View Prices Information

On behalf of the Police Cadet Unit I would like to thank your staff for the excellent service you provided during our stay last week. The range of activities that had been selected were great and your staff consulted us on any changes which they thought would be beneficial. The instrucotrs could not have been more helpful and we all enjoyed all the activities. We were well looked after in the Restaurant and nothing was too much trouble for the staff. The food was again to a high standard, although the portions were enormous and we struggled to finish them. We would have no hesitation on returning to Loch Insh. Karen 19/10/10

I am writing to thank you for a great experience the sailing is an experience I will never forget the instructors helped me learn new skills the food was great our chalet rocked!
(Graham 16 June)


ACTIVITIES: River Trips

River Trips are a super way to explore the Spey Valley

River Trips are a super way to explore the Spey Valley

Stunning Views

Stunning Views

River Trips are great fun for young and old

River Trips are great fun for young and old

Tackling some faster flowing water

Tackling some faster flowing water

All Smiles

All Smiles

Kayaks on the side of the loch

Kayaks on the side of the loch

River Trips
Activity Overview
Min Age: 6 years (can be lower if parents come on trip too and put the child in their boat)
Session max: 24 places (teaching ratio 12:1)
Session min: 4 places(With Instruction) 1 Place (On your own)
Equipment Provided: All equipment including Wetsuits or waterproofs Buoyancy aids, Helmets,Paddles, spray decks if required. Dependant on conditions and experience. (We don’t always wear everything!) A map of your route with an explanation and our contact details. A waterproof container for your belongings.
Participants to take: Footwear (trainers or booties), Swim suit and towel. Bring your own wetsuit or waterproofs if you have it! You will also be able to take other personal kit based on how long you intend to take ie. Food , Drink, Camera,Binoculars, etc..
Experience: No experience necessary

If you’re looking to get active for the whole day, try our entry level river trip in open Canadian Canoes

Meet at Loch Insh at 10 o’clock and we then drive you to Kingussie.

Paddle down stream eight miles, through Insh Marshes Nature Reserve.

Stop for a leisurely lunch on the banks of the river, then continue back to Loch Insh. The trip takes about four hours.

Bring some warm clothes, packed lunch and some waterproofs.

A fantastic day out for all the family.
Available seven days a week with or without instruction.

No experience necessary.

Please book in advance.

Lessons available for all levels as well as two and five day courses.

River Trips that we do

  • Kingussie to Loch Insh (entry level as already described )
  • Loch Insh to Aviemore(next level up. Done in Kayaks only )
  • Grantown to Ballindalloch (advanced, done in Kayaks only )
  • Ballindalloch to Aberlour (our most extreme trip (level 3)  (Kayaks only again)
  • The Spey descent (kayaks only  again)

We run a five day course most every week of the summer holiday just choose the day you fancy or do all of them! Sessions start at 10-12am and 1-3pm

Day one Generally Mondays and Saturdays Kayaking and Canadian canoeing on the loch learning to steer & getting over the fear of capsizing and introduction to moving water in the afternoon. You will stay at the Loch Insh base this day.

Day two Tuesdays or Sundays.  An introduction to Canadian canoeing on the river from Kingussie to Loch Insh.  Bring a packed lunch learn to read the river, and how to negotiate basic obstacles. How to set up your boat.  New touring strokes are introduced and a great chance to spot wildlife as you pass through the biggest wetland nature reserve in Europe.

Day three Wednesday or by arrangement.Loch Insh to Aviemore in kayaks. Learning the same as above but in Kayaks moving on down the Spey using the next section to Aviemore which is slighty rougher. A chance to put into practice many of the techniques introduced the day before but adapted for kayaking. Faster and tighter and a bit more exhilerating! The kayaks are used because some of the drops and rapids are quite narrow.

We finish with a two day expedition on Thursday, Friday or by arrangement from Grantown to Aberlour. This section is about 10 miles each day and after the week you will have traversed the best parts of the River Spey, in total about 50 miles.  A great achievement for your Duke of Edinburgh award or just to say you have done it.This section is the wildest bit up to Grade Three rapids.  Most other centres only do this section in rafts. You will probably capsize on these days so be prepared. But if you don’t fall in your probably not trying hard enough!

All instructors at loch Insh teach using the new UKCC coaching scheme and are trained accordingly. Ask during your course if you would like to be assessed for the new star test awards or paddle power awards and this can be done during your stay.

Note we only asses the inland awards i.e. Open Canoe and kayak up to three star although I have left the other awards in for your reference

If you wish to try the Spey descent you just hire the single or double kayaks(deposit required) and we can arrange transport from pick up points along the Spey. However, you must satisfy our Chief Instructor of your competence to do this.

Paddlesport Courses

For information on our paddlesport courses visit the courses section of this website