Sea Kayak Shetland
Sea Kayak Shetland
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Guided kayaking trips round Mainland Shetland. No previous experience necessary. All equipment and training provided. Taster sessions, half day or full day trips. No programme of trips. Trips available all year round, weather-permitting, and arranged round weather forecast and sea-state. Mostly single kayaks; one double kayak.
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Sea Kayak Shetland
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5.0
51 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Simon F
London, UK6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We had an amazing time with Rosalind and Angus (and Wendy in support). It was great doing an A to B route so we didn’t retrace our steps and we got so close to seals, an otter and of course all the sea birds. They shared photos with us and had lots of local knowledge - definitely a big success on our trip and one we will remember fondly. Highly recommended. Ask about the chocolate puffins - we are taking one home (carefully)
Written 2 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie
6 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Sea Kayak Sheltland is a wonderful company to work with. They answered all my questions and were willing to work with us regarding a shore excursion.
Many Shetland tour operators are fully booked. They were willing to accommodate us. Wendy was a pleasure to work with.
Many Shetland tour operators are fully booked. They were willing to accommodate us. Wendy was a pleasure to work with.
Written 26 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy tries hard to help as best she can so appreciates your comments. Thank you!
Written 3 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DBS
12 contributions
Sep 2022
It's a great experience to see Shetland from the water. My group with Sea Kayak Shetland had paddlers of all levels, from first-timers to experienced. They accommodated everyone so well, and everyone got the full experience - with kayak type and instruction catered to each individual.
My tour was a shorter excursion quite near town, but you wouldn't have known it. (They have many other options as well.) We paddled in and around ancient caves, across the water - always feeling comfortable and safe with Angus and Hamish. They were very knowledgeable about all things related to the water, the land, the animals, etc. I couldn't have imagined a better experience.
Wendy offered great customer service as well. I attempted to book very late, and there were no openings. Wendy said she would let me know if anything changed and I forgot about it, thinking it wasn't going to happen. I was surprised a couple of days before my arrival to hear from Wendy that they could fit me in one afternoon.
So beautiful, a lot of fun, and surprisingly inexpensive
My tour was a shorter excursion quite near town, but you wouldn't have known it. (They have many other options as well.) We paddled in and around ancient caves, across the water - always feeling comfortable and safe with Angus and Hamish. They were very knowledgeable about all things related to the water, the land, the animals, etc. I couldn't have imagined a better experience.
Wendy offered great customer service as well. I attempted to book very late, and there were no openings. Wendy said she would let me know if anything changed and I forgot about it, thinking it wasn't going to happen. I was surprised a couple of days before my arrival to hear from Wendy that they could fit me in one afternoon.
So beautiful, a lot of fun, and surprisingly inexpensive
Written 17 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a full review. We were pleased you were able to manage out and that you enjoyed your kayak trip.
Written 28 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Petriea P
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
An amazing experience. The staff were very professional and knowledge. They showed a lot of care as some of our party had limited experience of kayaking.
Written 30 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad you enjoyed your kayaking in Shetland. Thank you for reviewing here.
Written 27 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Elaine Rietveld
Ayr, UK20 contributions
Jul 2021 • Solo
A fabulous kayak with Angus and the group. We saw an otter and puffins, explored caves and kayaked along a stunning coast. Angus was a great guide. Highly recommended!
Written 7 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. Glad you enjoyed your trip and saw the otter and ouffins.
Written 27 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
2000Rich
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK50 contributions
Jul 2021
My partner and I were holidaying in Shetland for 10 days at the beginning of July. We did a bit of research before getting there to see what places to visit and what activities are on offer. We saw the website for Sea Kayak Shetland and thought it would be an adventure. We’ve never done sea kayaking before but we have done kayaking on a lake a couple of times so not exactly experienced. However, that didn’t matter because the trips are tailored to participant skill and ability.
