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    Sea Kayaking in the Outer Hebrides

    45 review(s)

    Next Trip(s): 7th Aug | 28th May Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

    From £1,295 View Prices & Dates

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    Travel Planning and Advice

    Trip created by Rachael Gavan
    View Rachael's Profile

    Region: Outer Hebrides and St Kilda
    Trip Type: Sea Kayaking
    Comfort: Basic
    Max Group Size: 8
    Confirmed: When 3 Traveller(s) Book
    Deposit From: £323.75 £323.75

    Difficulty:

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

    Download Itinerary

    For the ultimate sea kayaking adventure in Scotland, join us as we explore the wild coasts of the Outer Hebrides.

    The Hebrides boasts some of the best sea kayaking in Scotland, if not the world. With crystal clear turquoise waters, incredible wildlife and stunning beach coastal scenery, this is sea kayaking for the connoisseur. Outer Hebrides sea kayaking feels like floating in another world.

    On this sea kayaking adventure, we will explore some of the wildest places left in Europe – the islands of the Outer Hebrides. Facing the wild Atlantic, these rocky and intricately shaped islands offer a unique coastline to explore, with islands dotted around them and pierced by fjord-like sea lochs.

    For the first 3 nights of the trip we will be based from a bunkhouse at a thatched heritage village on the west coast of Lewis, before setting out for 2 nights wild camping on an expedition by sea kayak. For the last night of the trip, we return to Stornoway where a celebration meal, hot showers and warm beds await us after a wonderful time of Outer Hebrides sea kayaking.

    Trip Highlights

    • Explore pristine deserted islands, wild coastlines, and white-sand beaches by sea kayak.
    • Paddle in the crystal clear waters, enjoying the spectacular views of the coastal mountains.
    • Undertake a 4 day expedition by sea kayak to explore some of the more remote islands.

    Did you know?


    This trip can be booked as a private departure


    Learn more

    Day by Day Itinerary

    Day 1 – Travel to the Outer Hebrides

    This morning we meet in Inverness railway station at 7.30am and then drive through the Highlands to Ullapool. Here we board the ferry that carries us across the Minch to the Outer Hebrides. After disembarking we travel across the island to the historic village of Gearranan which will be our base for 3 nights. (L, D)

    Day 2 – Sea Kayaking on Loch Roag

    Today we do a day trip by sea kayak on nearby Loch Roag, refreshing our paddling skills and exploring amongst the many islands that dot the loch.  We’ll keep our eyes peeled for wildlife such as sea eagles that can often be seen here, and may paddle up towards the ancient standing stones of Callanish before returning to our bunkhouse at Gearranan late afternoon. (B, L, D)

    Day 3 – Sea Kayaking off Lewis and Harris

    From the fissured east coastline to the long, sandy beaches of the west coast and the skerries of the Sound of Harris, the coastline of Harris and Lewis leave sea kayakers spoiled for choice! Our guide will assess the weather and sea conditions before selecting a day trip which will live long in the memory. Return to our bunkhouse at Gearranan late afternoon. (B, L, D)

    Day 4 & 5 – Sea Kayaking Expedition

    On the morning of Day 4, we will load the boats with everything we need to take with us for the expedition phase of our adventure. Having checked the weather, sea states and tides your guide will choose a route that explores the rocky coastline, beaches and deserted islands, wild camping along the way.

    As the Hebrides are exposed to the weather of the Atlantic the route will depend very much on the conditions at the time. If conditions permit then a point to point route along the west coast of Lewis and/or Harris is an excellent adventure, further exploring the islands of Loch Roag or visiting the now uninhabited islands of Scarp and Taransay.

    If a more sheltered location is needed then we are spoiled for choice as there are many superb paddling options exploring the sea lochs of Lewis’ east coast such as Loch Seaforth, Loch Sealg and Loch Eireasort. This area is also home to magnificent wildlife, including the greatest concentration of golden eagles in the world. Wherever we venture we can sure of a true wilderness trip! (B, L, D)

    Day 6 – Sea Kayaking, Travel to Stornoway

    On the last day of our paddling expedition, we will complete our route before transferring to Stornoway where we will enjoy the luxuries of civilisation once again, with our last night in a 4 star hotel in Stornoway. Here we will enjoy a delicious meal to celebrate our adventure. (B, L, D)

    Day 7 – Morning in Stornoway, Return to Inverness

    Today we will have a leisurely morning with some time to explore the town of Stornoway under your own steam. After lunch we embark on the ferry, arriving back on the mainland at about 4.30pm. We then drive back through the Highlands to Inverness and drop you off at the station around 6.45pm. (B, L)

    Download Itinerary

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    Sea Kayaking
    Sea Kayaking in the Outer Hebrides

