Cruising Holidays with activities on the Caledonian Canal

Activity Kit List

Essentials for all Seasons

Activity Kit List

Barge docked at a pier, people with bicycles, water and a hill in the background.

Essentials for everyone

  • Casual clothes and comfy shoes/slippers for relaxing on board and mealtimes
  • Toiletries
  • Torch (unlikely to be needed, but handy to have)

Essentials for being out and about

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers – breathable waterproof materials like Gore-Tex are much more comfortable than non-breathable materials
  • Warm clothing, gloves, hat, neck warmer (even during summer, it can get cold on the water!)
  • Outdoor trousers and/or shorts, loose enough not to restrict movement.
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, etc (for when it gets warm!)
  • Soft deck shoes or trainers
  • Good-sized, unbreakable water bottle or flask
  • A phone that works in Scotland!


If you are planning on going for walks

  • Good walking shoes or boots, ideally waterproof and they must be broken in!
  • At least 2 or 3 pairs of walking socks.
  • Rucksack to carry water bottle, spare clothing, waterproofs, and other bits and pieces (and your  packed lunch on Walk the Great Glen and COuntry Walking Cruises.)
  • Midge Repllent ("Smidge" and Avon's "Soft So Skin" work well. We also have Smidge for sale on the barge"
  • Walking poles (not essential, but they help reduce the wear on your knees"



People walking on a path beside a canal, with a boat and greenery, under a cloudy sky.
People walking on a path along a body of water toward a building on the water, under a cloudy sky.

Other useful optional items

  • Binoculars
  • Swimming costume
  • Spectacle/sunglasses neck cord


If you are planning on canoeing or sailing

  • A pair of wellington boots or shoes that you don't mind getting wet
  • All of the optional items become essential apart from walking books and socks
  • We do have one barrel per boat for any items that must be kept dry

If you are planning on cycling

  • Cycling gloves for hand protection (not essential, but helpful)
  • Bike shorts, or close-fitting trousers.
  • We do have bikes and helmets on board but you are welcome to bring your own
A red motorboat with two men on a rocky shore, near a forested hillside on a lake.
Boat docked at a pier on Loch Ness, Scotland, with hills and blue sky in the background.

What we already have on board

  • All equipment, wetsuits and buoyancy aids for trying watersports (feel free to bring your own though).
  • Bikes and bike helmets
  • Hairdryer available.
  • A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for sale at our bar
  • Towels and Linen

If possible, please pack your luggage in soft bags or holdalls, so they will fit under your bunks once you have unpacked!