Sea Kayak West Coast
5 day expedition West Highlands Wild camp
What to Expect Our sea kayak expedition will expore the heart of the West coast of Scotland, offering the chance to take in Knoydart, the Sound of Arisaig or Ardnamurchan. Taking in all three is too much for five days but we'll choose an area and route that works well for what the forecast holds and explore as much coastline as possible. This journey presents a real chance to explore some very wild coastline and to gain some experience in more challenging seas.
Trip Highlights A five day expedition aiming to explore the West Highlands, based around paddling in an area ths suits the forecasted conditions best.
- A chance to paddle round Ardnamurchan point - Scotland's most Westerly mainland point.
- Wild camp above beaches or on uninhabited islands.
- A great chance to experience a range of coastlines and conditions - we'll encounter some waves, tide and swell during our journey and explore deep sea Lochs and wild headlands.
Grade:
Expedition Open
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.
Dates and Prices
Scroll down or click to see the trip story or the detailed trip information
Day 1 - Arrive in the West Highlands
We’ll meet in Banavie before driving along the road to the Isles out to the coast.
This expedition is very flexible and there are many different options that we can take advantage.The guide will have a careful eye on the forecasted conditions and plan the best possible route - we could take in Ardnamurchan and its famous lighthouse or set off from Mallaig and explore Fjord like Loch Nevis, or we could start or finish in the Sound of Arisaig. We are spolt for choice!
Day 2 - Sea Kayak on the West Coast
We'll wake up in the wild, usually camped above a white sand beach, and prepare for the days journey. It doesn't take long to adopt an expedition routine and as we journey on we'll become more and more used to the quiet and peace of our surroundings - watching for wildlife, chatting away as we paddle or just taking in the beautiful coastline that surrounds us.
Day 3 & 4 - Explore Wild Headlands and Deep Sea Lochs
The headland of Ardnamurchan point is well known for its exposure to the wind and swell from many directions. We'll hope for a weather window that will allow us to pass around the point and enjoy the amazing views that open up from the lighthouse. It's a great spot to look for larger marine life and Whales and Dolphins are regulalry seen from the point. The white sand beach of Sanna bay lies just round the point and makes for a wonderful place to rest and enjoy the view out to the Small Isles and the West coast.
Knoydart is another option for this expedition - Loch Nevis bounds the Southern side of the Knoydart peninsula and offers a Fjord like Sea Loch that winds its way towards the mountains beyond.
The steep mountains and deep sea Lochs offer an excellent contrast to the intricate, winding coastline of Arisaig and the open and exposed headland of Ardnamurchan.
Day 5 - Heading home
We'll make our way back to the vehicle and head back along the road to the Isles, reaching Banavie as the end of our journey. We'll go home with great memories of wild coastline and good times.
Accommodation For this trip we will be wild camping.
Food Includes Breakfast and evening meals. Evening meal on day 1 to breakfast on day 5. You'll need to bring snacks and lunch. It is also possible to self cater if you prefer.
Start and Finish Meet at Banavie 09.30 on the first day of the trip. Finish at Banavie approx 16.00 on the last day of the trip.
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 This is an expedition style trip, we will paddle variable distances each day depending on conditions but these could include days of up to 15 - 25km. The area we intend to paddle in is open to the wind and swell from multiple directions and so it is very likely that we will experience wind and waves at some point in the trip. The exact route we take will be dependant upon the conditions that are forecast.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
Individuals, couples or small groups of friends. 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.
