Sea Kayak Expeditions

Expedition Open

To join this trip -

• You need to be confident that you have the fitness to paddle a sea kayak for four hours (with breaks) each day or to paddle roughly 15km in a day (actual daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) as well as carry kayaks to and from and the water, pack equipment and set up camp.
• You need to be confident and prepared for the physical and mental demands of an expedition - being active for a lot of the day, being out in the elements, being prepared to take on both easier and tougher sections of paddling as they may occur as part of the nature of expeditions.
• You should have some fundamental sea kayaking knowledge and skill - how to launch and land correctly, how to paddle forwards effectively, how to steer and control the kayak in some wind and waves, what to do if you capsise.
• You should have knowledge and awareness of how to dress for sea kayaking and the outdoors and be able to look after yourself out in the elements.
• You don't necessarily need to have lots of experience to gain the above confidence and skill but sea kayaking should not be new to you (if it is then take a look at our courses).
• You don’t need to have wild camping experience but general experience of camping will help you know this is the right trip for you.

Expeditions are always potentially more challenging than a guided day trip or day trips based course depending on the conditions.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 1 to 10+

How an individual client reaches the above experience fitness/knowledge and skill will vary greatly. 

• You may have recently completed at least a day paddling a sea kayak for several hours and finished the day very confident and have plenty of other outdoor sports experience and fitness to draw on in order to know that an expedition is the right trip for you.
• You may have done a recent introduction type course where you gained confidence and skill and experienced a range of conditions or you may have experience based on multiple day trips in a range of conditions.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and are simply wanting to explore somewhere new or learn at your own pace. 
• You may have little sea kayaking experience but have transferable knowledge and skill gained from a good level of experience in another paddlesport such as white water kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing.

Expedition Open

To join this trip -

• You need to be confident that you have the fitness to paddle a sea kayak for four hours (with breaks) each day or to paddle roughly 15km in a day (actual daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) as well as carry kayaks to and from and the water, pack equipment and set up camp.
• You need to be confident and prepared for the physical and mental demands of an expedition - being active for a lot of the day, being out in the elements, being prepared to take on both easier and tougher sections of paddling as they may occur as part of the nature of expeditions.
• You should have some fundamental sea kayaking knowledge and skill - how to launch and land correctly, how to paddle forwards effectively, how to steer and control the kayak in some wind and waves, what to do if you capsise.
• You should have knowledge and awareness of how to dress for sea kayaking and the outdoors and be able to look after yourself out in the elements.
• You don't necessarily need to have lots of experience to gain the above confidence and skill but sea kayaking should not be new to you (if it is then take a look at our courses).
• You don’t need to have wild camping experience but general experience of camping will help you know this is the right trip for you.

Expeditions are always potentially more challenging than a guided day trip or day trips based course depending on the conditions.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 1 to 10+

How an individual client reaches the above experience fitness/knowledge and skill will vary greatly. 

• You may have recently completed at least a day paddling a sea kayak for several hours and finished the day very confident and have plenty of other outdoor sports experience and fitness to draw on in order to know that an expedition is the right trip for you.
• You may have done a recent introduction type course where you gained confidence and skill and experienced a range of conditions or you may have experience based on multiple day trips in a range of conditions.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and are simply wanting to explore somewhere new or learn at your own pace. 
• You may have little sea kayaking experience but have transferable knowledge and skill gained from a good level of experience in another paddlesport such as white water kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing.

Expedition Open

To join this trip -

• You need to be confident that you have the fitness to paddle a sea kayak for four hours (with breaks) each day or to paddle roughly 15km in a day (actual daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) as well as carry kayaks to and from and the water, pack equipment and set up camp.
• You need to be confident and prepared for the physical and mental demands of an expedition - being active for a lot of the day, being out in the elements, being prepared to take on both easier and tougher sections of paddling as they may occur as part of the nature of expeditions.
• You should have some fundamental sea kayaking knowledge and skill - how to launch and land correctly, how to paddle forwards effectively, how to steer and control the kayak in some wind and waves, what to do if you capsise.
• You should have knowledge and awareness of how to dress for sea kayaking and the outdoors and be able to look after yourself out in the elements.
• You don't necessarily need to have lots of experience to gain the above confidence and skill but sea kayaking should not be new to you (if it is then take a look at our courses).
• You don’t need to have wild camping experience but general experience of camping will help you know this is the right trip for you.

Expeditions are always potentially more challenging than a guided day trip or day trips based course depending on the conditions.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 1 to 10+

How an individual client reaches the above experience fitness/knowledge and skill will vary greatly. 

