Trip created by Stevie Christie
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Region: West Highlands including Knoydart
Trip Type: Sea Kayaking
Accommodation: Classic
Max Group Size: 8
Confirmed: When 2 Travellers Book
Deposit From: £441.25 £441.25

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All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

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On this sea kayaking adventure, we will explore one of the finest paddling areas in the world – the Atlantic coast of the Scottish Highlands.

With overnights in comfortable accommodations, we’ll take to the water on some of Scotland’s wildest, most beautiful sea lochs that lie between the Sound of Mull and the Rough Bounds.

On these waters, you can expect stunning scenery, great paddling, wildlife sightings and a lot of laughs as your expert guides lead you through marine wildlife reserves, past ruined castles and gorgeous sandy beaches.

This popular itinerary is based on the central section of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail.

Trip Highlights

Sea kayak through some of the best scenery of Scotland's Atlantic coast on the central section of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail.
No camping, just comfortable beds, hot showers and excellent local restaurants/pubs.
Enjoy some of the best sea kayak day tours in the country as you explore the West Highlands and the history behind Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome and onto the water

You will be met by your guide at Aviemore Railway station at 10:00am and we’ll transfer to Loch Linnhe or Loch Eil for an afternoon paddle, stopping en route in a local cafe for lunch. On the water, you’ll refresh your kayaking skills and be introduced to the wonderful West Highland scenery. Afterwards, we transfer to our first accommodation, located near Loch Sunart. (L, D)

Day 2 – The Sound of Mull

Today we have a choice of areas to paddle in, one option is to head south to the Sound of Mull and Loch Aline. This stretch of water is a good place to encounter all kinds of marine wildlife such as dolphins and minke whales. After an enjoyable day’s sea kayaking, we return to our accommodation late afternoon. (B, L, D)

Day 3 – Sea Kayaking on Loch Sunart

Loch Sunart forms the southern boundary of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and offers some lovely sea kayaking. We can explore the islands of Risga, Carna and Oronsay, all of which offer interest to sea kayakers. We will look out for otters and white-tailed sea eagles which are often spotted at this sea loch.

If time permits, we will also drive to Ardnamurchan point – the most westerly place in mainland Britain – to admire the magnificent sea views. We then transfer to our next accommodation, a classic West Highland inn located at the head of Loch Ailort. (B, L, D)

Day 4 – Sea Kayaking on Loch Moidart

After breakfast, we continue our journey along the central part of the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail. Today we explore the sheltered waters of Loch Moidart, kayaking past the dramatic ruins of Castle Tioram (dating from the 13th Century) to Eilean Shona (the beautiful island). This is one of the most stunning places on the West Coast. Passing magnificent Caledonian pines on the shoreline, we can paddle round the point, passing an abandoned village along the way. (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Sea Kayaking through the Arisaig Skerries

Heading north from the inn, we enjoy one of the best day trips by sea kayak anywhere in the world – kayaking through the Arisaig skerries. These beach-fringed islands which guard the entrance to Arisaig are home to countless seals, otters and seabirds, basking sharks are also regular visitors. Even without any wildlife, it still makes for an amazing paddle through the turquoise waters of the skerries. On clear days the Atlantic views west to the mountains of Rum and Skye are magnificent – this really is Scottish sea kayaking at its best. (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Final paddle then return to Aviemore

After breakfast at the inn, we’ll enjoy a morning sea kayaking. We often explore either Loch Ailort or Loch nan Uamh. We follow the coastline of the peninsula, an area that played a key role in the Jacobite rebellion of the 1740’s. This is a great way to end the trip and we can reflect on the experience as we load up the vehicle and trailer and make our way back to Fort William and Aviemore, arriving in the mid to late afternoon. (B, L)

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Sea Kayaking

The Atlantic Coast

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Trip Dates & Prices

Trip Dates for 2023	Availability	Status	Price	Book
6th May - 11th May 2023	3 places left	CONFIRMED	£1,765	Book Now
10th Jun - 15th Jun 2023	Trip Full	FULLY BOOKED	£1,765
22nd Jul - 27th Jul 2023	7 places left	UNCONFIRMED	£1,765	Book Now
19th Aug - 24th Aug 2023	5 places left	CONFIRMED	£1,765	Book Now

Trip Details

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Accommodation Read More

On this accommodation-based sea kayaking trip, we will stay in two different locations. For the first 2 nights, we will be based in a small guesthouse near Loch Sunart. For the next 3 nights, we are based in a traditional Highland inn which is located at the head of the beautiful Loch Ailort. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Single Rooms

There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £365 is charged.

Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Meals Read More

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the trip. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

Naturally, vegetarians and other dietary requirements can be catered for, simply let us know in advance.

Inclusions Read More

2 nights accommodation at a friendly guesthouse near Loch Sunart
3 nights accommodation at a countryside inn located on Loch Ailort
All meals, from lunch on Day 1 until lunch on Day 6. (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Aviemore (or Fort William on request).
All specialist sea kayaking equipment, including sea kayaks, waterproof cags and buoyancy aids
The services of our experienced and knowledgeable sea kayak guides throughout your trip (guide ration 1:4).

Trip Grading Read More

Blue Graded 4-6

Our blue graded sea kayaking trips are suitable for fit paddlers with a minimum of 5 full days of sea kayaking experience and a basic level of technical competence. You can expect 6/7 hours of sea kayaking each day, with plenty of breaks onshore to stretch your legs. You will also be asked to assist with carrying the boats to and from the water, working as a team.

The kayaking will be in coastal waters with few open crossings, but you can expect to be paddling in some choppier conditions during the trip. This may be in winds of Force 3 (up to 18km/h). On the higher Blue grade trips, you may be paddling in more exposed areas and encounter stronger winds up to Force 4 (up to 30km/h) and breaking waves.

If you are unsure about your experience or about Sea States, please give us a call or email to discuss. If you do not yet have enough experience we suggest our Green graded sea kayaking trips.

If bad weather prevents us from kayaking, your guide will offer an alternative activity, such as a hike.

Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Aviemore Train Station at 10:00am. You will be returned to Aviemore Station for 4:00pm on the final day of the trip.

A pick-up in Fort William at 12:15pm on day 1 and a drop-off on the final day at around 2:30pm, is available on request, please let us know if you’d like to meet there.

For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/

If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip please get in touch with our team to discuss.

Make This Trip Private

Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

Speak to an Expert

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Bridget Brown

Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

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Meet Your Guide

Andy Hall
6th May - 11th May 2023

Mike Devlin
10th Jun - 15th Jun 2023

Donald Thomson
22nd Jul - 27th Jul 2023

View guides for all departures

Difficulty Grades Explained

Blue Graded Sea Kayaking Holidays 4-6

Our blue graded sea kayaking trips are suitable for fit paddlers with a minimum of 5 full days of sea kayaking experience, with a basic level of technical competence. You can expect 6/7 hours of sea kayaking each day, with plenty of breaks onshore to stretch your legs. You will also be asked to assist with carrying the boats to and from the water, working as a team.

The kayaking will be in coastal waters with few open crossings but you can expect to be paddling in some choppier conditions during the trip. This may be around Sea State 3 (with waves up to 1m high). On the higher Blue grade trips you may be paddling in more exposed areas and encounter stronger winds and waves up to Sea State 4.

If you are unsure about your experience or about Sea States, please give us a call or email to discuss. If you do not yet have enough experience we suggest our Green graded sea kayaking trips.

In the event of bad weather preventing us from kayaking your guide will offer an alternative activity such as a hike.

Compare sea kayaking grades

Trip Reviews

Rated 4.84 out of 5 based on 90 reviews of Sea Kayaking – The Atlantic Coast

Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

Christine Martin

Reviewed on 18/07/2022

Age: 60 - 70
Country: United Kingdom
Trip Date: 09/07/2022
Trips Taken: 2

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Overall very happy with our experience kayaking - diverse trips and great guides. And, crucially, we were lucky with the weather.

Craig Hanson

Reviewed on 17/07/2022

Age: 70 - 80
Country: Canada
Trip Date: 09/07/2022
Trips Taken: 2

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

The inclusive nature of the trip was appreciated. All I had to do was show up with the recommended clothing and kit. Easy for someone traveling before and/or ater the Wilderness Scotland trip

Ian Little

Reviewed on 17/07/2022

Age: 60 - 70
Country: United Kingdom
Trip Date: 09/07/2022
Trips Taken: 3

The Bottom Line

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Wilderness England

The Atlantic Coast

Travel Planning & Advice

Trip Highlights

Did you know?

This trip can be booked as a private departure

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome and onto the water

Day 2 – The Sound of Mull

Day 3 – Sea Kayaking on Loch Sunart

Day 4 – Sea Kayaking on Loch Moidart

Day 5 – Sea Kayaking through the Arisaig Skerries

Day 6 – Final paddle then return to Aviemore

Trip Dates & Prices

Trip Details

Single Rooms

Blue Graded 4-6

Photo Gallery

Make This Trip Private

Speak to an Expert

Bridget Brown

Meet Your Guide

Difficulty Grades Explained

Blue Graded Sea Kayaking Holidays 4-6

Trip Reviews

Accommodation & Food

Your Guide

The Bottom Line

Pre-Trip Service

Trip Comments

Accommodation & Food

The Bottom Line

Your Guide

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