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
- Cornish Rock Tours. www.cornishrocktors.com
- Explora Expeditions, London. Paddle on the Thames! www.exploraexpeditions.com
- 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. 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 2013. 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
- Outdoor Active, Anglesey. www.outdooractivesports.co.uk
- 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
- Sea Kayaking Anglesey, www.seakayakinganglesey.co.uk
- Twr-y-Felin, Pembrokeshire. www.tyf.com
Scotland
- Arisaig Sea Kayak Centre, Arisaig, nr Fort William. Guided trips. www.arisaigseakayakcentre.co.uk
- 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.
- 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
- Otter Adventures (Strontian, by Loch Sunart), www.otter-adventures.co.uk
- Rockhopper Sea Kayaking (Fort William). www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk
- Seafreedom Kayak (Oban and elsewhere). www.seafreedomkayak.co.uk
- Sea Kayak Oban. www.seakayakoban.com
- Sea Kayak Scotland (Oban and elsewhere). www.seakayakscotland.com
- Skyak Adventures (Isle of Skye). www.skyakadventures.com
- Uist Outdoor Centre. www.uistoutdoorcentre.co.uk
- Unexplored Scotland (mainly Isle of Skye). www.unexploredscotland.com
- Whitewave. Isle of Skye, established for 30-odd years. www.white-wave.com
- 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.
- www.seawolfkayak.com. Occasional courses in London and other places. At the time of writing, the next course, costing £2200, is in London from 18-25 April 2015. London events are coordinated by Adriana who has a Facebook group called exploralondon