• You may have recently completed at least a day paddling a sea kayak for several hours and finished the day very confident and have plenty of other outdoor sports experience and fitness to draw on in order to know that an expedition is the right trip for you.
• You may have done a recent introduction type course where you gained confidence and skill and experienced a range of conditions or you may have experience based on multiple day trips in a range of conditions.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and are simply wanting to explore somewhere new or learn at your own pace. 
• You may have little sea kayaking experience but have transferable knowledge and skill gained from a good level of experience in another paddlesport such as white water kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing.

Expedition Open

To join this trip -

• You need to be confident that you have the fitness to paddle a sea kayak for four hours (with breaks) each day or to paddle roughly 15km in a day (actual daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) as well as carry kayaks to and from and the water, pack equipment and set up camp.
• You need to be confident and prepared for the physical and mental demands of an expedition - being active for a lot of the day, being out in the elements, being prepared to take on both easier and tougher sections of paddling as they may occur as part of the nature of expeditions.
• You should have some fundamental sea kayaking knowledge and skill - how to launch and land correctly, how to paddle forwards effectively, how to steer and control the kayak in some wind and waves, what to do if you capsise.
• You should have knowledge and awareness of how to dress for sea kayaking and the outdoors and be able to look after yourself out in the elements.
• You don't necessarily need to have lots of experience to gain the above confidence and skill but sea kayaking should not be new to you (if it is then take a look at our courses).
• You don’t need to have wild camping experience but general experience of camping will help you know this is the right trip for you.

Expeditions are always potentially more challenging than a guided day trip or day trips based course depending on the conditions.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 1 to 10+

How an individual client reaches the above experience fitness/knowledge and skill will vary greatly. 

• You may have recently completed at least a day paddling a sea kayak for several hours and finished the day very confident and have plenty of other outdoor sports experience and fitness to draw on in order to know that an expedition is the right trip for you.
• You may have done a recent introduction type course where you gained confidence and skill and experienced a range of conditions or you may have experience based on multiple day trips in a range of conditions.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and are simply wanting to explore somewhere new or learn at your own pace. 
• You may have little sea kayaking experience but have transferable knowledge and skill gained from a good level of experience in another paddlesport such as white water kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing.

Expedition Open

To join this trip -

• You need to be confident that you have the fitness to paddle a sea kayak for four hours (with breaks) each day or to paddle roughly 15km in a day (actual daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) as well as carry kayaks to and from and the water, pack equipment and set up camp.
• You need to be confident and prepared for the physical and mental demands of an expedition - being active for a lot of the day, being out in the elements, being prepared to take on both easier and tougher sections of paddling as they may occur as part of the nature of expeditions.
• You should have some fundamental sea kayaking knowledge and skill - how to launch and land correctly, how to paddle forwards effectively, how to steer and control the kayak in some wind and waves, what to do if you capsise.
• You should have knowledge and awareness of how to dress for sea kayaking and the outdoors and be able to look after yourself out in the elements.
• You don't necessarily need to have lots of experience to gain the above confidence and skill but sea kayaking should not be new to you (if it is then take a look at our courses).
• You don’t need to have wild camping experience but general experience of camping will help you know this is the right trip for you.

Expeditions are always potentially more challenging than a guided day trip or day trips based course depending on the conditions.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 1 to 10+

How an individual client reaches the above experience fitness/knowledge and skill will vary greatly. 

• You may have recently completed at least a day paddling a sea kayak for several hours and finished the day very confident and have plenty of other outdoor sports experience and fitness to draw on in order to know that an expedition is the right trip for you.
• You may have done a recent introduction type course where you gained confidence and skill and experienced a range of conditions or you may have experience based on multiple day trips in a range of conditions.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and are simply wanting to explore somewhere new or learn at your own pace. 
• You may have little sea kayaking experience but have transferable knowledge and skill gained from a good level of experience in another paddlesport such as white water kayaking, paddleboarding or canoeing.

Intermediate

To join this trip -

• You should be confident holding a moving speed of 6 km per hour (3 Kn) and covering distances of 15 - 25 km for successive days. 
• You should have some experience of handling a sea kayak in force 4 winds and be very confident controlling a sea kayak in force 3 winds including the use of a skeg and turning your kayak efficiently in the wind and in waves.
• You should be practised at paddling effectively as part of a group and know how to react and take instruction in common sea kayaking situations - including rescues and capsizes.

