Touring Calendars

Scotland offers some of the finest sea kayaking in the world while lochs and rivers provide superb open canoeing.  The touring calendar offers opportunities for paddlers to explore new areas and meet new people.

Tour Organisers are volunteers who give up their time to act as a contact point for paddlers who are interested in paddling in the stated area.   Organisers do not accept responsibility for other paddlers or for instructing them as part of the trip.   These are NOT guided trips run by qualified instructors.

Trip Grades

In order to give you some idea of the type of trip and conditions you might experience Trips are graded from A (lowest) to C (highest). They can vary from a day paddle on a sheltered sea loch to the exposed headlands, cliffs, crossings and tide races among some of Scotland’s rugged coastline and islands. If you are a newcomer you should start off on a Grade A trip so that you can judge your capabilities against other paddlers and minimise the risk to yourself.

Grade A is in sheltered water.  Participants should be capable of paddling 20km (12 miles) per day in Force 2/3 conditions.
Grade B is in more challenging waters and may include tidal streams, exposed headlands, and open crossings between islands.  Participants should be capable of paddling 25km (16 miles) per day in up to Force 4 conditions.  A Four Star paddler would feel comfortable on such a trip.
Grade C participants should be capable of paddling in more difficult conditions than Grade B for a longer time.

If you are interested in any of these trips please contact the organiser well in advance, several weeks perhaps, do not leave it to the last minute.   All participants must be members of the SCA or to be a member of one of the other appropriate UK national canoeing Associations such as Canoe England, Canoe Wales or Canoe Association of Nothern Ireland.   It is expected that non-members will be able to assure the trip Organiser that they are taking action to join the appropriate organisation and will be able to prove membership before coming on the trip. Day Membership of the SCA will also be acceptable.

If you are not known to the organiser try to find a mutual acquaintance.   Failing that, the organiser will need specific practical information about your experience.  Give specific examples of trips, sea states, open crossings, distances that you have paddled. You should be a competent group paddler.  You should have practised deep water rescues, as a rescuee and rescuer.

Some trips are daytrips, the others will involve camping, for which you must bring adequate equipment, food and water.

Participation is at the discretion of the organiser and all participants must be over 18 years of age.  Confirm your attendance in the week before the trip.  You must not turn up for a trip without the agreement of the organiser.   Some trips are over subscribed.  If you discover you are unable to attend, let the organiser know immediately so that someone else can join the trip.

Contact details for the organiser of each trip are as shown in the Calendar.  You can join the SCA online: click here for details.  Don't forget to check our Access & Environment pages before you paddle - there is a page devoted to sea kayaking.

Touring Calendar 2012

Provisional Calendar - subject to confirmation