There’s something completely different about seeing the Highlands from the water. In fact, hiring a canoe at Loch Insh gives you the freedom to just head out and explore the shoreline at your own pace, find a quiet spot, and take in the views of the Cairngorms. Plus, canoeing is a fantastic option if you have smaller children, as it lets you get out on the water in comfort and stay completely dry while you do it.
Whether you’re just looking for a quick escape, a 90-minute canoe hire is perfect for a calm morning paddle or a fun afternoon out. From there, you can stick close to the beach if you’re just finding your feet, or pack a picnic and make a day of it on a self-guided river trip canoeing beyond the loch down the River Spey.
Choosing your canoe: We have a few different sizes depending on who you’re bringing along:
2-seater: Great for couples or a parent and child.
3-seater: Perfect for small families.
4-seater: Best if you’ve got a bigger group and want to stick together.
What’s included?
We supply buoyancy aids as standard with every rental to keep everyone safe out there, and of course, our friendly team will give you a few handy pointers before you head off.
However, if you are planning to be out for longer, we recommend grabbing our summer day ticket instead. This gives you free, unlimited use of all our hires for the whole day.
If it’s your first time canoeing and you want to learn while enjoying a fun afternoon on the water, here’s a couple of options to get you out on the water for the first time.
Group Taster Lessons
To start, this is the perfect “no-pressure” 90-minute introduction with other first-timers. Our instructors will get you paddling like a pro in your very first session, and all ages from 8 years old can take part.
Private Taster Lessons
Alternatively, you can get the same lesson with even less pressure! This option lets you take the lesson at your pace, making it great for families with kids under 8 years old who can join in too.
Adult 5 day Paddlesports
This course is the perfect way to get confident using paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks. To begin, we start right at the beginning with an easy introduction to the kit on the calm water of Loch Insh. Then, as the week goes on, we’ll step things up with trickier skills like figure-of-eight steering and self-rescue techniques. Ultimately, the highlight of the week is putting those new skills to the test with two different trips down the River Spey, mixed in with some fun paddling games to keep things relaxed.
Kids 5 day Paddlesports Similarly, this week is all about getting kids confident on paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks. We kick things off with a fun introduction to the kit and basic techniques on the flat water of Loch Insh. Next, as everyone gets their balance, we’ll move on to cooler skills like figure-of-eight steering and how to safely get back on their boat if they take a splash. To wrap up the week, they’ll head out on two brilliant river trips down the Spey and play plenty of classic water sport games.
Beaver Trail – Self Guided River Trip: Kingussie to Aviemore
This stretch of the Spey is famously tranquil, making it a relaxing, self-guided journey through one of the most beautiful parts of the valley. Because it’s a Grade 1 river, the water is calm and easy to navigate for anyone with basic coordination and a sense of adventure. Therefore, no previous experience is essential, and you can even book this as a guided trip if you’d prefer to have an instructor along.
How it works & trip Planning
We provide the transport from our centre up to the launch point in Kingussie. From there, you head down the river at your own pace, winding through the landscape and ending right back here at the Loch Insh beach.
Time & Duration: Leaves at 10:00 AM and takes around 3 to 5 hours. As a result, it’s the perfect length for packing a picnic to enjoy on a quiet river beach along the way.
Prices: Canoes are £45 per person | SUPs or Kayaks are £65 per person (select your craft at checkout).
What’s Included: Transport, buoyancy aids, paddles, and dry bags. Naturally, our team will also give you a few handy pointers before you head off.
Wildlife Spotting This stretch of river is teeming with life, so keep your eyes peeled for ospreys and waterfowl circling above, otters and swans in the reeds, and red deer grazing along the banks. Furthermore, with the recent reintroduction of beavers to the area, you might even be lucky enough to spot one of them working away.
Guided River Trip: Kincraig to Aviemore
On the other hand, if you’d prefer to head downriver with a pro, this guided trip takes you from Loch Insh all the way to Aviemore. One of our friendly instructors will paddle alongside you the whole way to guide the route and keep things safe. Once you reach Aviemore, we’ll pick you up and bring you right back to Loch Insh. Additionally, you can choose to do this trip on a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.
Price: £77 per person (wetsuits are included).
Group size: Minimum 4 people, maximum 16 per trip.
How to book: Because we need to coordinate guides for this one, please call us on 01540 651294 or email activities@lochinsh.co.uk to get booked in.
What’s included: Transport, buoyancy aids, paddles, and dry bags.
