lazertag, aerial runway, tree climbing, abseiling, ropes course, canoeing, raft building, mountain biking, orienteering, etc. Full day or half day sessions. Weekend packages for families, couples and groups with full board, accommodation and activities. Residential School Activity Weeks. Accommodation in ensuite bedrooms or bunk bed facilities for residential groups. Also available for birthday parties, team building, weddings, etc.
- Farr Cottage Activity Centre (near Fort William) - skiing, mountain biking, Go Karting and watersports.
- Full On Adventure based in Aviemore. Guided hill walks, Munro bagging, mountain biking, winter skills courses, skiing, snowboarding, white water rafting, kayaking on Loch Ness, canoe trips down the River Spey, adventure tours, etc.
- G2 based in Aviemore. Activity breaks with a wide choice of accommodation options. Alpine ski instruction, telemark skiing, winter walking and skills courses.
Canoe/kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, gorge walking, hill walking, expeditions. Mobile climbing wall.
- Go Country (based in Paisley). A not-for-profit organisation offering a wide range of outdoor adventure training to improve team, personal and social development skills. Activities
include hill walking, rock climbing, abseiling, indoor climbing wall, mountain biking, gorge walking, orienteering, kayaking, ski-ing, snowboarding, fishing. For all ages, abilities and and capabilities.
- Highland Adventure Centre (Glenisla) multi activities for groups, schools and corporate team building.
- The remote Highland Wilderness Centre on Loch Nevis (Knoydart) offers a bunkhouse base for canoeing, diving, fishing, climbing, hiking, orienteering, clay pigeon shooting, camping, etc. For groups only. Ideal for sports clubs, school groups, scout groups, etc. You need to bring your own qualified instructor(s) with your group.
- John Muir Trust Conservation Activities
- a huge variety of holidays and courses for adults, families and young people interested in the outdoors.
Adventure trips include trekking and sea kayaking. Specialist courses include geology, orienteering, Gaelic culture, photography.
Destinations include Arran, Skye, Hebrides, Orkney, Cairngorms, Sutherland. There are also many Conservation Weekends which are free to attend.
- Kushi Adventures (based in Inverness)
offer sailing, canoeing, expeditions, navigation, hillwalking, climbing and team building.
- Lagganlia Centre near Kingussie.
All-inclusive courses including snow-boarding, abseiling, rock-climbing, sailing, mountain-biking, rafting, kayaking, skiing, etc.
- Loch Insh Watersports & Skiing Centre near Aviemore.
- mAc Guiding (based near Loch Ness) offers guided outdoor adventures by sea-kayak, canoe, bike and foot. Half day & full day trips, or multi-day expeditions.
- Monster Activities (near Spean Bridge)
- whitewater rafting, mountain bikes, watersports, clay pigeon shooting, abseiling, archery, etc.
- Nae Limits (Perthshire) - watersports and extreme sports.
- Outward Bound Trust (near Fort William)
- Snowgoose Mountain Centre based near Fort William. Adventure challenges, rock climbing, abseiling, mountain skills, dinghy sailing and paddlesports.
- Tulloch Outdoor Activity Centre (5 miles from Roy Bridge, 19 miles north of Fort William) is a multi activity adventure centre offering quad biking, white water rafting, canyoning & gorge walking, clay pigeon shooting, off road driving, paintballing, archery and mountain biking. They can can cater for individuals, families, stag parties, hen parties and corporate events. Accommodation can be arranged locally if required.
- Uist Outdoor Centre based on North Uist (Outer Hebrides / Western Isles). Multi-activity programmes, sea kayaking, scuba diving, power boating, wildlife watching, rock climbing, abseiling, walking and expeditions.
- Wilderness Scotland offer a range of multi-activity trips plus some holidays especially for families in the Scottish Highlands. Activities include walking, mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, canoeing, photography and bird watching. Accommodation can be arranged.
- Woolly Mammoth Activities (based in Inverness) - canoeing, sailing, walking, mountaineering and first aid training.
Watersports / Sailing / Boat Trips
Companies offering watersports / boat trips in Scotland include:
- Ace Adventures - white water rafting, river bugs and duckies in Strathspey. Also guided river tours in 10-man inflatable rafts along the River Spey.
- Adventure Scotland based in Aviemore.
Paddlesports, courses and expeditions.
- Ardnamurchan Charters - boat hire, diving, sea angling, wildlife trips.
- Badaguish Centre near Aviemore (Cairngorms) offers canoeing and other multi-activities.
- Boots n Paddles near Inverness offers open canoeing, gorge walking, canyoning and other activities.
- Caledonian Discovery Ltd offer
cruising holidays with activities on the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness onboard a large comfortable barge.
- Can You Experience Co - Canoe, kayak and pedalo hire on Loch Lomond. Guided canoe trips.
- Clearwater Paddling - sea kayaking day trips of Barra and longer tours featuring the Hebrides and West Highlands.
- Dunolly Adventure Outdoors specialists in white water
rafting in Perthshire.
- Galloway Sailing Centre Courses in sailing, windsurfing, open canoe expeditions, flat and white water kayaking and powerboating.
- Hebridean Pursuits based at the Dunstaffnage marina near Oban. Sailing, sea kayaking, surf kayaking, coasteering.
- Highland Ascent offers sea kayaking in the Highlands of Scotland.
- Kushi Adventures (based in Inverness)
offer sailing, canoeing, expeditions, navigation, hillwalking, climbing and team building.
Certificated courses include canoe, kayak, sailing and navigation.
- Lagganlia Centre near Kingussie. Sailing, rafting, kayaking, etc.
- Loch Insh Watersports near Aviemore. Sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, river trips, rowing.
- Loch Park Adventure Centre on Drummuir Castle Estate in Aberdeenshire specialise in canoeing, kayaking and gorge-walking.
