Due to major challenges in sourcing new canoe and kayak equipment across the industry at the moment (due to supplier issues and huge demand), we are having to make some difficult decisions to help preserve our existing fleet of boats.

For the time being, we won’t be accepting any new sea or touring kayak hire bookings.  This may change if we can source new boats but otherwise, we will only be using our kayaks for guided group expeditions.

Additionally,  we will not accept any canoe hire bookings for self-guided river trips, as our boats incur relatively more damage on these trips than on flat water.  For the time being we will still accept bookings for lochs/ canals where we have availability.

We will not be selling off any ex-hire boats at the end of the season like we usually do.

We hope this situation may improve but at this stage it doesn’t look likely. 

Please note: we do not offer single-day canoe or kayak hire for less than 5 boats where delivery and collection are required.

We no longer offer single boat hire (for any duration) on the Great Glen Canoe Trail and River Spey.  The only exceptions to this are if customers can collect & return equipment to our Inverness or Aviemore offices.

We offer a comprehensive canoe and kayak hire service, expedition outfitting and customer shuttle service to just about any location in Scotland.

We have 4 hire locations servicing venues across Scotland:

Inverness – Canoe and Sea/ Touring Kayak hire available. 

Servicing Great Glen Canoe Trail, Glen Affric, West Coast (e.g. Knoydart, Loch Moidart, Loch Shiel) and North West Scotland, River Beauly and Moray Coast.

Aviemore – Canoe hire only

– servicing the River Spey, Loch Ericht.

Loch Lomond– Canoe hire only

– servicing Loch Lomond

Loch Tay– Canoe hire only

– for Loch Tay (1-3 hr hires – no pre-booking available, first-come first-served, afternoons only).

Other than Loch Tay, it is not possible to canoe or kayak directly from our equipment store locations, so transport will be required to reach your paddling venue.  You have the option of transporting equipment yourself or booking our shuttle service (where it is possible).

All hire/ shuttle bookings must be made in advance in order that arrangements can be made to transport equipment to your chosen location.

We do not offer a shuttle-only service.  This service is only for boat hire customers.

Shuttle service information

Where to canoe

Where to kayak

Equipment Hire costs

Single-day hire is only available when a minimum of 5 boats hired.  The exception to this is when customers can collect and return equipment from our Inverness or Aviemore offices.  A vehicle with rigid roof bars will be required.

Canadian Canoe

e.g. Venture Ranger 16

1 day: £57

2+ days £47 per day

Touring Kayak

e.g. Venture Easky

1 day: £44

2+ days £34 per day

Sea Kayak

e.g. P&H Scorpio

1 day: £50

2+ days: £39

Tandem Kayak (Inverness base only)

1 day: £57

2+ days: £42

Hire boats for 4 days, get 1 extra day free

Canoe hire includes

Paddles [with spares]

Buoyancy aids (or life jackets for small children)

Helmets [if required]

60 litre watertight barrel per person or equivalent sized dry bag.

A portage trolley for every 2 boats hired

A water bailer

A laminated map per group

Free toilet trowel and firepan (on request)

Fitted buoyancy airbags and painter ropes

Kayak hire includes:

Paddle with each boat

Buoyancy aids

Helmets if required

2x 30L dry bags per person

Portage trolley for every 2 boats hired

Water bailer

Laminated map per group

Free toilet trowel and firepan (on request)

Spray decks

  • Our canoes are predominantly 16ft Venture Rangers, ideal for multi-day trips on flat or moving water.
  • The canoes come with 2 fitted seats and although they have sufficient room for a third adult or a couple of small children kneeling in the middle, you must bear in mind that along with expedition kit the boat may sit low in the water and put you at risk of being swamped.
  • We also have a small number of Canadian Canoes, better suited to solo paddling.
  • Our kayaks are a mainly a mix of P&H Scorpios (17ft – sea kayak) and Venture Easkies (15ft touring kayaks).
Ranger 16 Canoe
Ranger 16 Canoe
P&H Scorpio Sea Kayak
P&H Scorpio Sea Kayak
Venture Easky Touring Kayak
Venture Easky Touring Kayak

Additional equipment that you might need:

You may not have your own, or you may not be able to bring it with you, so we can provide the following equipment for you should you need it:
  • Additional portage trolleys: £10 per booking
  • 5 metre security cables: Free on request
  • Inflatable roof rack (for your own car):£10 per booking (Suitable for 1 canoe or 1 solo kayak at a time)
  • Midge nets: £5 each to buy
  • Laminated maps: £5 per additional map
  • Camping, cooking and dining equipment: £12 per person per night (Includes tent, inflatable sleeping mat, stove and fuel, pots, plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery).  Note: Sleeping bags are not included.
  • Tent and inflatable sleeping mat: £5 per per person per night
  • Cooking and dining equipment: £7 per person per night (Includes stove & fuel, pots, plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery)
  • Expedition toilet trowel: FREE on request
  • Kayak expediton leader kit: £10 per kit – includes compass, 2 dry bags, bilge pump, split paddle
  • Fire pan: FREE on request (To protect the ground if you intend to have camp fires)
  • Canoe sailing kit: £10 per booking
  • Cool box (canoe only): £5 per booking
  • 10 litre water carriers: £5 per booking
  • Canoe or kayak guide: If you’d like an instructor to spend some time with you on day 1 of your trip, just to make sure you settle in to the trip ok the costs would be £100 for the first 2 hours of your trip or £180 for up to 5 hrs.Please note: 1 instructor for every 10 canoeists or 8 kayakers paddling would be required.
In case you are wondering:
We don’t hire out rescue equipment to hire customers, as we expect that those with the knowledge to use it safely will have their own personal equipment.
In Your Element
Average rating:  
 2 reviews
 by bob21_10
Glorious canoe expedition from Elphin to climb Suilven, brilliantly arranged with and supported by IYE

Eight of us canoed from Elphin and camped under Suilven, which we climbed, as well as Cul Mor. WE decided to exit back to Elphin rather than portage to Boat Bay but IYE were very flexible and were happy to fit into any change of plan right up to the last moment, depending on the weather and wind. Thanks to IYE for making this a great and memorable trip for 8 of us. IYE were excellent in every way. Calum and colleagues provided much detailed information and expert advice before to us – inexperienced paddlers – the canoes and all the kit was in excellent condition and the arrangements to meet up at start and at the end worked like clockwork. The cost was very reasonable indeed, spread amongst 8 of us. One of us even had a lift back to Inverness station with Rich at the end. Full marks from us all for IYE.

 by Michael J
Loch Ness Canoe Adventure

We had a great day canoing 18km up Loch Ness. A well organised pick up and drop off to start our adventure and collection from the finish. Very quick response to my initial communication, and with a few In Your Element tweeks to my original request due to their superb knowledge of the Loch we had a smooth trip. Great communiaction from start to finish (Unlike another company I had contacted). 1ST Class Service.