Canoe and Camp the River Tay

Nestled on the Scottish Borders, this canoe trip explores one of Britain’s best canoeing white water rivers. It includes a wild camp on the banks of the River and professional guides from Canoe Trail.

Level: Open water Lochs, grade 1 - 3 with lots of amazing rapids along the way

Contact us to book a private trip or register interest for future dates in 2026
8-10 people
£599

Duration: 5 day river journey by canoe

The River Tay is one of Britain's best white water canoeing rivers with fantastic rapids that build from the impressive Loch Tay with Crannogs and beavers through to the rapids that build as you head down past Grand Tully and onto Perth. Our guides will share local knowldge, and paddling wisdom with plenty of fun along the way.

What's Included

Craft
Buoyancy Aid
Basic Map
Bank Based Briefing
Dry Bag
Paddles
Helmet
Professional Coaches
Water
Cooking Kit
Your Campsite
Food and Meals

We also have some back support for those with back problems

What else we can provide on request

Waterproofs
Hire of Wetsuits
Tipi Tent
Hire of Drysuits

Secure a place with £100 (non refundable) deposit and our instalment payment option.

If you are not able to book this trip then it is at full capacity so please contact us. If have a group of friends that you wish to book we can run a bespoke trip for your group.

Dates & Requirements

Next Trip Dates: Contact us to register interest for late 2025 or 2026

We welcome all abilities, however, you need to have some experience of paddling a canoe. Feel free to contact us to discuss further. We can help bring your skills up to speed with our lessons and courses.

Trip Details

The Scottish Borders this canoe trip explores one of Britain’s best canoeing rivers for practicing moving water and trad (traditional) skills such as poling, lining and tracking. The river banks change from winding fields to rocky outcrops and features and ancient Ghilie huts.

Starting at the historic border town of Kelso we paddle down to Coldstream and then onto Norham and the historic walled town of Berwick. The historic route includes stunning bridges, ruined castles and viaducts to explore. This river journey incorporates a mixture of small rapids and drops as well as peaceful paddling through stunning scenery. You will have plenty of opportunities to improve your paddling skills with our qualified and experienced coaches eager to share their knowledge. This is the perfect place to work on 'breaking in', 'breaking out' and ferry gliding as well as board handling such as trim, edge and forward paddling.

Two nights will be spent wild camping on the riverbank, enjoy our free-range evening meals, and sharing stories around the campfire.

Included

Expert tuition from professional experienced guides who have run expeditions and adventures all over the world
Breakfast and evening meal
Hire of drysuits is available on a first-come-first-served basis
Craft, BA’s, Cags, Trousers, Helmets, Drybags, Paddles, and safety equipment

What you will need to bring

Personal Kit
Sleeping Bag and Roll Mat
Cutlery, Cup, Bowl, Knife and Fork
A Sense of Humour!

Trip Plan

Day 1: Canoeing from Kelso to Coldstream - The Perfect Warm-up

Embark on an exciting canoeing adventure along the picturesque River Tweed, starting from Kelso near the historic abbey and border town. This first day serves as a delightful warm-up, featuring gentle rapids, weirs, and fascinating river features to explore. Immerse yourself in the beauty of one of Britain's finest canoeing rivers while enjoying the thrill of wild camping along the riverbank.

Day 2: Canoeing the River Tweed from Coldstream - Unleash Your Skills

Continue your exhilarating journey down the River Tweed from Coldstream, as we venture towards the bridge, providing opportunities to play and navigate moving waters. Throughout this leg of the trip, you'll encounter smaller weirs, drops, and even a captivating whirlpool, perfect for refining your whitewater skills under the guidance of our expert coaching team. After an action-packed day, we'll set up camp in a tranquil woodland downstream, where you can choose between sleeping in tents or swinging in hammocks. Indulge in a hearty campfire-cooked breakfast to fuel your adventures.

Day 3: Canoeing the River Tweed to Berwick Upon Tweed - Creating Lasting Memories

Join us once again on the dynamic conveyor belt that is the River Tweed as we make our way towards the historic town of Berwick Upon Tweed. With more time to develop your skills and learn new techniques, you'll have an unforgettable experience among our enthusiastic group. Witness the iconic viaducts of Berwick Upon Tweed as the ancient walled town comes into view, marking the conclusion of our exhilarating paddling adventure. Bid farewell to your newfound friends until the next thrilling expedition, cherishing the memories made along the way.

Please Note: The itinerary is subject to change if deemed necessary by Canoe Trail. Vehicle shuttles will be arranged from the start locations to the end destination. This allows ample time for customers to practice their skills on the water. Depending on water levels, we may occasionally switch to the local River Till on the first day, ensuring an equally fantastic experience.

Hire FAQ's

What's the difference between a kayak and a canoe?

If you're not sure of what each craft is, then read our guide here.

Are the trips guided?

There are no guides or instructors needed for hire. This is simply a hire where you paddle out and back to our launch point. We recommend our preferred route, however, you are free-range and able to explore the river.

What if it rains?

Unless you hear from us then your booking will run on the day agreed. Canoe Trail runs watersports, paddling, and adventurous activities throughout the year with people enjoying the river and our woodland campsite during the different seasons. On rare occasions (it only happens a couple of times a year) we may move or change your booking. This will be in freak weather conditions such as extremely high river flows in spate or during heavy storms with lightning. You can read our full FAQ here.

How does the booking process work?

We use a live booking system that will assign you the relevant craft and resources. Once you have confirmed your booking date, it is not then transferable and non-refundable in the same way you book an airline seat. Bookings are to be paid in full at the time of booking and are non-refundable. There will be no refunds for early returns, poor weather, or non-usage as per our general terms & conditions.

Location

Loch Tay and River Tay Descent