Introduction to Sea Kayaking Course
4 days Arisaig Not included Group size up to 6
What to Expect A beginner sea kayaking holiday, featuring four full days of kayak trips in the heart of the Highlands. If you are keen to find out what the West Coast of Scotland has to offer then look no further - wild lochs, remote beaches and offshore islands are all there to be explored and we’ll show you how - you’ll learn new skills and journey with a bunch of like-minded adventurers.
Trip Highlights A four day kayak trip, suitable for beginners, exploring some of the finest coastline around, focusing on journeying and learning skills in sea kayaking.
- Journey in the Arisaig Skerries, Loch Ailort and Loch Sunart - three classic Scottish sea kayaking destinations.
- Learn to sea kayak whilst exploring Arisaig coastline
- An instruction only course - choose accomodation that suits you.
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 £445 per person
Early season special - April dates now £380 per person.
Scroll down or click to see the course content or the detailed trip information
Having Fun! -
An Introduction to sea kayaking course simply wouldn't work if we didn't show you how to have fun in a sea kayak.
We'll complete 4 day trips as part of this course, each day exploring a different part of the coast with new experiences.
Throughout the course we'll aim to work with you as individuals -
We would usually introduce a new skill or challenge to the whole group, but work with individuals or part of the group to develop things further.
If you simply want to enjoy 4 days of sea kayaking then that's always possible.
Launching, Landing and Basic Control -
We'll show you how to launch and land on almost any coastline without damaging your kayak or falling in!
We'll also begin by showing you some basic strokes to help you control your sea kayak. Over the 4 days we'll help you develop these strokes to make them more powerful and effective and we'll experiment with applying these strokes to different situations and challenges to help you develop control of your sea kayak.
Controlling a Sea Kayak in Wind and Waves -
We'll encounter challenging situations that we'll help you overcome through the right tactics - applying the right strokes at the right time and choosing our route around the coast carefully.
Any challenges we encounter will always be progressive - helping you build confidence is just as important as developing your skill and knowledge.
Tactics for Sea Kayaking -
It's rare to have any 2 days the same on the West Coast of Scotland. We will take full advantage of the different conditions we'll experience over the 4 days and help you develop a better understanding of how to go sea kayaking in different weather and sea conditions.
Most of the learning will come from being transparant and open about our process for choosing where to paddle and if you are really keen to learn then we can involve you in that planning process. Likewise if you want to just concentrate on paddling and let the guide do all the planning then that's no problem!
We won't spend any time in a classroom - we'll get out on the water each day.
What to do if you Capsize -
The word 'rescues' is commonly used to refer to techniques for helping a kayaker back into their kayak if they capsize.
We'll run through a range of rescues and you'll learn that capsizing and swimming is really not anything to be worried about - it can actually be a lot of fun!
You can also learn by watching others and running through things on dry land, so a lot can be gained without swimming, but if you want to be a kayaker then at some point you'll end up swimming!
Progression -
Clients join this course with a diverse range of motivations for taking part and everyone learns at different rates and in different ways.
We don't seek to set out a fixed outcome from an introduction to sea kayaking course - it could be seen as the start of a journey with sea kayaking or it could be a stand alone holiday experience.
We are happy to advise on progression with sea kayaking - equipment choices, how to find paddling partners, how to go about paddling independantly, how to join a club, which expeditions or courses to join next.
Accommodation No accommodation is included. There is a selection of accomodation available in the Arisaig area
Food No food is included.
Start and Finish Meet at Arisaig at 09.30. Trip ends at Arisaig 16.30. The trip is 4 days in total.
Group Up to 6 people with one guide.
Kit List Our 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 experience sea kayak day trips 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 parents 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.
