The legendary Scottish Highlands are one of the most breathtakingly wild places in the whole of Europe. Mountains and rocks, glens and lochs, pine forests and red deer stags are the picture postcard images of this vast and rugged landscape. One thing which isn’t as celebrated as the other elements of the highlands, but which is equally important to the geography and ecosystem, is the rain. For much of the year, rain falls frequently on the mountainous terrain, giving way to snow in the winter. It’s the run off of this rain, and the Spring snow melt that have carved river valleys into the landscape, with narrow gorges, quiet pools and, of course, rapids. Thanks to the rain, the Highlands are one of the best destinations in the country for white water rafting, and you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time whatever the weather.

Where are the best places to go white water rafting in the Highlands?

• The Cairngorms: the rocky tors and granite cliffs of these mountains are favourites for climbers, while the elevation makes this one of only places in the UK for skiing. But down in the valleys is an adventure like none other: hold on tight for a hairraising river descent, tackling rocks, drops and splashes in an inflatable raft. If that doesn’t sound dangerous enough, you can go tubing - speeding through the spray in an individual rubber ring. Or if you associate rivers with cruises rather than rapids, a gentler journey on the River Spey is a rafting experience for the whole family to enjoy.

• Inverness: capital of the Highland region, Inverness sits at the mouth of the River Ness. You’ll be relieved to hear that there are no monsters in this river, and having already descended from the mountains it flows serenely through the city to the Moray Firth. That’s why we recommend this rafting experience to anyone seeking a more sedate, civilised journey. You’ll start upstream from Inverness and enjoy the landscape, history and wildlife around the river, all explained by an expert guide, before getting a unique perspective on the city centre at the end of the ride.

• The Great Glen: this is a geological fault line that cuts across Northern Scotland from West to East, creating some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. Loch Ness is the most famous feature of the glen but the best spot for rafting is the River Oich, which connects a string of lochs along the length of the glen to Ness. Full size rafts are one of the best ways to traverse the rapids of this river, but a fun alternative are Duckies: something like an inflatable canoe. They’re smaller than rafts so you feel every bump more, but it’s easy to climb back into if you capsize!

• The River Findhorn: the Findhorn flows from the Cairngorms to the Moray Firth and is the only river in Scotland to boast Grade 3 rapids throughout the year. It’s an ideal choice for thrill seekers, but there are also gentler stretches of water where families with children can experience the fun of rafting. Each section of the route has been given an evocative name, for example Sleeping Whale, Dragon’s Tooth and Carnage Corner - if that’s not enough to pique your interest, we don’t know what will!

What are the different types of raft available in this area?

- The classic rafting vessel of choice in the Highlands is just that: a raft. Think of a big rubber dinghy, like the ones you see at the seaside but tougher and equipped with seats and a special self-bailing floor that automatically removes water from the bottom. The thick air filled chambers around the edges cushion you from the rocks, but the flat bottom means you slide downstream at high speed! This is also the craft of choice for more sedate trips, and you’ll find a trip in a raft surprisingly comfortable on calm water.

- Rafts can hold up to 8 or 10 people, but for a couples experience - or to let you race the other members of your group - you can try a duckie. These are 2 person kayak-style inflatables. They’re fast and manoeuvrable while providing protection from crashes, and though they can turn over easily in comparison to a raft, it’s easy to get back in and upright in no time. We recommend duckies for trips down the River Oich.

- If you don’t want to share the vessel, you can face the rapids alone by tubing, essentially a rubber ring ride down the Highlands rapids. Be prepared to get wet if you choose this activity, as you will be partially submerged for the duration, and you’ll almost certainly flip over on multiple occasions! But that’s all part of the fun, as are the speed and thrills that you’ll enjoy on this hair raising adventure.

Requirements to do this activity

While many people hold on to the hope that Loch Ness is deep enough to hide a huge monster, and with a lowest point of 230 metres it is exceptionally deep, rafting in the highlands takes place on shallow stretches of river. This is because it’s where the water bounds over rocks and river bed that rapids are produced. For this reason, is a low risk activity, but that doesn’t mean that there are no precautions in place. Navigating white water can be a bumpy ride and so the rougher trips, including tubing experiences aren’t suitable for children under 12 years old. The whole family can enjoy a raft ride together on calmer courses, as long as everyone is over 5 years old.

In order to enjoy this experience you need to be able to get around in and out of the water. If you’re able to swim, and walk up steep river banks with a damp wetsuit on you should be fine to take on a mountain river, if not, a more controlled ride on the River Ness might be the best option for you.

What to bring on the day of the activity and material provided

We’re going to be upfront about this: you will get wet on a rafting ride, probably from head to toe from sprays and splashes even if you manage to avoid falling in. The exception is the River Ness trip, where only your feet are likely to get in the water, but for the others you need to wear a swimsuit and trainers and bring a towel and a dry pair of shoes to put on afterwards. You’ll be given a wetsuit, a helmet and a lifejacket to protect you from splashes, capsizes and bumps. Some providers ask you to bring a loose pair of shorts that you can wear over their wetsuits to protect it from scratches and scrapes.

When you’re getting ready for your adventure, put your supplies in a backpack and give it to your guides before getting in the boat. It’ll be taken to the end of the trip on dry land - in the back of the van - so you can dry off and warm up as soon as you get out of the mountain rivers.

Rain or shine, it doesn’t matter when you’re having fun in the spray of white water rapids. This is an unmissable element of any visit to Scotland - make your booking today!