Transfer and Other Options:

Day One - Inverness to the North West Highlands
Our journey to the North West Highlands passes the unmistakable peaks of Stac Pollaidh, Suilven, Ben Mor Coigach, Cul Mor and Cul Beag as we drive to Elphin where the expedition begins. Before loading up the canoes and setting off down Loch Veyatie towards our first overnight camp, we practise basic open canoe skills and discuss safety procedures. (L,D)

Day Two – Canoeing in Fionn Loch and ascent of Suilven
After breakfast, we paddle westwards along Fionn Loch, where we have the opportunity to ascend the mighty Suilven by a route that very few people pass. Our descent takes us back across the moor and the myriad of lochans that dot the landscape to our campsite beside Fionn Loch. (B,L,D)

Day Three – Fionn Loch to Loch Sionascaig
Portaging over to the beautiful Loch Sionascaig, we head for our wilderness campsite on a tiny island with phenomenal panoramic views of the surrounding mountains - arguably the most stunning camping location in Scotland! (B,L,D)

Day Four - Loch Sionascaig and ascent of Cul Mor
Canoeing to a secluded beach in Loch Sionascaig, we begin our ascent through the lower flanks of birch woods up to the summit of Cul Mor. This is red deer country and it is not uncommon to watch these majestic animals traverse the high corries. Sometimes we even see the deer swimming in the lochs - they can swim several hundred metres to each islands where they can graze. (B,L,D)

Day Five - Loch Sionascaig and ascent of Cul Beag 
We climb Cul Beag via a circular route to witness incomparable views of Coigach and Stac Pollaidh. We may be lucky to see golden eagles coast the skies between the mountain tops of Inverpolly. Looking down at our canoes far below, we savour the views across the wilderness.  (B,L,D)

Day Six – Loch Sionascaig to Loch Buine Moire
We canoe up Loch Sionascaig for a short portage into Loch Buine Moire. Our final paddle takes us across the loch to the end point. We rejoin the vehicle and head to Ullapool for a well-deserved shower and celebratory dinner in a local restaurant. (B,L)

Day Seven - Ullapool to Inverness
Following breakfast we load up the vehicle and return to Inverness. (B)

PLEASE NOTE - The itinerary may be subject to change at the discretion of
the guide having regard to weather conditions and other factors.

Guides
Our guiding team consists of the best guides in Scotland – all of whom are passionate about their country and will share their vast knowledge and experience with you. Equally important to the technical skills of our guiding team is a sense of humour and the ability to ensure that a wide range of clients of all ages and abilities enjoy the very best Scotland has to offer.

Important - Trip Grading
This itinerary is graded overall as "Challenging". However, it is suitable for people with no previous experience of canoeing. It earns its challenging grade due to the physical demands of the itinerary, which involves canoeing, hill-walking, portages, and wild camping in a genuine wilderness region.
You can expect some long and challenging days throughout the trip, combining canoeing with some excellent hill walks. The walks will climb peaks of up to 3000ft / 900m, often crossing rough ground with few paths of any note.
Still on land, this trip involves a couple of portages, where we carry the boats and gear from one loch over the ground to another. This ‘portaging’ is hard work but an integral part of canoeing, and we will take it slow and steady. However, a good level of fitness is required and you should come prepared for this. To help you decide if you are fit enough for this trip, ask yourself:
Can you comfortably undertake up to 8 hours of physical activity in a day? When did you last do this? This will involve hiking over rough ground as well as canoeing, and camping in wild locations.

When the sun shines in Scotland, it is the best place in the world to be! And although the Scottish climate is renowned for its variability, it is not nearly as rainy as you may think. Even if you get caught in the rain, you will see waterfalls and rivers come to life, and the mountains take on an atmospheric appearance which can be very dramatic.
During spring and early summer, meadows of wild flowers bring an abundance of colours to the landscape and it is a great time to experience Scotland’s rich wildlife and birdlife. May and June are the driest and sunniest months and a recommended time to visit Scotland, with normal daytime temperatures of 15 – 18°C. The northerly latitude also means that Scotland enjoys 4 hours more daylight than London, with the most northerly regions barely getting dark during the weeks around midsummer.
July & August are the warmest months with normal daytime temperatures of 18 – 22°C. This is a popular time to visit Scotland but our trips are based in genuine wilderness areas far from the crowds. Scotland’s famous purple heather is at its best in late August, especially in areas such as the Cairngorms.
Late summer brings generally settled weather as we pass into September and October, with normal daytime temperatures of 14 – 16°C. Autumnal colours begin to emerge with birch and rowan trees throwing up particularly bright colours which complement the reddish hue of the hillsides, roamed by well-camouflaged red deer.

