Scotland the Brave, the beautiful, this country has a special power to enchant all those who visit it. For many people, the thing that catches their attention and stays with them long after visiting - or even convinces them to stay - is the water. From the deeply mysterious lochs, to mountain streams, from fjords to archipelagos, from mountain rivers to great sea firths, the landscape of Scotland is punctuated by waterways. One of the best ways to explore the water is on a kayak, a personal boat that can take you through the narrowest straights and support you on rough water. Across the country there are opportunities to do this sport that are enough to make anyone fall in love.

Where are the best places to go kayaking in Scotland?

• Central Belt: This is the most populated part of the country where the largest cities are found. Despite being more urban than other parts, there are plenty of opportunities for kayaking here. Edinburgh, the capital, sits on the Firth of Forth. From the Forth Bridge at Queensferry to the mouth of the Firth at Milsey Bay, you’ll find places for a paddle, with highlights being the Musselburgh Lagoons and Portobello Beach. Not far to the South of the city you’ll find Whiteadder Reservoir, and beyond that the River Tweed on the Scottish border, both of which are popular destinations. In Glasgow, you’ll find a white water course at Pinkston, where you can experience the thrills of kayaking in a strong current without leaving the city. But if you are keen to get out onto a natural body of water, it’s not a long drive to Loch Doon and Loch Ken in Galloway.

• Northeast: Extending from the North shore of the Firth of Forth to the Moray Firth, this region has a wealth of kayaking opportunities on offer. A tidal pool connects to the Firth of Forth at Elie, providing calm waters that all can enjoy and around the coast, the cliffs near Arbroath are a favourite destination among local enthusiasts. Inland, Loch Insh in the Cairngorms mountains is a great choice, and the River Spey and River Dee include rapid sections for white water kayaking alongside more relaxed sections. Loch Tay and the River Tay are more good options for exciting journeys in beautiful surroundings.

• The Highlands: When it comes to the highlands of Scotland, there are too many breathtaking places to go kayaking to list, let alone experience - but it’d be a crime not to mention some of the best locations. Famous around the world for its monster, Loch Ness is wonderful for this activity too. Other Lochs that you can enjoy in this region include Loch Duntelchaig, and island-studded Loch Maree on the West Coast. If river kayaking is more your thing, the River Beauly that flows to Inverness is a good option, and the River Oich in the Great Glen. To the South, the Argyle Peninsula is Scotland’s answer to the Norwegian fjords and sea kayaking routes around Dunoon, Tarbert and Lochgilphead are endlessly rewarding. If that’s not enough for you, you can try the sea lochs near Fort William and Port Appin - Lochs Linnhe, Sunart and Glencoe. Or further North to Plockton, the Applecross Peninsula or the Summer Isles, which are remote enough to make it unlikely that you’ll bump into other kayakers.

• The Hebrides: These islands are off the West coast, running almost the length of the country in two main archipelagos. The Inner Hebrides merge into the labyrinth of peninsulas and channels of the West coast fjords and include Skye which is accessible by a bridge, and can even be reached on a kayak tour. Alongside Mull, Islay and Tiree, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the whole UK for navigating. The far flung Outer Hebrides also offer fantastic sea kayaking experiences to the most intrepid travellers. The islands of Barra to the South and Harris to the North are among the best places, whilst tiny Eigg, between the two island chains is also worth a visit.

• The Shetland Islands: To really take it to the extremes, you have to go to the most Northerly point of the British Isles: Shetland. Although it’s over 100 miles from the Scottish mainland, the journey is worth it, and sea kayaking here is an unmissable experience. Islands and islets, beaches and rocky outcrops, even marine wildlife if you’re lucky: there’s so much to enjoy that you’ll want to stay forever.

Requirements to do this activity

- One of the attractions of kayaking is that you don’t need much training or experience to enjoy it. Unlike other watersports such as sailing or surfing, there’s a very low risk of losing control of the craft and so, on calm water at least, absolute beginners can get the hang of the basics pretty quickly. If it’s your first time in a kayak, we recommend choosing a lake, firth, canal or other sheltered body of water where you’ll feel confident enough to develop your technique. Of course, set in beautiful surroundings, these are also great destinations for experienced paddlers too.

- Sea kayaking has some significant differences. The equipment is more specialised, and this is necessary because the conditions on the ocean can be more challenging that those on flat water. Waves and tides, especially when combined with rocky coastlines that you find around Scotland, can present challenges, so kayaking experiences on the sea are for those with some confidence in a kayak.

- The whole family can get involved in this activity. When the conditions are right, children as young as 3 years old are welcome in certain locations. Other operators have double kayaks, where a child can ride in the same boat as an adult.

What are the options for organising an experience?

+ Kayaking experiences in Scotland are run by passionate paddlers who want more and more people to get involved in the sport. If you’re interested, but you have some doubts about what it entails, the best thing to do is take a lesson with one of them. This will help you gain confidence and ability, and, in the course of 1.5 to 2 hours, might turn you into a convert! Another option is to take a guided tour, where a guide will show you the best that this region has to offer, and if this doesn’t convince you, we don’t know what will. Tours can last half a day or a full day, or even take place over multiple days - a true voyage of discovery along the Scottish coast. Kayak hire is also available in many places, especially lakes where the conditions are reliable.

+ There are a number of ways to make your session even more unique. As well as double kayaks, you can also find them inflatable. These are sometimes known as buggies and can make a river trip more dynamic and enjoyable. Talking of rivers, boats can be used to tackle rapids and white water, a truly exciting way to travel through the landscape. There’s also an artificial white water circuit in Glasgow, one of only a few in the entire United Kingdom.

We’ve done our best to describe the trips, but words can only do so much! Whatever you choose to do, it’s sure to exceed your expectations.