    To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

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    Trip Dates & Prices

    Trip Dates for 2021 Availability Status Price Book
    7th Aug - 13th Aug 2021 Trip Full FULLY BOOKED £1,295
    Trip Dates for 2022 Availability Status Price Book
    28th May - 3rd Jun 2022 8 place(s) left PROVISIONAL £1,295 Book Now
    25th Jun - 1st Jul 2022 8 place(s) left UNCONFIRMED £1,295 Book Now
    6th Aug - 12th Aug 2022 7 place(s) left UNCONFIRMED £1,295 Book Now
    17th Sep - 23rd Sep 2022 7 place(s) left UNCONFIRMED £1,295 Book Now

    What's Included

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    Accommodation Read More

    ACCOMMODATION
    For our first 3 nights, we will be based in a private bunkhouse on the west coast of Lewis. The bunkhouse is in a historic stone-built cottage but has a modern, cosy interior. Sleeping arrangements consist of bunk beds with separate rooms for male and female accommodation. There are two modern shower rooms and bedding is provided. Please bring your own towel and toiletries.

    During the expedition part of our trip, we will wild camp in remote locations. Tents are provided, and sleeping bags and sleeping mats can be reserved with us if you do not wish to bring your own. We also bring a large tipi style tent so that we can all gather together for meals and a hot drink even if the weather is poor. For camping, you will need a sleeping bag and sleeping mat, which can be reserved with us. Please request these at the time of booking.

    On the final night of the trip, accommodation is in a 4 star hotel in Stornoway.

    SINGLE ROOMS/TENTS
    On this trip, there are no single rooms available during the first 3 nights as we are based at the bunkhouse. During the expedition phase, we are happy to provide single tents for solo travellers, but if you are willing to share with another traveller this does help reduce our camp size, giving us more options of where to camp and reducing our impact on the ground.

    For the final night of the trip: if you require a single room please request this at the time of booking and we will check availability for you.

    Meals Read More

    This trip is “All Inclusive”
    Meals will be prepared either at the hostel or while camping, except for the final night, when we’ll go to a local pub for a celebratory meal. The guide will coordinate and undertake as much of the cooking as possible on the trip, but everyone is asked to help out with the preparation of meals and with washing up. Expedition life is all about teamwork!

    Inclusions Read More
    • 3 nights accommodation in a private bunkhouse, 2 nights wild camping and 1 night in a 4-star hotel in Stornoway
    • All meals, from lunch on Day 1 until lunch on Day 7. (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
    • All transport throughout the trip, starting and finishing in Inverness
    • All specialist sea kayaking equipment, including sea kayaks, paddles and buoyancy aids
    • The services of our experienced and knowledgeable sea kayak guide throughout your trip
    Travel Read More

    ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
    You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at Inverness Railway Station at 7.30am on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Inverness Station for 6.45pm on the final day of the trip.

    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.

    Photo Gallery

    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

    View Profile
    Rachael Gavan

    Rachael is a true gem and we regularly receive feedback thanking her for designing inspiring itineraries and for being such a pleasure to chat to. In many cases the people Rachael designs tailor-made trips for, actually become friends and she’s had more than one invite to far off lands as a result.

    Rachael loves to explore Scotland’s wild place and to share these locations with others. While travelling around Lewis and Harris she was struck by the island’s beauty and inspired to create this sea kayaking tour.

    Ask Rachael a Question

    Meet Your Guide

    Donald Thomson
    7th Aug - 13th Aug 2021
    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 4.93 out of 5 based on 45 review(s) of Sea Kayaking in the Outer Hebrides

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    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.

    VR

    Vanessa Robson

    Reviewed on 05/10/2020

    Age: 50 - 60
    Country: United Kingdom
    Trip Date: 15/08/2020
    Trips Taken: 2

    The Bottom Line

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    MC

    Matthew Cousins

    Reviewed on 30/09/2020

    Age: 50 - 60
    Country: England
    Trip Date: 15/08/2020
    Trips Taken: 2

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    Maybe, when we booked our holiday in these strange times it seemed uncertain that it would all come together but man did it pay off! We are so lucky to have been on this amazing trip in the beautiful surroundings of Lewis and Harris with a great group of people especially our top guides, paddling the stunning coastal waters amongst Orca-tactic Herbridean wildlife!! Thank you to all involved in making it happen.

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    PM

    Penny Macfarlane

    Reviewed on 27/09/2020

    Age: 50 - 60
    Country: United Kingdom
    Trip Date: 15/08/2020
    Trips Taken: 3

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    This is a trip that can potentially be very challenging, depending on the conditions, and does require a good level of fitness and willingness to get close to nature in all its elements. We were so lucky to come close to some exceptional wildlife as we explored the wilds of the different coastlines, and nothing can beat it for magnificent scenery and a getting away from it all sense of wilderness.

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