From the foreword by Murdy Campbell: A Guide to the Outer Hebrides … I have kayaked around these Islands for over twenty years and still have not seen it all. The variety of kayaking in the Outer Hebrides is endless. There are so many sea lochs, inlets and hidden places which I am still exploring as there are over two thousand kilometres of Coastline to explore.
The Outer Hebrides has kayaking areas for everyone from the beginner to the advanced paddler; some of the large sea lochs are exceptionally good for downwind runs for those that enjoy surf in a sea kayak, you can enjoy the exposure of the high sea cliffs or the relative safety of the sandy beaches. On a summers day when the sun is shining and the winds are light, parts of the west coast of the Hebrides are like a tropical paradise.
For the more adventurous you can paddle to the offshore islands or you can go by charter boat. St Kilda is one of our most visited offshore islands and has the highest sea cliffs in Britain, it has one of the largest colonies of gannets in the world and some of the sea caves go deep into the cliffs. The Flannan Isles, known as the “seven hunters” are uninhabited and lay seventeen miles off the west coast of Lewis. The Monach Isles has one of the largest colonies of seals in Europe and are easily accessible by kayak. As you visit any of them you could see one or more of the twenty plus species of whales and dolphins recorded around the Hebrides.
Enjoy the guidebook and the Outer Hebrides, The Islands at the Edge of The World.
About the Authors:
Robert Emmott
Robert’s first introduction to kayaking was at scout camp in North Wales, but it was only after he moved to Lewis that he really got into sea kayaking. Within just a few weeks of arriving on Lewis, he joined Stornoway Canoe Club and soon experienced some incredible paddling adventures. Keen to learn and help others enjoy the paddling in the islands, Robert took up coaching and is a committed member of the canoe club. His passion is storm paddling, for which the Outer Hebrides is often the perfect place.
Tim Pickering
Tim has been paddling longer than he would care to remember and, as a coach, he has tried to infect others with the same enthusiasm. Through his business, he has guided extensively in the Outer Hebrides as well as Arctic Sweden, Iceland and St Kilda. You will often find him in his surf boat on one of the many breaks in the islands. Writing this guide, however, has shown him there are still areas in the Outer Hebrides he has yet to explore.
Mike Sullivan
When Mike moved to the Hebrides his two burning ambitions were to kayak to St Kilda and catch his first Atlantic salmon; getting to St Kilda proved to be the easier of the two. He was converted to sea kayaking after ten years of river kayaking and open boating, and he is a keen coach and active member of Stornoway Canoe Club.