Highlands Packraft expedition Fundamentals course - Itinerary & Logistics

We will meet in Inverness mid/late afternoon and travel by minibus to Slattadale on the shores of Loch Maree.

After establishing camp, we will introduce the equipment, review the planned route and discuss the conditions and environments we will encounter over the weekend.

After breakfast, we will prepare and pack the boats for the journey.

You will have the opportunity to compare and use a range of packrafts, paddles, buoyancy aids and storage systems, while learning how to load and organise a boat for an overnight expedition.

We will then develop the essential paddling, communication and rescue skills before setting out across Loch Maree towards the islands.

As we travel, we will look at open-water paddling, route choice, wind, waves and managing a group of loaded packrafts. We will explore part of the island group before continuing northwest along the loch to our second camp.

The evening will focus on expedition routines, including campcraft, water purification, equipment care, repairs and emergency planning.

Weather, daylight and the ability of the group permitting, we will also complete an evening mountain journey or scramble, introducing the overland element of packraft travel.

Wild camp.

After breakfast, we will break camp and continue towards the River Ewe.

The focus now moves to introductory river running. As we travel downstream, we will develop moving-water skills, practise rescues and look at how to identify hazards, choose lines and decide when to paddle, inspect or portage.

Participants will gradually take more responsibility for reading the water, communicating decisions and helping to manage the group.

We will also work through practical emergency scenarios involving injuries, cold-water immersion, damaged equipment and changes to the journey plan.

The route continues through Poolewe before entering Loch Ewe, where we will introduce the additional considerations involved in coastal and sea-loch travel.

At the end of the journey, we will pack the boats and return to Inverness by minibus.

The exact route may change depending on weather, water levels, wind and the needs of the group. Adapting the plan and making sound decisions are fundamental parts of expedition travel.