These trips are for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience gained from time spent in sea kayaks in varied conditions. These trips may feature single days of up to 25 km (daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) and its likely we will be paddling in wind and waves as part of the trip.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 8 to 20+

How an individual client reaches the above experience, fitness, knowledge and skill will vary greatly.

• You may have done an introduction type course followed by some further sea kayaking to develop your skill and experience. This might be in the form of a series of day trips, an improver or intermediate course or an expedition.
• If you have only ever paddled in calm water or never received any instruction, help or coaching from other sea kayakers or coaches then an intermediate trip is not the right one for you.
• You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and enjoy exploring as part of a guided group.

Level 3 - Intermediate These trips are for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience gained from time spent in sea kayaks in varied conditions. These trips may feature single days of up to 25 km (daily distances will vary) and its likely we will be paddling in wind and waves as part of the trip.

• You should be confident holding a moving speed of 6 km per hour (3 Kn) and covering distances of 15 - 25 km for successive days. 
• You should have some experience of handling a sea kayak in force 4 winds and be very confident controlling a sea kayak in force 3 winds including the use of a skeg and turning your kayak efficiently in the wind and in waves.
• You should be practised at paddling effectively as part of a group and know how to react and take instruction in common sea kayaking situations - including rescues and capsizes.
• Great if you want to build on existing skill and knowledge and explore more committing coastline.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 8 to 20+

As a minimum clients will have completed an introduction type course and a further course or expedition where mixed conditions were encountered and a clear progression made. Most clients joining intermediate expeditions have done several trips before over the course of more than one season, usually a mix of courses, day trips and expeditions. If a client has only ever paddled in calm water then intermediate trips are not the right choice.

Intermediate

The Small Isles expedition features open crossings between islands, the longest of which is likely to be 14km and you should have an interest in open crossings if joining this trip. Good paddling fitness is necessary to join this trip - you should be comfortable paddling 25km in a day and being able to hold a paddling speed of 6 km/hour (3 knots) is an essential requirement for joining this trip.

To join this trip -

• You should be confident holding a moving speed of 6 km per hour (3 Kn) and covering distances of 15 - 25 km for successive days. 
• You should have some experience of handling a sea kayak in force 4 winds and be very confident controlling a sea kayak in force 3 winds including the use of a skeg and turning your kayak efficiently in the wind and in waves.
• You should be practised at paddling effectively as part of a group and know how to react and take instruction in common sea kayaking situations - including rescues and capsizes.

These trips are for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience gained from time spent in sea kayaks in varied conditions. These trips may feature single days of up to 25 km (daily distances and paddling times will vary greatly) and its likely we will be paddling in wind and waves as part of the trip.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 8 to 20+

How an individual client reaches the above experience, fitness, knowledge and skill will vary greatly.

• • You may have done an introduction type course followed by some further sea kayaking to develop your skill and experience. This might be in the form of a series of day trips, an improver or intermediate course or an expedition.
  • If you have only ever paddled in calm water or never received any instruction, help or coaching from other sea kayakers or coaches then an intermediate trip is not the right one for you.
  • You may have a substantial bank of experience from multiple trips and expeditions and enjoy exploring as part of a guided group.

Intermediate plus These trips are for those who have a good level of knowledge and experience gained from several expeditions or lots of days out in sea kayaks in varied conditions. These trips may feature some longer days of at least 25km (daily distances will vary), committing coastline, longer open crossings and rougher seas.

This trip will give strong intermediate paddlers the opportunity to experience some challenging and committing paddling - we will be aiming to explore committing coastline and exposed headlands as part of this trip. There are some very strong tidal flows around the islands and so having a confident level of tidal paddling is essential for this trip, as is paddling in confused seas such as areas of clapotis. If you have any questions about the experience level needed to join this trip then feel free to get in touch.

• You should be confident holding a moving speed of 6 km per hour (3 Kn) and covering distances of 25 km or more. 
• You should be confident handling a sea kayak in force 4 winds and negotiating waves of 1m or more.
• You should have some knowledge and practice of rescues and be an effective group paddler.
• You enjoy the chance to paddle in more demanding conditions and to develop your skill and experience.

Typical minimum number of days experience - 10+

Clients would typically have a mixed bank of experience from at least one season of sea kayaking, typically several seasons worth of experience in a range of conditions and situations where a clear progression has been made. Clients may own their own kayak and paddle regularly or as part of a club or alternatively clients may have substantial adventure sports experience and able to use that fitness and experience to aid a more rapid progression in sea kayaking.