Kew to Teddington Saturday 4 Feb 2023

It was so good to get back on the river yesterday, and in my case to experience paddling a different part of the Thames. I have had one outing in the dark from Kew to Richmond and so I was curious to see it in the light and Richmond lock at high water with […]

Dorset Weekend, Day 2, Oct 2022

Day 2 – Wareham to Poole Harbour Entrance

Sunday morning started with a car shuttle as we were planning a one-way trip. One of our more experienced paddlers later commented “a car shuttle is the most difficult thing you can do in kayaking”.   However, it had all been worked out on a napkin in […]

Meet Me Where the Sun Touches the Sea, Bournemouth, Sept 2022

This is the delayed May 2022 trip to Bournemouth. Although it sounds like a train announcement we all went by car, meeting at The Arches on a cold September morning at 8am (although some were very keen and had been there an hour beforehand).

We all arrive at Alum Chine at the same time […]

Dorset Weekend, Day 1, Oct 2022

Day 1 – Ringstead to Lulworth

It didn’t start that auspiciously, arriving in the dark, traveling through an apocalyptic rain storm and then my car battery conking out when I arrived, it was starting to feel like a bad idea! But then Saturday morning dawned, the sun was out, the wind dropped and Ringstead […]

Scratchells Bay, Isle of Wight, August 2022

We launched east of Lymington, passing through the New Forest on the way to the launch and see wild horses, cows and surprisingly loads of donkeys just wandering around the roads. The launch site was where a single track lane meets the sea at a shingle beach. The beach, near high water is covered […]

Circumnavigation of Hayling Island, August 2022

This was my first trip on the sea after completing my Explore course in July. I was concerned about being able to complete the distance – estimated at 27 kilometres (around 14 nautical miles); after all, if you are doing a circumnavigation, it’s key that you can complete the trip.  I checked with the […]

Dartmouth, July 2022

My first sea kayaking trip with CKC to Dartmouth… and it couldn’t have been more perfect! Arriving Friday night to the best camp site – Sea View – in Slapton, run by a lovely family. This is a regular campsite for CKC when paddling here with great amenities making it very comfortable and it […]

Sanna Bay, Scotland, 22 June 2022

On this morning of our West highland adventure we were to wake up in our tents on a headland known as Sanna Point on the North coast of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. We were in thick mist and cloud which was very atmospheric and part of the Scottish experience.

Looking back on this day it […]

‘The Sea’s the Key’ – Monday 20th June 2022 – Kilchoan to Tobermory and back

We set off eastwards along the same route as our leisurely paddle on the first day, but this time without loitering. Although Kilchoan is almost opposite Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, a southwest wind made a direct crossing impractical. Instead, our plan was to hug the coast with the wind behind us and […]

Greenland Rolling Practice, Scotland, June 2022

Kilchoan is home to a small and active kayaking community which includes Geoff, one of the founding members of Chelsea Kayak Club, as well as Martin and Nicky who recently set up a small business in Kilchoan to produce Greenland paddles. Learning that we had a small group of Greenland paddlers and interested kayakers […]