The following lists are designed to help your preparation and packing for your trip. The list is not exhaustive and, given the range of personal references, does not include all clothing that will be required for general use i.e. wearing around camp in the evening etc.
Having suitable equipment and clothing will help make your trip even more enjoyable, especially if the weather is less than perfect at any time. 
We recognise that sometimes it is difficult to decide exactly what to bring and what will be most suitable. We are, of course, pleased to offer advice based on our experience, so do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

What to wear whilst canoeing
- Paddling Footwear: either old trail shoes/walking boots or wellington boots
- Warm walking/hiking socks such as those by Thorlo
- Quick drying lightweight trousers, zip-off trousers are ideal
- Shorts (in the event of not having zip-off trousers)
- Waterproof trousers such as ME GTX Pant
- Fully waterproof jacket such as ME Kongur Jacket*
- Thermal wool or synthetic base layer (not cotton)
- 2 x lightweight fleece pullover/jacket
- Sun hat/baseball cap
*The ME Kongur Jacket won Trail magazine’s ‘Best in Test’ award 3 years in
a row. To find your local Mountain Equipment stockist, call 01457 854424.

What to have close to hand while canoeing
- Warm hat & gloves
- Water bottle (with at least 1 litre capacity) and (optional) Thermos flask
- Midge net & insect repellent
- Head-torch with spare battery
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Personal blister kit (such as Compeed plasters or moleskin) and first aid kit
- Anti-bacterial hand gel (for cleaning your hands as required)

Camping Equipment
- 3-season sleeping bag such as ME Firewalker II
- Lightweight sleeping mat or Thermarest
- Lightweight quick drying travel towel
- Personal lightweight wash kit (biodegradable soap)
- Head-torch & spare batteries
- Some polythene bags (to separate wet/dry clothes if necessary)

Optional extras
- Camera (plus spare film/memory card and batteries)
- Binoculars
- Small "day" rucksack, approximately 15-30 litres
- Rucksack liner/large plastic bag for keeping items dry

Group Equipment
We will provide all canoeing equipment (canoes, paddles, buoyancy aids, kneeling pads) and group camping equipment including tents, cooking & eating utensils, waterproof barrels, maps, first aid kit and group shelter.

Hire Equipment
If you do not have any of the recommended equipment, we have some items
available for hire:
- Sleeping bags - £10 per expedition
- Sleeping mats - £5 per expedition
If you need to hire any of these items, please note your requirements in the
correct section of the booking form.

PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT
The following is a list of recommended items. Although most of these items are generally available along the route, it is always more convenient to have a ready supply. This is particularly relevant to any specialist medication.
- Antiseptic cream
- Plasters, bandages, adhesive tape, zinc oxide tape
- Moleskin or Compeed for blisters
- Scissors, tweezers and safety pins
- Anti-inflammatory drugs e.g. Ibuprofen
- Analgesics e.g. Aspirin
- Anti-diaorrheal drugs: e.g. Imodium
- Antihistamines
- Re-Hydration salts or solution e.g. Dioralyte
- Throat lozenges & Dextrose glucose tablets
- Water purification tablets
- Insect Repellent
- Contact lenses and glasses (if appropriate)

On our Open Canoeing expeditions, we camp in spectacular locations on the loch shores. Our tents are spacious 2-3 man tents and there are just 2 people per tent so you have lots of room. We also carry a base camp tent, which means that we can all gather together for dinner or a hot drink if the weather is inclement.
In order to minimise our impact, you will be asked to share a tent with another expedition member of the same sex. If you really would prefer to have a tent of your own, we can arrange this although a £50 surcharge applies. Alternatively, if you have your own tent, you can bring this if you prefer but please let us know). Having your own tent will mean that there is extra load-carrying for you as you will need to shoulder the burden of the extra weight at the portages. If you would like to have a tent to yourself, please let us know at the time of booking.
While the leader will co-ordinate the cooking and help out, everyone is expected to lend a hand as this ensures the best meals in the shortest possible time after what are often long days in the mountains. Fine food is essential to all our trips and expeditions are no different. Using Open Canoes, we are less constrained by weight and therefore have the opportunity to carry food which we would be unable to take on a walking expedition. The scope for imaginative and original meals is therefore enhanced and we will prepare these over our base-camp style dual burner stove or, occasionally, over an open fire.
On Day 6, we stay at a bunkhouse in Ullapool and have dinner in a local restaurant - please note that this dinner is not included in the trip cost.

Cooking on these expeditions is a group activity and everyone gets involved – making the morning coffee, chopping fresh vegetables for dinner or washing up. The meals are all healthy, filling and imaginative. Throughout the trip, we practise a ‘leave no trace’ policy, which your guide will explain at the start of the trip, so that we can be sure we are not damaging these beautiful but fragile landscapes.

Group Size
Group size is limited to 8 as we believe this makes it easier for our guides to offer personal attention and wildlife-viewing possibilities are also enhanced.
Our groups vary widely in terms of age and walking and canoeing experience and this diversity always adds to the holiday experience. We welcome anyone from the complete beginner to seasoned expert – all that is needed is a reasonable degree of fitness, plenty of enthusiasm and an appreciation of the fantastic scenery on offer! Over half of our clients join on their own so these trips are a great way to meet like-minded people.

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
(a) A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. (b) Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to six months.
Visa Note
(a) Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements