Sea Kayak Isle of Lewis
6 days Isle of Lewis Camp & Wild Camp
On this trip we will paddle day trips from a fixed camp in one or two different locations. The conditions in the Outer Hebrides can vary and this is the best way to take advantage of the forecast for the trip.
What to Expect The Isle of Lewis makes an excellent sea kayaking destination, complete with everything you could want - wild islands, white sand beaches, rugged headlands, sheltered bays, sea stacks and caves. The island is open to the full force of the Atlantic on its western side, with the east being open to the Minch - offering two contrasting coastlines that offer kayak journeying possibilities under most conditions. This trip offers intermediate paddlers a great chance to experience some wilder coastline and exposed coastline.
Trip Highlights A six day sea kayak trip on the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides paddling day trips from a campsite base.
- Sea kayak above turquoise water, walk on white sand beaches and paddle round rugged cliffs and headlands.
- A flexible trip to take advantage of the changeable conditions of the Hebrides.
- A chance to complete exciting sea kayaking journeys with powerful swell and exposed coastline.
Grade:
Intermediate
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.
Dates and Prices
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Day 1 - Ferry across the Minch
We'll meet in Inverness or Ullapool on the morning of day one, ready to take the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry across the Minch. A great chance to spot marine life with Whales and Dolphins regularly seen from this ferry.
Once on the Isle of Lewis we'll make a short drive to the Western side of the island where we'll spend the majority of the trip. We'll head out for a short paddle and explore and then head to our campsite base for the night.
Day 2 to 3 - Exploring Loch Rog
Loch Rog is one of those places that packs so much variety and interest into a relatoively small area - we could easily lose ourselves for days exploring the many islands and bays.
We'll tailor our trips to match the forecasted condtions - the more exposed coastline open to the Atlantic can see some huge seas at times - luckily there are plenty of more sheltered options as well.
The island of Pabaigh Mor is a real highlight, with white sand bays and cliffs and caves to explore - as sea kayakers we can navigate through arches and small channels and really get to know this fascinating island.
Inner Loch Rog also offers a real highlight - the tidal narrows effortlessly sweeping us along past sleeping Seals and sea birds fishing in the rich waters.
Day 4 to 5 - Exploring Great Bernera
Another place that offers us a full range of possibilities - from the shetlered inner sounds to the exposed islands and stacks of Little Bernera - we can find somewhere to paddle that works really well for the conditions we have.
The coastlines are lined with History waiting to be discovered - from the ancient standing Stones of Callanish through Iron age houses to Norse settlements - there is visible time in the landscape in every part of the coasltine.
Little Bernera offers a highlight of any trip to the area - the calm white sand lagoon serving as the perfect counterpoint to the swell lashed rocks beyond - journeying here in a sea kayak and landing on a beach without a single footprint is a really special experience.
Day 6 - Journey Home
On the final day we'll take a short drive back to Stornoway. There is time to explore the historic town or take one last stroll on a beach before boarding the ferry and heading home.
Accommodation For this trip we will be camping - this will either be wild camping or in a campsite, where we camp within walking distance of the vehicle and facilities but is not enclosed on fixed pitches - semi-wild camping is probably the best desciption!
Food Includes meals - Dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 6. You'll need to provide lunches and snacks (there are food shops on the island that we'll pass). We can accommodate any dietary requirements if notified in advance. You may self cater if you prefer.
Start and Finish Meet at Inverness at 07.30 or Ullapool at 09.00 on day one. Finish Ullapool at 16.30 or Inverness 18.30 on day seven.
Equipment Our expedition kit list applies to this trip. All specialist kayaking equipment and camping equipment can be provided (with the exception of sleeping bags). The only hire charge is £25 to rent a tent for the trip (MSR Elixir 2), everything else is included in the fee.
Trip Grade The trip can be quite flexible and we'll work around the conditions that are forecast. Lewis is open to wind and swell from multiple directions and feature large areas of remote coastline with few landings. It is essential that you have experience in handling a sea kayak in force 4 winds and paddling in sustained chop, or waves of around 1m for sustained periods. You should have the fitness to paddle 25km in a day (actual daily distances will vary greatly).
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
Individuals, couples or small groups of friends. Our Expeditions are only open to over 18's.
Yes - a lot of learning about sea kayaking comes from experience and is best done as individuals on the move and in context. We won't spend time on long instructional briefings or static group skills practice during an expedition but will give you hints and tips on the journey to make it easier for you and suggest improvements to your technique as we go along. We'll help you develop your knowledge and sea kayak handling skill throughout the trip but also allow plenty of time simply to enjoy the journey and the experience of sea kayaking.
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 on the West coast. 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.
