Kayak Summer Isles

Often seen in the sea the native european otter are just as at home in the rivers and estuaries. They are able to hold their breath for up to 4 minutes to often re-surface several hundred meters away. These large members of the mustelid family are slyly illusive.
The easiest way to identify them from similarly looking seal pups is to watch for their long slender tail as the dive.
Otter were once on the brink of extinction in the uk from hunting, pollution and overfishing, bu...t these days are making a wonderful recovery. They are still heavily protected to ensure this happens.
While we don't see otters on every trip, we do get to enjoy these lovely animals from the vantage of our sea kayaks in the Summer Isles. So as not to disturb them, we always like to let them come to us and sometimes they are delightfully curious.
#KayakSummerIsles #NorthCoast500
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Happy New Year from us all at Kayak Summer Isles! May your 2019 be filled with joy and wonder.
We thought we would share five of our favourite small adventures to tackle this year by kayak and canoe in the link below.
If you could make one adventure happen this year, big or small what would it be? Let us know in the comments below.
... P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Werner Paddles Kokatat Rab North Coast 500 VisitScotland Hamlet Mountaineering
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Merry Christmas to all!

Ullapool is looking super festive this year. The shore looks fantastic from a kayak! Merry festivities to all!
#KayakSummerIsles #MerryChristmas North Coast 500 #NC500 #Festive #Ullapool #CreelTree #UllapoolLights

Our guide and Co-Founder @WillCopestake has just returned from Patagonia for his fourth time. This year he spent two weeks training a new team of guides on the wicked art of guiding the rivers and icebergs around Patagonia's 40knot winds and 'unusual' kayak conditions.
If Patagonia is on your tick list, it is a truly incredible place to kayak (It isn't always this windy), we hugely recommend our awesome friends at Kayak EnPatagonia who make the experience genuinely world class fun.
Werner Paddles Kokatat Rab Hilleberg the Tentmaker Ledlenser #RioSerrano #TorresDelPaine

What do you do all winter? How do you survive so many hours of darkness? Yes this was at about half past four but I think it makes up for all those long nights. Plus you never know you may get the chance to marvel at the northern lights or the milky way. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

Rhue light house. Who would you invite to paddle round it?
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Kokatat, Rab, Summer Isles, Isle Martin.

Usually we like to launch from Badentarbat beach which creates an excellent setting to get used to your sea kayak before heading into the Summer Isles. However if the weather is not quite right sometimes we'll launch from Old Dornie harbour which is a small oasis of shelter from almost all aspects of the compass. Make sure you book your adventure early to avoid disappointment.
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Kokatat, Rab.

Ken Scoular has been a long term client of ours who has done full descents of the Spey, Tay and was running out of options so we went to the river Dee. All three river we covered over three days from as high as we could 'sensibly' get down to the sea. Scotland really does have some incredible rivers.
Venture Canoes & Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Rab, Kokatat

Check out this amazing footage taken by Brad. He joined us for a multi day kayak and hillwalking adventure earlier in the summer.
Make sure to check out his incredible Instagram feed on @thepluralist
If you fancy an adventure like this, drop us an email at info@kayaksummerisles.com we would love to make it happen.
... #kayaksummerisles #nc500
P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Werner Paddles Kokatat Rab Hilleberg the Tentmaker Dhu Ledlenser North Coast 500
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Today, whilst out canoeing in the wind, our guide Will Copestake was featured in San Miguel’s 2018 Rich list, which celebrates value in alternative lifestyles. Life on the water is definitely a lifestyle we love!
https://www.sanmiguel.com/en/richlist/wil l-copestake/
#SanMiguelRichList Kokatat Rab P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Werner Paddles

Anderson family enjoying a day out on the water today and what a day it was. The calm before the storm, 19 degrees today. Best time of the year to be out on the water, the colours are stunning.
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, Rab, Werner Paddles, Kelly Kettle.

It's not over till it's over. Provided the weather looks favorably on your visit we will take you out sea kayaking. In fact some of the best days I've enjoyed in a boat have been over the winter months. Mark and Susanna mostly definitely got lucky with the weather today. What stunning colours out there on the water.
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, Rab, Kokatat, P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Kelly Kettle.

Tim has been learning from the best. Sid Sinfield head of paddle sports at Plas y Brenin stayed up after the recent Scottish Canoe Symposium to deliver an excellent Advanced Canoe Leader training. Never have I sailed so hard that I broke my sail clean off, or laughed so much while canoeing. Thanks for an excellent week.
Glenmore Lodge, Hou Canoes, Werner Paddles

Never stop learning. Tim from Kayak Summer Isles was at Glenmore Lodge this weekend for the Open Canoe Symposium 2018. What a fabulous event, so much excitement for getting out to play on the water. So many boats and so many smiles. This is what canoeing is all about.
#opencanoesymposium, #glenmorelodge, Scottish Canoe Symposium 22nd - 23rd September 2018, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, Kokatat, Werner Paddles

Another successful 4 day expedition trip complete - This time joined by Brad from the USA - The last time we met was in Patagonia!
We still have availability on a three day intermediate level expedition next week between Sept 12-14th for just £325 - contact us at info@kayaksummerisles.com to join us.
Sunset paddles, remote campsites, caves and rock-hopping abound we explored the Summer Isles over three days before stretching our legs along the Ben Mor Coigach ridge.
... Wildlife spotting included an otter, two sea eagles on Priest island, and SEVEN sea eagles with a token Golden eagle on Sgurr an Fhidleir peak. We even spotted a few friendly Storm Petrel fluttering around dusk.
#KayakSummerIsles P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Werner Paddles Kokatat Rab Hilleberg the Tentmaker North Coast 500 #NC500 #NorthCoast500
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Penny and Adrain are on honey moon and loved learning to work together to make a canoe move in the right direction.
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, Rab, Werner Paddles.

Why not join us and come sea kayaking around the Summer Isles.
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, Werner Paddles, P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, Kokatat.

When the loch leads to the mountain there is no better way to get there than to float. Look you can see the tents from here!
North Coast 500, North West Highlands Geopark, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, Werner Paddles, Hamlet Mountaineering.

Will is incredible, with such a huge wealth of knowledge and expertise in kayaking and outdoor adventure! So personable, even when it’s wet and cold he will still make you laugh and have fun! If you’re looking for the ultimate kayak adventure, look no further - Will is your man!

Will is an excellent, conscientious and fun guide. I would paddle with him anytime anywhere : )

Will is an amazing guide.

We had such a great time out with Will, his knowledge of wildlife and kayaking is excellent. The whole day was filled with adventure and fun.

My friend and I had a brilliant day out kayaking with Will around the Summer Isles. A very likeable young man with some incredibly challenging adventures of his own to date but very happy to create a mini adventure for two 'old birds' who can still paddle. Will's knowledge of bird and sea life is extensive and his young eyes enabled him spot, locate then allowed us to see the porpoises, red throated diver and barrel jellyfish. Hoping we can go again next time we are in the area.

I had a great time on my trip around Oldany archipielago. Will's wealth of knowledge of the area, his impressive background as an adventurer and his patience and easy-going personality makes it ideal if you want to experience what kayaking in the North-West of Scotland is like.Give it a go and you'll fall in love with a new sport 😊

Had a great over night trip around the summer isles with Will. He is great company, has fantastic wild life knowledge and an excellent instructor. The food on the trip was amazing. I would highly recommend doing this trip.