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This year-round outing is designed with families in mind, combining gentle canoeing with a relaxed campfire finish. Open to participants aged 4 and up, it's a great way to introduce young ones to the outdoors and enjoy a shared experience on the loch.
The session begins with a short briefing on safety and paddling technique, suitable for complete beginners. You’ll then set off in open canoes for a gentle paddle across the calm surface of St Mary’s Loch. The pace is slow and steady, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and take photos if you wish. The loch is surrounded by gentle hills and woodlands, and on quieter days you might spot ducks, herons, or even an osprey overhead.
After circling the loch, you’ll head back to the shore where a warm fire pit will be ready. Everyone can get involved in toasting marshmallows, with mugs of hot chocolate provided. There’s time to sit and relax together, swap stories, or just take in the view before wrapping up the session. It’s a brilliant way to engage children in nature without needing to commit to a long or technical activity.
St Mary’s Loch is the largest natural loch in the Scottish Borders and is located between Selkirk and Moffat, just off the A708. It's a peaceful and remote setting surrounded by open hillsides, giving a sense of being far from towns and roads. The loch has a long history and is known for its wildlife, clear waters, and accessibility by road, making it a popular spot for day-trippers.
Most sessions meet opposite the Glen Café, which is a well-known local stop with toilets and refreshments available. We send the exact location upon booking, and are happy to adapt meeting points if your group needs a different arrangement. The loch is an excellent place for beginner paddling due to its sheltered conditions, with easy shore access and minimal current.
Please note: The guide can transport up to five people back to the meeting point at the end of the trip to collect their car if needed.
You don’t need any previous paddling experience to take part. All the basic skills will be taught at the start of the session, and the instructor will stay close throughout. The trip is suitable for families with young children, as well as older adults looking for a calm and accessible activity.
Everyone should come dressed in clothes they don’t mind getting a little wet. A change of clothes is recommended for afterwards, especially in cooler weather. Footwear should be secure and suitable for walking on uneven, sometimes muddy ground.
The team running this session is known for offering flexible, family-friendly experiences with safety at the core of every activity. Our instructors are experienced working with young children and know how to make the outing fun without pressure. Every trip is adjusted to suit the group, so whether you're nervous or confident, you'll feel supported and included.
We also operate across multiple venues throughout Scotland and can customise adventures to fit your needs. From day trips to full weeks of activity, we aim to make outdoor experiences accessible, memorable and safe for all ages. Whether you're local or just visiting the Borders, our sessions make the most of Scotland's lochs, rivers and landscapes in a relaxed, welcoming way.
We recommend old clothing/trainers that you’re happy to get a little wet. We also recommend a spare change of clothes, just in case! We also recommend you wear waterproofs. Please bring any snacks and refreshments you might want along the way.
We provide 30-litre dry barrels between two to keep your things dry, and provide all of the canoeing and safety equipment.
As we run this trip over winter, make sure you wrap up warm - think hat, gloves, scarf, etc.!
Generally, two people would normally share a boat. However, with kids, you can comfortably paddle three to each Canadian Canoe.
This trip is open to almost everyone, as your group must all be aged 4+ to take part.
We will always try to give as much notice as possible if an activity can’t go ahead. It could be the river is too high for canoeing or we are expecting weather warnings for wind. Sometimes things are out of our control and we may have to cancel with very short notice. In all cases, we will try to offer an alternative activity or location. In the event of a canceled activity by us, you will be refunded if we cannot find a suitable alternative date/time/activity for your group.
However, it’s worth saying that we will only cancel in the event that it is unsafe to paddle. A bit of drizzle won’t stop us! Please assume the trip is going ahead unless we contact you to say otherwise. The vast majority of our trips go ahead as planned, come rain or shine!
Oh, and you will have your steaming cup of hot chocolate to reward you at the end of a chilly paddle!
Yes! We do a range of tours and trips of varying lengths for a variety of ages. Have a look at our full range at the bottom of this page.
This was a fantastic experience for my son and I on his 13th birthday. The sun was shining, the view was stunning and Craig was so friendly, organised and patient, it made the whole experience really special. Thank you so much. The rest of the family want to come next…
We were a family of four and wanted a relaxed but fun experience and we got it. Craig was patient and really helpful, especially with a low river and getting stuck. We had fun, lots of chatter and laughter.
Craig was great - engaging, knowledgable and funny. He coped very well with a large group of widely varying abilities!
Great day canoeing. Craig was very helpful. Very good experience.
Caitlin was fantastic really helpful, patient and calming would highly recommend
Operated by Biggar Adventure, a partner of adventuro.
Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, United Kingdom
From £35
Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, United Kingdom
From £50
Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, United Kingdom
From £30
