Alastair and Max joined me in Gairloch for a kayaking session. Max paddles a bit in Toronto each year and Alastair hasn’t paddled since he was about Max’s age, it didn’t take long for Alastair to pick it up again.

Hopefully Alastair has been inspired to get out kayaking again so he can have some great trips with his son back in Canada

Louisa, Alastair, Phoebe and Sandy came to Gairloch for a paddling session with me. They stayed just along the road from me at Shore Croft in Mellon Charles and I’d have liked to get out on the water from Mellon Charles but unfortunately the wind direction and speed just weren’t going to let that happen.

Gairloch harbour is a great place to paddle from, so we all had a great time anyway.

Pratibha, Prasoon, Pratyush and Pranayi joined me for a fun session. The breeze that had been around in the morning luckily relaxed a little, giving us a nicer session. We had a great time playing games and seeing the wildlife as we paddled around. Those curious seals making their normal appearance by the harbour!

Harry and Gill met me for another session paddling today. They’ve decided to buy themselves some sit on top kayaks, so being sensible folk they wanted to come out with me to learn and practice some self rescue techniques in case either of them falls in. It was a breezy morning so we spent the first part of the session staying dry by improving our paddling strokes.

Over our brew break we chatted about sensible kit to carry to make paddling safer and more enjoyable. After the brew break there was nothing to do but get wet, practising getting back onto their kayaks with no help and also ways to help each other onto a kayak from the water.

Christina, Mark, Jon, Olivia and Terri all joined me for a nice afternoon paddling from Gairloch harbour. We took a selection of sit on top kayaks and sea kayaks to suit everyone’s choices. After a short time spent learning to control the boats we headed off around the craggy coastline to see what we could find.

Scott, Joy, Alice and Ella joined me at Gairloch harbour for a fun time on the water. The sun might not have been out as much as I’d like but it was a lovely calm day on the water for us.

Iain, Maureen, Eòin and Anndra have recently got themselves some fancy sit on top kayaks. They have been getting out in them a bit lately but wanted to join me for a session so they could practice some self rescue skills and chat about essential safety kit to carry as they head out by themselves.

I made sure I wore my drysuit for this session as I had no plans of getting cold whilst demonstrating things!

Iain bought Leigh a special Ewe Canoe voucher for a christmas present last year, today she got to use it (and luckily for Iain she brought him with her!). They’d been out with me a few years ago and since they knew they’d be back in the area they made sure they planned another trip out.

Anna, Glenn, Louis and Elsa joined me for the afternoon session at Gairloch harbour. We paddled around playing games, seeing the sights and watching the wildlife. Louis chose to watch the wildlife up close as he threw himself into the water after a piranha.

Gordon and sister Amy met me in Gairloch for a lovely calm paddle with mirror like water. It’s always great to have still water to help us see even more wildlife below the waterline as we glide over the top. Whilst we watched the creatures below, the seals watched us paddle by.

Damian and Trevor were travelling around the #NC500 and chose to stop off for an afternoon seeing it from a different perspective. Paddling is a fantastic way to see the craggy north west coast in a different way.

Shona, Colin and Linda met me for a sunny morning paddle from the boom beach in Mellon Charles. We had a great time exploring the interesting rocky coastline and wildlife.

After a dreich morning the weather improved when I met Ben and Rebecca near the Shieldaig Lodge Hotel. We started the session by being watched by some of the birds from the hotels falconry centre. As the midges congregated we got on with the session and headed out in the boats. As normal we saw plenty of birds and seals, but this time we also bumped into an otter whilst he was out fishing. 

Heather and Dan joined me for a canoe from Gairloch Harbour. We enjoyed paddling around the rugged coastline seeing the seals and the marine life below the waves whilst the sun shone down on us intermittently. 

Michael, Fiona and Andrew took to the water on Loch Shieldaig, just a few miles south of Gairloch. We enjoyed paddling along to see the seals swimming around us, watching us in their inquisitive way.

Max, Fraser, James and family friend Adam joined me for a fun morning of canoeing and kayaking. We headed out in the canoes initially, getting to grips with how they paddle and playing some games before heading back to jump in the kayaks for more of the same.

Fiona, David and Catriona met me on another sunny day in Wester Ross. We had a good time exploring the rocky coastline, seeing the seals and learning some skills.

Roy, Ash, Glen, Kev and Phil met me on a grey and drizzly morning near the Shieldaig Lodge Hotel. Despite the weather we had a good time seeing the wildlife and sights as we paddled around the craggy coastline.