- mAc Guiding (based near Loch Ness) offers guided outdoor adventures by sea-kayak, canoe, bike and foot.
- Monster Activities (near Spean Bridge) -
multi activities including whitewater rafting and watersports.
- Mountain & Sea Guides based in Applecross offer sea kayaking courses and expeditions.
- Nae Limits (Perthshire) - watersports and extreme sports.
- National Kayak School - based in Aberfeldy, Perthshire. Tuition for white water kayaking, sea kayaking and Canadian open canoes
- New Horizon Sailing - sailing holidays onboard an 'Oyster' yacht around the west coast, including the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
-
Northern Light Charters has 4 small ships which offer a variety of private charter, wildlife cruises, bird-watching and whale-watching cruises, dive charter, island cruising, and research and survey services. Based in Oban.
- NorWest Sea Kayaking offers full day, half day, evening, and multi-day trips in the area of Lochinver, Ullapool and Achiltibuie - including the Summer Isles, Handa Island, Old Man of Stoer and Glencoul. No experience is necessary. Introductory courses available, and camping trips.
- Offshore Scotland Sea School - RYA sailing tuition, RIB and yacht charter, marine services and holiday cruises.
- Rockhopper Sea Kayaking
offers trips and instruction around the Fort WIlliam and Lochaber area.
Sea kayaking is available for half-day, full day and multi-day trips with fully qualified guides and instructors.
- Sea Life Surveys based on the Isle of Mull. Day trips or package holidays with the UK's first and most experienced whale, dolphin and porpoise watch.
- Snowgoose Mountain Centre based near Fort William. Canoeing, kayaking, white water paddling, dinghy sailing.
- Tulloch Outdoor Activity Centre (19 miles north of Fort William) offers white water rafting, canyoning, funyakking, canoeing and kayaking, plus lots of other activities.
- Uist Outdoor Centre based on North Uist (Western Isles / Outer Hebrides) offers outdoor adventure courses, trips and expeditions. Also provides the fastest sea transport service to St Kilda in the world (1.5 hours by RIB, carrying sea kayaks).
- Vertical Descents - canyoning and funyaking near Fort William.
- West Highland Sailing - charters of yachts and luxury motor cruisers on the Caledonian Canal
- Western Isles Kite Company
- power kiting, kite buggying, kite landboarding and kite surfing on the Isle of Lewis. Tuition and holidays available.
- Wilderness Scotland - wide range of combined sailing and walking holidays, or sea-kayaking.
- Woolly Mammoth Activities (based in Inverness) - canoeing and sailing.
- Yacht Corryvreckan - sailing holidays around the west coast of Scotland
Useful links:
Deer Stalking (Hunting) / Shooting / Falconry
- Deer Stalking Scotland is a comprehensive online guide to stalking in Scotland, including a directory of estates offering red and roe deer stalking.
- The Assynt Foundation
can offer deer stalking on the Glencanisp and Drunrunie Estates in the far north west of Scotland.
- Atholl Estates can offer deer stalking, grouse shooting and also salmon and trout fishing by arrangement. Self catering lodges available.
This 145,000 acre estate is situated around Blair Atholl and Blair Castle, 35 miles north of Perth.
- Deer Stalking in Angus can be arranged while staying at the Glen Clova Hotel. Stalking breaks include Dinner, B&B. Red Deer Stag Stalking July 1st - Oct 20th / Hind Stalking Oct 21st - Feb 15th. Pheasant, partridge and rough shooting can also be arranged.
- George Goldsmith arranges Salmon Fishing, Stalking and Shooting on country estates. Also luxury accommodation in Lodges and Castles.
- Michie Macpherson Estates in Speyside give you the opportunity to experience a 'Highland Estate' with country activities such as stalking, game shooting, trout fishing, clay pigeon shooting, off-road driving, etc.
- Stephen Smith can offer red deer stalking on the Caplich estate in Sutherland
- Wilderness Scotland
can arrange private stalking on the remote Knoydart Peninsula and the wild and beautiful island of Harris.
- Country Ways Sportings can arrange stalking, game shooting, fishing and other multi activities in Aberdeenshire / Speyside.
- Highland Hawking Holidays in Sutherland offer falconry holidays and/or tuition. Alsorts of game available. Visit their web site for more details, also photos of birds of prey and local scenery.
- West Highland Hawking
offer falconry courses and 'walks with the hawks'. Based at Kinlochewe in the Torridon mountains of Wester Ross.
- The North East Falconry Centre near Huntly (Aberdeenshire)
has a visitor centre, gift shop, regular flying demonstrations and can also offer tuition.
Horse Riding / Pony Trekking
Weather
Scotland is well known for its unpredictable weather. It can change very fast in a matter of minutes, especially in mountain and sea areas. When travelling around Scotland it is always best to be prepared for anything, good or bad.
In the height of the summer, the hours of daylight are long and it may not get dark until after 11pm, particularly the further north you are. In winter, daylight hours are reduced to around 7 hours at the lowest point in December (click here for a useful daylight hours summary table).
Average Temperatures for Edinburgh are approximately as follows:
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January 6 C / 42 F |
May 14 C / 58 F |
September 16 C / 61 F |
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February 6 C / 42 F |
June 16 C / 61 F |
October 12 C / 54 F |
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March 8 C / 47 F |
July 18 C / 68 F |
November 9 C / 49 F |
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April 11 C / 52 F |
August 18 C / 68 F |
December 7 C / 45 F |
Web sites providing useful weather information include:
There are various phone lines you can call for weather updates including:
10-day Weathercall forecast for North West Scotland: 09068 500 425.
Click here for a phone list of other regions throughout Scotland (the Weathercall service uses data provided by the Met Office).
Links to other sites
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