Every August for the past 5 years we’ve gathered a group of friends and family and canoed down the Spey from Kingussie to Loch Insh – taking the best part of the afternoon. Each trip has been quite unique, and this one was no exception. Due to heavy rainfall the water level was higher than usual, so we decided to put the 6 Canadian canoes into the water a bit down river of Kingussie, avoiding some tricky rapids and obstacles in the water – like fallen trees! Some of our group were very experienced, and some were complete novices or young children – but everyone had a wonderful journey.
Our tradition has been to salute the place where the Tromie river enters the Spey by toasting it with a wee nip of whisky from the small Drumghuish Distillery that sits on the peaty banks of the Tromie. As we’d entered down river of this point this year, the trip began with a toast, and went on to become a very relaxed and friendly party, often just drifting down stream with the current and the wind behind us – all rafted up and enjoying a good blether. After arriving at Loch Insh and having a welcome cup of tea at the Boat House restaurant, the party reconvened at The Post House for a wonderful three course dinner made up of everyone’s signature dishes all put together round the huge long table in the Dining Hall.
If anyone coming to stay here wanted to have a river trip like this, we would be happy to help you arrange it – and can even provide excellent caterers for the evening meal should you wish it!
