Discover Sea Kayaking
2 days Arisaig Not included Group size up to 6
What to Expect We believe Arisaig is the ideal location for a beginner sea kayaking course. The sheer variety and beauty of the coastline here offers lots of opportunities for exciting day trips without ever getting too committing, throw in lots of wildlife and stunning beaches and you have the perfect mix for sea kayaking. What better way to get to know the activity than by getting out and exploring by kayak – and that is exactly what we will do. Our aim is to simply show you how much fun sea kayaking can be.
Trip Highlights A two day sea kayaking course, based on consecutive day trips in the Arisaig area.
- Explore small islands, white sand beaches and hidden bays.
- Choose accommodation that suits you.
- See Seals from the seat of your kayak.
- Learn essential sea kayaking skills.
Grade:
Level 1 - Intro
These trips are open to all levels of experience. The locations and route choice will be based on providing an enjoyable journey that is within the capabilities of a beginner but could be enjoyed by any level of kayaker. Typical number of days experience - zero to any. Clients may have no sea kayaking experience or may have done some sea kayaking day trips or other paddlesports or may have done more sea kayaking in the past and want to get back into the activity after a break. Intro
Dates and Prices
£225 per person
Scroll down or click to see the course content or the detailed trip information
Sea Kayaking Basics -
Briefing a group, giving out equipment and teaching some basic strokes can all be done quite quickly and by mid-morning we'll be ready to journey and explore - getting going in a sea kayak does not have to be complicated.
We will help you learn through the experience of journeying in a sea kayak, we'll always be on hand to offer those important pointers to keep you on the right track. We'll always work with you as individuals to answer any questions or deliver coaching that is tailored to your experience or interests.
We'll paddle for a full day but we'll make sure to take breaks on the many sheltered bays and small islands that make Arisaig ideal for sea kayaking.
Exploring by Sea Kayak -
The emphasis of this course will be on exploring the Arisaig coastline - we'll complete two full day journeys as part of this course - each in a different location and each with its own set of challenges and experiences.
This will help you build a base of knowledge and ideas around sea kayaking - how the activity can be enjoyed, the types of journeys that can be undertaken, the types of sea kayak that can be used, the types of challenges we might encounter and how to control a sea kayak in changing sea states and weather conditions.
Developing this base of knowledge is then the route to becoming an experienced and knowledgeable sea kayaker. We definitely can't do that over a single weekend - but we'll give you a basic set of knowledge and experience to take further.
Progression -
This course is all about giving you a taste of how much fun sea kayaking on the West coast of Scotland can be.
It can be considered as either a fun weekend to complete as a stand alone experience or as a way to discover if sea kayaking is an activity you'd like to take further.
We are happy to offer any advice on continuing sea kayaking - how to take the next steps after this course, what further courses or trips you could consider or how to take part in the activity in a way that suits your enjoyment.
Accommodation No accommodation is included.
Food No food is included.
Start and Finish We will meet in Arisaig village at 09.30 on the first day of the trip. Trip will finish by 16.30 on the final day.
Group Up to 6 people with one guide.
Kit List Our Day trip kit list applies to this trip. All specialist kayaking equipment can be provided.
Trip Grade This is trip is open to any level of experience, but is best suited to those who have little or no experience of sea kayaking and want to learn more or just want to have a good time exploring some beautiful coastline. If you have experience in other paddle sports then this trip can also be a good way to convert that knowledge and skill to sea kayaking.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
Individuals, couples or small groups of friends. Our courses and day trips are open to those aged 15 and over (under 18's only with a parent present).
To take part in a trip you need to weigh less than 110kg (17 stone). This is set to ensure your safety, comfort and enjoyment and to make sure the guide can apply the appropriate standard of safety for everyone in the group. If you weigh more than this then that doesn't exclude you from kayaking or paddlesports - please bear in mind this figure is specific to the guided trips we run using our sea kayaks and journeying in remote areas.
If you have sea kayaking experience particulalry including any rescue/capsise training and are over this weight limit then you may be able to join a trip, please email to let us know.
We have no fixed height limit and have had clients up to 200cm (6 foot 6) successfully take part in trips. Please bear in mind that for anyone over 190cm - leg length, foot size, flexibilty and fitness will all influence whether you can comfortably sit in a sea kayak for a days journey.
The most important thing to note is that we are here to enjoy the journey - we'll take plenty of breaks and paddle at an achievable pace and will vary trip length and paddling time based on conditions to keep things achieveable and enjoyable. Attitude is just as important as fitness and we are used to working within a range of different client fitness levels. Sea kayaking is similar in intensity to purposeful walking over undulating terrain - it is moderate aerobic exercise conducted for a sustained amount of time involving lots of different muscle groups but mainly the muscles of the torso and upper body. It places a light but repetitive load on these muscles - you don't need to have big muscles but you do need to be capable of sustaining a moderate level of physical effort for several hours - and most importantly enjoy the sensation of moderate and sustained exercise.
You also need to be able to sit in an upright position in order to paddle - if you have problems with your lower back, weak core muscles, tight hamstrings or otherwise find sitting upright uncomfortable then sea kayaking may not be suitable for you. If you don't do any exercise, don't enjoy physical effort or have a very low level of fitness then you may find sea kayaking challenging.
If you have no kayaking experience at all and are very unsure about your ability to paddle due to a low level of fitness or a specific weakness/injury then taking part in a form of paddlesports that doesn't feature journeying and sustained paddling may be a better start, you can always progress to sea kayaking later on - sessions such as taster sessions or on enclosed pieces of water or shorter in duration may all be options.
The weather on the West coast of Scotland can vary through the course of the season and from area to area - Scottish islands and coastline can see dramatically better weather and more sunshine than more mountainous areas inland. The wind speed and sea state are the primary factors that affect the trip - if the conditions are difficult then we will seek out a more sheltered section of coast to run the trip. You should note that it is very rare that we have to stay off the water on multi-day trips and the vast majority of trips run as planned. For full terms and conditions see the link below. You can read more about the weather/cancellation/booking on our FAQ page.
A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking, the balance is due 11 weeks prior to the trip, for cancellation policy please see our full terms and conditions.
We have a much larger FAQ page that covers all aspects of sea kayak trips with us.
