Wild Hebridean Journey

Clearwater Paddling is proud to offer an epic adventure travelling through some Scotland’s wildest seascapes.

The aim of this tour is to explore the parts no other tours visit. Weather depending this wild camping journey will begin in Castlebay and travel to the furthest south islands in the Outer Hebrides, visiting Vatersay, Sandray, Pabby, Mingulay and Berneray. Following this we will head north along the rocky shoreline of Barra up into the Sound of Barra. (This tour visits very remote islands; therefore the itinerary is subject to the weather conditions).

We will have the opportunity to paddle amongst rafts of puffins, razorbills and guillemots, which nest each summer on these remote islands. See seals hauled out on the rocks, otters searching for food, and perhaps glimpse dolphins and basking sharks in the sounds. The awe-inspiring scenery dwarfs the paddler. Kayak below massive sheer 200m cliffs, and past caves, arches and huge stacks. This is some of the grandest and wildest wilderness imaginable.

On land we will explore the hills and dunes where long abandoned homes once stood. Gaze down sheer cliffs where fulmars, kittiwakes and other birds soar on the up draught. Over the hills we may see skua hounding terns for food, golden eagle drifting overhead, and hear the corncrake’s rasping call coming from the tall grass.

On this wonderful journey we will be total self-sufficient carrying all our own food and equipment. Each day we will paddle to a new camp site beside stunning white beaches, quiet lagoons and headlands surrounded by islands.

Paddling ability To get the most out of this stunning tour paddlers should at times be happy paddling in a larger swell and making longer crossings. Like all our tours if the conditions are not safe, then we will not paddle.. (Please contact us if you would like more details)

Wild Assynt Journey

Clearwater Paddling will be teaming up with experienced local guide Jules Macleod to offer this ten day journey to explore the finest coastline in the northwest of Scotland. Stretching from the Summer Isles in the south up to Handa Island in the north this adventure has in all.

We will begin our journey by exploring the beautiful Summer Isles a great little archipelago north west of Ullapool. From here we will head on up towards Lochinver passing the cliffs at Reef, lovely white sandy bays and wooded glens, with the backdrop of Assynt’s majestic hills such as Suliven and Canisp. From the picturesque fishing village of Lochinver we will pass along remote and craggy shores before heading around the Point of Stoer and the grand sea stack ‘The old Man of Stoer’.

Continuing on we will travel past a variety of islands and skerries, caves and blowholes before heading up into Loch Glencoul. Here, at the head of the loch surrounded, by high mountains, is Scotland’s highest waterfall, which is reminiscent of a Norwegian
fjord. The final leg of our wild journey will take us up past more
offshore islands until we come to Handa Island, a Scottish
Wildlife reserve. Here on the sheer Torridonian sandstone
cliffs, rising vertically from the Atlantic, nest some 180,000,
including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, skuas, fulmars and
kittiwakes.

On a journey like this we will expect to see a whole
host of wildlife from seals, to otters, golden eagles
and sea eagles, dolphins and possibly even whales.
This is sure to be an unforgettable journey that will
stay a part of you forever.

This tour would suit the paddler who has at least a week
of experience. On some of the days we may be paddling
longer distances, and the conditions can be quite varied
form peaceful sheltered bays to more exposed
headlands. Please feel free to contact us if you
would like more details.