Canoe & Craft

Canoe Tripping, Camp Craft & Make Your Own Paddle
In Collaboration With Beyond Adventure

LOCATION

River Tay

PLACES

2026 DATES

6 - 11 April

PRICE

£995

BOOK NOW

Canoe trips and bushcraft go hand in hand. For this epic adventure we've paired up with our friends at Beyond Adventure to offer a unique 6-day Scottish canoe adventure with a twist.

The Tay - Canoeing Phase

Starting at the head of Loch Tay at the historic village of Killin, we'll travel the length of the Loch over two days, wild camping on remote beaches and Islands along the way. With expert coaching from the Beyond Adventure team, we'll cover flat water canoe techniques and canoe tripping skills as we go, slowly building up your confidence as a paddler. As we approach the mouth of the River Tay at Kenmore, the current picks us up and we begin our 15km decent of the upper stretch of the River Tay. Again the expert team will coach you on canoe river skills, river safety and how to read and run rapids!

Our destination on the third and final day of paddling is the Wilderness Folk School's stunning ancient oak woodland camp on the banks of the River Tay, where late in the afternoon, we'll pull up the canoes up on shore and settle in around the campfire to a hearty campfire cooked meal.

Canoe Paddle Carving - The Craft Phase

For the second phase of this experience we'll be based in our special woodland camp, complete with large tarps for group areas, a camp kitchen and a homely campfire. For the next two days the Wilderness Folk School team will teach you how to carve your own wooden canoe paddle using an axe and knife in the woods. With lessons on safe axe carving techniques, woodcarving and how to lay out and shape the design, you'll leave with your own hand-crafted wooden canoe paddle. What's more, while in camp we'll enjoy some great campfire cooking, including dutch oven cookery and bushcraft lessons such as a firelighting masterclass.

Who Is This Experience For?

This course aims to combine a great canoe trip with real, authentic and practical bushcraft skills. Pairing up with the Beyond Adventure team means that you'll get seriously experienced and professional canoe coaches with years of experience to guide you through some of the best canoe country in Britain. Along the way, Steven Hanton and Hannah Knight of the Wilderness Folk School will pepper their extensive knowledge of bushcraft throughout the trip and guide you in the craft phase as you make your paddle and enjoy the one of the best woodlands in Scotland.

This trip will suit both beginners new to canoeing and bushcraft as well as those who wish to work on existing canoe expedition skills or perhaps gain some new bushcraft skills. During the paddle carving phase we'll start with the basics so woodcraft beginners are also welcome. All tools and materials will also be provided.

Canoe & Craft Syllabus

Canoeing Phase

Loading a canoe & gear shakedown
Flat water paddling skills; strokes and trim
Moving water skills; reading rivers, strokes, route choice, ferry gliding & breaking in/out of the current
Expedition canoe skills, campcraft and cooking on fires.

Bushcraft & Paddle Carving Phase

Axe work, knife carving techniques and tool safety
Tool sharpening masterclass
How to layout and carve a canoe paddle
Campfire cooking; dutch oven cookery
How to light a fire like a pro.

Canoe with two people in it canoeing in Scotland

We start the trip at Killin, paddling East through Loch Tay, down the River Tay to our woodland camp near Grandtully.

EQUIPMENT WE'LL BE PROVIDING:

(If you have your own of any of the following and would like to bring it please feel free)

Personal floatation device
3 Paddles per boat
Large dry bag.
Blue barrel for kit.
Helmet
Canoes
Cooking equipment
Water filters
Group shelter
Kneeling pads

KIT YOU NEED TO BRING:

DAY PACK

Items to be kept in a small rucksack, the idea is this pack will contain anything you might need during the day without you having to open your overnight gear pack whilst travelling. An ordinary rucksack is fine for this.

Brew kit- mug, spoon, tea/coffee/hot chocolate etc (a small camping stove is a useful extra)
Waterproofs: jacket and trousers
Head-torch and spare batteries
Water bottle
Wooly Hat
Flask for hot water/ hot drink
Any personal medications
Small First aid kit- plasters, painkillers, steri-wipes etc (should fit in a trouser pocket).
Toilet kit- tissues, hand sanitizer, lighter, wet-wipes
Sun-cream and insect repellent - Smidge or something with deet in it works.
Sunglasses
Midge head net - The ones by Smidge are good - most others have mesh sizes too large.
DITCH KIT (inside its own dedicated dry bag within your day pack)
- Good warm thick jacket/fleece
- Thick woolly hat
- Warm gloves
  Warm Buff/ scarf
- Good thermal base-layer top
- Chocolate bar
- Silver space blanket

MAIN PACK

This kit will be stowed in a portage pack or plastic barrel.

Warm Sleeping bag-in its own dry bag
Sleeping mat
Tent
A full set of warm, dry clothes for the end of the day.
Waterproof socks/ warm socks
Camp shoes in a dry bag and kept dry where possible! (old trainers or lightweight boots area ideal)
Wash kit: toothbrush/paste, soap, small towel as minimum
Spectacles/contact lenses/spares
Plate/bowl and eating utensils
One luxury item-a book, MP3 player, etc

FOOTWEAR

There are a few options for canoeing footwear. Our preferred system is to accept wet feet while on the canoe during the day (it's hard to keep feet dry while canoeing). While canoeing we wear thick neoprene wet suit socks (5mm+) inside a larger pair of neoprene boots which have felt bottoms for grip. Our feet are wet, but they are warm and wet with this system. An alternative is to wear neoprene wet suit socks inside old trainers - not quite so good but passable. Wellies or heavy boots are not suitable. To keep feet dry, you either have a full dry suit or dry suit trousers with trainers or water shoes over the top. This is a good system but it is expensive and probably not the most common solution for beginners or occasional canoeists.

