Kayak, canoe and SUP launches — put-ins, take-outs and the conditions that matter on the water.
Kinross
A flat surfaced loop around Loch Leven with Mary Queen of Scots' island castle in view for most of it, long enough at 21km for …
Balmaha, Loch Lomond
A shingle and sand bay on Loch Lomond's east shore looking straight up toward Conic Hill and the islands, with a small charge f…
Tamfourhill, Falkirk
A flat step-free towpath past the rotating boat lift itself, an engineering curiosity as much as a walk. Easy for buggies and w…
St Andrews
A sheltered harbour-side beach beside St Andrews' leisure centre, gentler and less exposed than West Sands and with proper chan…
Kinlochard
A forested Trossachs loch with the Ben Lomond hills reflected at the western end, launched from a simple shingle put-in near Ki…
Ratho, Edinburgh
A flat, sheltered canal paddle from the Ratho basin, about as beginner-friendly as paddling gets, with the Bridge Inn on hand f…
South Queensferry
A launch right beneath all three Forth bridges together, which is a striking sight from water level, but this is a working ship…
Glenmore, Cairngorms, near Aviemore
A sandy loch beach in Glenmore forest with the Cairngorm massif reflected on a still day and a watersports centre right there f…
Kincraig, Cairngorms
A gentle Cairngorms loch run by a watersports centre, with ospreys often working the water and the mountains as backdrop. An ea…
Dochgarroch, near Inverness
A calm canal launch at Dochgarroch Lock leading out through the Bona Narrows into Loch Ness itself. The canal section is placid…
Plockton, Wester Ross
A sheltered harbour paddle from one of the prettiest villages on the west coast, complete with palm trees courtesy of the Gulf …
Wester Ross
A big wilderness loch below Slioch, with pinewood islands protected as a nature reserve and a genuine sense of remoteness. Flat…
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
A sheltered marina paddle in the main town of the Western Isles, calm inside the harbour with ferry traffic and tidal streams t…
Portpatrick, Rhins of Galloway
A harbour village swim with steps into deep water off the wall or a gentler beach entry nearby. Popular enough to host organise…
Stranraer, Rhins of Galloway
A sheltered sea loch launch right from Stranraer's foreshore, calmer water than the open Solway coast and a reasonable choice f…
New Galloway / Loch Ken
A freshwater loch with several public slipways and genuinely flat water away from the dam. Good beginner paddling, but stay cle…
Innerleithen
Where the Leithen meets the Tweed at Innerleithen, with placid channels near the confluence and a deeper pool further up by an …
Peebles
A town put-in at Tweed Green in Peebles, with views downstream toward Neidpath Castle. River grade and flow shift with recent r…
Kirkcudbright
A harbour slipway on the Dee estuary in Kirkcudbright, an easy town launch with MacLellan's Castle and the Galloway hills for s…
East Loch Lomond, near Balmaha
A sandy, gently shelving bay on Loch Lomond's east shore inside a Forestry campsite, known for its lone tree and view across to…
East Loch Lomond, north of Balmaha
A quieter, more wooded cove north of Milarrochy, reached down a woodland path rather than a level walk. Reputed to be calmer th…
St Fillans, Loch Earn
A roadside layby gives quick access to rocky and sandy bays along Loch Earn's south shore. Popular enough that it shares the wa…
Oban
A sandy beach just north of Oban with views out to Mull, Kerrera and Lismore, and the starting point of the Argyll Sea Kayak Tr…
Lochawe village, near Kilchurn Castle
An informal shingle shore near Kilchurn Castle, with the ruin reflected in Scotland's longest freshwater loch and Ben Cruachan …
Kenmore, Loch Tay
A shallow shelving launch at the head of Loch Tay, used for canoe trips out to the crannogs and islands near Kenmore. The loch …
Killin, west end of Loch Tay
An angling-club slipway at the western end of Loch Tay, with the Ben Lawers range filling the view up the loch. A small fee app…
Otter Ferry, Cowal, Loch Fyne
A sheltered shingle launch on Loch Fyne, with the Oystercatcher pub right at the put-in and long sea loch views. Otter Spit nea…
Taynuilt, Loch Etive
A sheltered upper-loch launch at Taynuilt with Ben Cruachan and Glen Etive as backdrop. The Falls of Lora tidal race at the loc…
Balmaha, east Loch Lomond
A National Park slipway at Balmaha, the usual gateway for paddling out to Loch Lomond's wooded islands. A busy loch with plenty…