 Wildlife
Canoe Expedition Scotland
We are pleased to offer this expedition for the second year running
- this year we intend to provide a John
Muir conservation Award to participants.
The location will be the stunning Loch Sionnascaig (photo right) in
north-west Scotland. This is a true wilderness, a diverse mosaic of
habitats comprising lochs, wooded islands, mountains, rivers, bogs and
birch forest. We will be able to explore this landscape from a number
of wild camps around the loch by canoe and on foot. Because we will
be largely based around this loch we will have that all-important time
to be still and really observe the wildlife. Paddling is the perfect
mode of transport and a great way to get close to the wildlife. We also
plan to spend a day and a night on the coast looking for otters, marine
birds and foraging for shellfish.
Course leaders
The course will be jointly led by our chief instructor, Leon Durbin,
and by local wildlife ranger, Ian Paterson. Leon is an experienced wildlife
ecologist who lived in Scotland for 10 years. He has conducted scientific
studies on several local species (e.g. otters, grouse, foxes). He is
also our chief bushcraft instructor so no doubt will be able to show
you some survival skills along the way - if you are more interested
in bushcraft have a look at our Bushcraft
Canoe Expedition.
Ian lives in Sutherland and has been leading wildlife watching activities
for 17 years. He has a great deal of local wildlife knowledge and we
are delighted that he is joining us on this very special course to share
his passion for the subject.
The local knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm of the course leaders
will give you the best opportunities to observe and understand the wild
animals and plants of the area. For example, the region is a stronghold
for eagles, peregrines, ospreys, merlin, hen harriers, black-throated
divers, greenshank, grouse, ptarmigan, saw billed ducks, red deer, otters
(trail in photo below right), water voles, water shrews, and foxes,
to name but a few!
Activities
You will spend six full days in the heart of the wilderness looking
for target species, observing them and exploring the ecology of the
area.
 You
will learn about:
- the geology of the area
- animal tracks and signs,
- stalking and the best places to get photographs
- the behaviour and ecology of the animals you are seeing
- the identification of trees and herbaceous plants of the area -
their role in the ecology of the area and their uses for people
- coastal ecology and wildlife
- fishing with hand lines (optional extra activity)
- canoeing on lochs
- how to live close to nature with minimal impact and disturbance.
Dates:
14-20 May 2009. We will meet at 18.00 at Ullapool Youth Hostel on
14th, travel to the canoe launch site by car the next morning and return
to Ullapool at around 18.00 on 20th.
Requirements:
The course is open to novice canoeists *, though the some experience
is a definite advantage. You will be given basic canoe instruction on
the first day - there will be two people paddling and carrying each
canoe and we will aim to pair up experienced with non-experienced canoeists
where possible (unless you prefer to canoe with a companion).
You must:
be over 18 years old;
- have some outdoor experience (e.g. hill walking, camping, adventure
sports, bushcraft etc.)
- have a reasonable level of physical fitness
- be able to swim 200 metres and
- have a sense of humour!
This location is wild and isolated so you need to be good at adapting
to local conditions both good and bad!
Camping:
We will have some truly stunning wild campsites including a wooded
glade next to a cascading waterfall and a small wooded island. You will
need to bring a small tent, or a hammock and tarp (midge net is essential,
though midges are not usually too bad at this time of year).
A kit list will be detailed in the joining instructions.
Price:
The price £620 includes instruction, canoe usage, and all food
while on the expedition, plus meals and hostel accomodation while in
Ullapool. During the trip we aim to prepare meals which include locally
produced or foraged ingredients, and which are free range and/or organic
wherever possible - you should not go hungry!
To reserve a place now you need to pay a deposit of £100 - the
balance is due two calendar months in advance of the course.
 Client
quotes:
"The instructors' knowledge of the local ecology was second
to none. I feel like I learnt so much! Both Ian and Leon were very appoachable,
and knowledgeable. I asked them so many questions about the local wildlife,
and amazingly they always seemed to know the answer no matter how obsure
the question seemed to me! I came home feeling a little tired but completely
stress free, and mentally refreshed. I wish I could wake up every morning
surrounded by mountains and lochs, and hearing the birds chirping around
me. The location was absolutely stunning. I did not realise such vast
and beautiful places existed in the UK. I loved the combination of doing
canoeing alongside camping and learning about the wildlife in the area.
What a fab combination. Also the flexibility in the schedule- allowing
us to choose how we spent some of the time was great. It meant everyone
got to do what they wanted. Loved it!" - D. Helsdon
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