OTHER OPTIONAL KIT

Knee Pads - to compliment the kneeling pads we can supply.
Waterproof whistle to be carried on your person.
A stainless steel fixed blade knife - Mora knives are perfect.

Travel and arrival - Detailed joining instructions will be sent out to you well in advance of the expedition.
Accommodation - All camping. You will need to bring your own tent but we can loan you one if you don't have.
Food and Drink - This trip is fully catered. Food for the canoeing phase will be typical canoe camping fayre cooked mostly on a fire. Once in camp, we will create more elaborate meals on the campfire. We take our catering seriously and we aim to make the food one of the highlights of the trip. We can cater to vegetarians and some medical intolerances but vegans and more unusual food requirements can be tricky when group cooking. We are always happy to chat about this before booking.
Weather/conditions - Scotland's weather can be changeable, please make sure you read the kit list thoroughly.
Age requirements - 18+.
Fitness/ability - You need a basic level of fitness to attend this expedition. No previous canoeing experience is necessary, although you may get more from the course if you have completed a taster session. We suggest that being able to walk 3km at least each day is a good minimum bench mark. Some days we will be paddling 10km or so, which while not particularly strenuous, can make some muscles ache a bit if not conditioned. We want you to enjoy the expedition so please contact us with any questions on this.
Payment - To book we will take non returnable deposit with the balance due 8 weeks before the expedition start date. See our full Terms and Conditions.
Insurance - We have comprehensive liability insurance and risk assessments, but we suggest that you have your own insurance policy that covers your kit, cancellations and travel plans.
First Aid/Medical - The leaders are experienced in remote first aid and are trained to First Response Emergency Care level 4 (Ambulance ECA). We will carry a comprehensive expedition first aid kit. Please bring with you plenty of any required personal medication.
Toilets - On expedition, toilets will consist of a spade and a walk a good distance from camp. Once in camp we will have a simple composting toilet set up.

What happens if I'm late for a course? Please keep us informed on your journey if you are going to be late. Due to the nature of the trip, we can not wait to long before launching.

Where do I park and is it safe? Full joining instructions will be sent out before the expedition. Cars will be left at Beyond Adventure HQ in Aberfeldy for the duration of the trip.

Do you allow dogs? I'm afraid not.

Is there phone signal? It will be patchy.

Do most people come on their own? Yes they do, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and like-minded people. We also have many people that choose to come with a friend or family member who also wants to have an awesome time.

Do I need prior experience? No but previous canoeing experience is a bonus.

Are there any hazards or risks I should be aware of? There's no such thing as completely risk-free outdoor activities. Your course leaders have 20 years of experience in bushcraft and canoeing so rest assured the risks have been carefully assessed and mitigated as best as is possible. You are in good hands and a full safety brief will be given were required. That said, canoeing on big lochs and on moving water has inherent risks and so you must be made aware of these.

There are ticks present in the woods (like almost all UK woodlands which have a deer population) but you will receive a brief and the risks from Lyme disease are minimal.

Are there midges? Midges are very unlikely to be present at this time of year.

What is your cancellation policy? Full terms and conditions are available here but basically;

You'll get a 100% refund if we cancel the course (rarely for weather, sometimes if there are not enough bookings but 8 weeks in advance of the course). Extreme weather can trigger cancellations - please read our terms and conditions.
Your deposit is non-refundable.
If you have to cancel then we will always try to refill the course place, and if we can we will refund you in full.
Full course fee is due 8 weeks before course
- If you cancel less than 8 weeks before the course you are liable for 100% of the course fee.
- This is due to the fact that courses involve a large amount of planning and expense in advance.
- Sometimes we can transfer you to another course if there is availability.

DAY 1 - Meet at Beyond Adventure HQ, Aberfeldy - 0900. Launch canoes at Killin, Loch Tay. Wild camp.

DAY 2 - Paddling Loch Tay. Wild camp.

DAY 3 - Paddle River Tay. Arrive at woodland camp.

DAY 4 - Paddle carving & Bushcraft. Woodland camp.

DAY 5 - Paddle carving & Bushcraft. Woodland camp.

DAY 6 - Depart woodland after breakfast, return to Beyond Adventure HQ, Aberfeldy late morning.

Canoe & Craft

Canoe Tripping, Camp Craft & Make Your Own Paddle In Collaboration With Beyond Adventure

Canoe Paddle Carving - The Craft Phase

Who Is This Experience For?

Canoe & Craft Syllabus

Canoeing Phase​​​​​

​​

Loading a canoe & gear shakedown

Flat water paddling skills; strokes and trim

Moving water skills; reading rivers, strokes, route choice, ferry gliding & breaking in/out of the current

Expedition canoe skills, campcraft and cooking on fires.

Bushcraft & Paddle Carving Phase​ ​​

​Axe work, knife carving techniques and tool safety

Tool sharpening masterclass

How to layout and carve a canoe paddle

Campfire cooking; dutch oven cookery

How to light a fire like a pro.

Canoe Tripping, Camp Craft & Make Your Own Paddle
In Collaboration With Beyond Adventure

Canoeing Phase

Bushcraft & Paddle Carving Phase

Axe work, knife carving techniques and tool safety