This is a list of some commercial operators who provide sea kayak-related courses and holidays in the United Kingdom. For activities elsewhere see next page, and see the pages after that for tours, treks, races & raids; sea kayak meetings & symposia; and links to both national and regional sea kayaking associations.
England
- Sea Cornwall. www.seacornwall.com
- Sea Kayaking Cornwall. www.seakayakingcornwall.com
- Sea Kayaking Southwest. www.seakayakingsouthwest.co.uk
- Shoreline Activities, Bude, Cornwall. www.shorelineactivities.co.uk
- Seapoint Canoe Centre, Folkestone. Kent may not be the hub of the English kayaking scene but Seapoint tell us they're probably the cheapest place in the UK for those who want BCU coaching qualifications. www.seapointcentre.com
Have you thought about doing a Marine Mammal Medic course with the charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue? One day courses, various locations in England and Scotland. You don't need to be a diver, and BDMLR wants more volunteers and more medics, especially in Wales. They will visit you and run a special course if you have at least twenty people interested. Still only £90 per person in 2010. www.bdmlr.org.uk
First Aid courses. Lists of organisations which provide advanced courses suitable for outdoor pursuits can be found at www.mlte.org and on the British Canoe Union website. Last time we went there, the relevant page was http://www.bcu.org.uk/files/Aquatic%20First%20Aid%20Providers.pdf. Also worth a look - www.bculifeguards.org.uk
Wales
- Coastal Spirit, www.coastalspirit.com
- Plas Menai National Watersports Centre. North Wales, Scotland, Ireland. www.plasmenai.co.uk
- Plas-y-Brenin National Mountain Centre. North Wales, Scotland, Greek Islands. www.pyb.co.uk
- Sea Kayak Guides. Pembrokeshire. www.seakayakguides.co.uk
- Twr-y-Felin, Pembrokeshire. www.tyf.com
Scotland
- Canoe Hebrides. Sea kayaking, Outer Hebrides and in Sweden. www.canoehebrides.com
- Cape Adventure International. Sea kayaking at all levels, based at Ardmore in the far north-west of Scotland.
www.capeadventure.co.uk - Clearwater Paddling. Outer Hebrides (Barra) and international. www.clearwaterpaddling.com
- Glenmore Lodge National Outdoor Training Centre. www.glenmorelodge.org.uk
- Norwest Sea Kayaking. Courses, expeditions and rental, based at Lochinver in north-west Scotland. www.norwestseakayaking.com
- Rockhopper Sea Kayaking (Fort William). www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk
- Seafreedom Kayak (Oban and elsewhere). www.seafreedomkayak.co.uk
- Sea Kayak Scotland (Oban and elsewhere). www.seakayakscotland.com
- Skyak Adventures (Isle of Skye). www.skyakadventures.com
- Uist Outdoor Centre. www.uistoutdoorcentre.co.uk
- Wilderness Scotland. www.wildernessscotland.com
Northern Ireland
For the Republic of Ireland see next page.
- Tollymore Mountain Centre, www.tollymore.com
Channel Islands
- Jersey Kayak Adventures, www.jerseykayakadventures.co.uk
Building traditional kayaks in the UK
Courses at which you can build your own skin-on-frame kayak. For similar courses elsewhere in Europe, click here. For similar courses in North America, see www.kayarchy.com
- www.thomashawson.com. Dr Tom Hawson's courses take place at Hundalee Mill Farm in the Scottish border country. Course dates for 2011 are 22.06-01.07 and 02.11-11.11.
