Offers of Canyoning Scotland

Scotland’s rough and rugged landscape means one thing: canyons. While it’s easy to get distracted by the mountainous, and this country does boast the best in the British Isles, the biggest adventures here don’t involve climbing up peaks, but scrambling, sliding and jumping down fast flowing rivers in dramatic canyons and gorges. Canyoning is the outdoor pursuit of finding a way downstream, passing obstacles including rocks, rapids and waterfalls by whatever means necessary. It’s closely related to gorge walking, the main difference being that excursions of this type usually involve less time in the water, and more time walking and scrambling above the torrents. Neither activity can be described as a walk in the park, but travelling with the water can be the fastest way of getting from A to B, as well as the most fun - so keep reading to find out about how to enjoy this activity in the best canyons and at the best prices.

Where are the best places to go canyoning in Scotland?

• Galloway: It’s not the most typical location for doing this activity, but if you’re travelling from England, this will be the first option that you have.There are several wild creeks near the town of Castle Douglas, including Murry’s Canyon which offer all the thrills of canyoning without the need to drive all the way to the highlands.

• Edinburgh: Just because it’s the capital city, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a wet and wild adventure in Edinburgh. Just across the Firth of Forth, there are several streams which, on their journey to the sea from higher ground, have cut deep gorges into the landscape. The most popular for canyoning is Dollar Canyon, a mossy woodland descent with a great variety of obstacles. Another good destination is Alva Glen, a few miles to the west.

• Loch Lomond: The National Park of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the region. This is partly because it’s easily accessible from Glasgow, but mainly due to the stunning beauty of the landscape. But most visitors, who come to hike Ben Lomond or kayak on the Loch only scratch the surface of what the park has to offer. Canyons near the villages of Luss and Brig o’Turk, as well as the notorious Devil's Pulpit just south of the park limits, allow you to get into the landscape in a way that other pursuits can’t match.

• Perth and Kinross: The area around Aberfeldy is a hub for canyoning due to the fact that this is where the huge volumes of water that fall on the highlands come crashing down to sea level. You can go canyoning just a short walk from the town itself, at the Birks of Aberfeldy, or minutes away by car around Loch Tay. Here, Keltneyburn Canyon is a fantastic option for beginners and the Falls of Acharn are also relatively manageable, with the exception of an abseil right over the waterfall. More locations in the area include the River Garry, which has canyoning routes at Calvine and Killiecrankie, Loch Tummel, and Bruar Water, where you can find easy introductory routes not far from daring descents for experts.

• The Cairngorms: This mountain range, also protected by a national park, has some of the highest mountains in the country, separated by some of the most jaw dropping gorges. Tributaries of the River Dee around Braemar are a good place to start, or you can go for the options around the mountaineering town of Aviemore, including on wild sections of the River Spey. On the western park boundary, there are still more routes that local enthusiasts have mapped out for visitors, on the River Truim, Loch Laggan, and the hidden gem of Allt Na h Uamha just before it joins the River Spean.

• Inverness: The majority of visitors to Inverness get their kicks monster hunting at Loch Ness, and many leave disappointed. There’s no danger of that if you head for Culloden or Achnagairn which, apart from being a shorter distance away than Loch Ness, have canyoning adventures that guarantee a good time.

• Fort William: The UK’s answer to Nepal’s Everest Base Camp, Fort William is at the head of the Great Glen and the starting point of ascents of some of Scotland’s highest Munros, including Ben Nevis. But it’s also in some of the best canyoning country in the highlands. There are gorges that cut down the face of Ben Nevis itself, including the Alt, and the slopes of the mountain of Carn Na Nathrach which sits on the other side of Loch Linnhe. The most popular routes are around West Inchree, and the challenging Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall at Kinlochleven.

• Northwest: Cairngorm, Ben Nevis, and Loch Lomond might be some of the most famous places in the highlands, but there’s a wealth of lesser known destinations where you can take in the scenery without worrying about crowds. The Applecross Peninsula is one of these places. With views across the sea to Skye and impressive mountains inland, it’s a remote and beautiful place. The best spot for canyoning is a gorge in the shadow of Beinn Dahm, which can be reached from Torridon and Gairloch. If that’s not distant enough, you can try Dundonnell, a canyon that descends to the sea at Loch Broom.

• Islands: Islands aren’t usually big enough to have the high ground and rainfall necessary to form gorges, in fact, only two out of the hundreds of islands in Scotland have canyons that are suitable for descents. Unsurprisingly, the large and rugged isle of Skye is one of them, where there are dramatic routes through the valley above Sligachan. The other is Arran in the Firth of Clyde. In North Glen, Sannox Water is a crystal clear stream that leads you down falls, into pools and around unique rock formations.

Requirements to do this activity

This is a water sport that never takes you far from the banks of the river, or into deep water. For that reason, you don’t need to be a great swimmer to take part. And you also don’t need to be experienced with climbing on rocks and using ropes because, although some routes here are technically demanding, there are many canyons that you can navigate without specialist equipment of experience.

Having said that, is pretty full of activity, with extended periods spent in and around the water, obstacles, and jumps, so most guides will take groups of teenagers and adults, from the age of 12 years old and up. Gorge scrambling can be more family friendly, because you might get your feet wet but you won’t get fully submerged in the water - unless you want to! Many gorge walking routes around the region are suitable for children over 8 years old.

How long does an excursion take?

There’s a big range of trip durations that are offered by guides. The shortest excursions are usually at least 2 hours long, because you’ll be following a set route down a canyon. There are longer routes, from 3 hours to full day experiences, but one of the determining factors is the time you need to travel to your canyon of choice, some of which are quite remote.

What do you need to bring to a descent?

You don’t need any technical gear in order to enjoy this activity for the first time, or to continue exploring Scottish gorges if you’re already experienced. Footwear is important, because you need a pair of shoes that will give you some grip on wet rock. Old trainers are best, and we recommend that you test them out in the garden in the rain before your excursion. If they have laces, so much the better because you’ll be able to get them really tight on your feet. You need to take a swimsuit and a dry set of clothes, but everything else will be waiting for you on arrival - a wetsuit,a helmet, a buoyancy aid, and anything else that you’re guide thinks could be helpful.

This sport pitches you against the full force of the Scottish landscape, you just have to brace yourself and enjoy the ride!