We contacted Angus and Wendy via e-mail a couple of weeks before we were due to arrive and much to our disappointment, we were informed that they were all booked up. Lesson learnt here- be more prepared and book further in advance. They informed us that sometimes trips get reshuffled or extra added and so they would keep us in mind if a spot became available. Luckily for us they contacted us on the second day of our holiday and offered us a place later that week. We corresponded via e-mail several times with various questions and enquiries and Wendy and Angus were always quick to respond.
Being novices, we opted for a half day excursion as we thought a full day would be too much, especially on the arms. We also opted for the double kayak which was very beneficial for my partner as she could sit back and relax while I did all the work. Only joking, she did pull her weight but being in the double kayak did prove advantageous for her for another reason- she got sea-sick! The ironic thing was it wasn’t even rough, the water was on the whole very calm. She is prone to motion sickness so it was just unfortunate that she suffered on this trip because she had been OK on the previous kayaking experiences.
We travelled in car convoy to where we would launch the kayaks and after being given instruction on basic paddling skills, they let us loose on the water. We were in a small group (5 participants) as well as having Catriona and Rosalind guiding us. At the beginning we all struggled a little getting into the swing of things but we soon picked up the pace. It was lovely to experience this little area of Shetland from on the water; you get to see the cliffs and coastline from a whole different perspective. It was very peaceful except for the sound of our paddles splashing into the water and the various sea birds calling. We had an inquisitive seal pop up near our kayaks which was great and made us hope that maybe we’d encounter dolphins or whales in a similar way- aspirations a little too great we think!
The scenery and serenity were wonderful. What more could you want? Some excitement? Paddling through a sea arch and a cave would tick that box. When we got to the section where the cave was, the sea was a little rougher and entering the cave needed to be timed correctly but at no point did we feel unsafe. Rosalind and Catriona were absolutely fantastic and guided us with care, checking in on us all at regular intervals and always ensuring we were happy and confident in what we were doing. They obviously love what they do because we don’t recall seeing either of them during the trip without a massive smile.
Sea-sickness aside, we had a great time. Big thanks to Catriona and Rosalind for being so understanding about my partner being sea-sick and for also giving her an opportunity to cut the trip short and walk back to the car. An option which she did decline as she wanted to continue with the experience. Would definitely recommend an excursion with Sea Kayak Shetland.
We contacted Angus and Wendy via e-mail a couple of weeks before we were due to arrive and much to our disappointment, we were informed that they were all booked up. Lesson learnt here- be more prepared and book further in advance. They informed us that sometimes trips get reshuffled or extra added and so they would keep us in mind if a spot became available. Luckily for us they contacted us on the second day of our holiday and offered us a place later that week. We corresponded via e-mail several times with various questions and enquiries and Wendy and Angus were always quick to respond.
Being novices, we opted for a half day excursion as we thought a full day would be too much, especially on the arms. We also opted for the double kayak which was very beneficial for my partner as she could sit back and relax while I did all the work. Only joking, she did pull her weight but being in the double kayak did prove advantageous for her for another reason- she got sea-sick! The ironic thing was it wasn’t even rough, the water was on the whole very calm. She is prone to motion sickness so it was just unfortunate that she suffered on this trip because she had been OK on the previous kayaking experiences.
We travelled in car convoy to where we would launch the kayaks and after being given instruction on basic paddling skills, they let us loose on the water. We were in a small group (5 participants) as well as having Catriona and Rosalind guiding us. At the beginning we all struggled a little getting into the swing of things but we soon picked up the pace. It was lovely to experience this little area of Shetland from on the water; you get to see the cliffs and coastline from a whole different perspective. It was very peaceful except for the sound of our paddles splashing into the water and the various sea birds calling. We had an inquisitive seal pop up near our kayaks which was great and made us hope that maybe we’d encounter dolphins or whales in a similar way- aspirations a little too great we think!
The scenery and serenity were wonderful. What more could you want? Some excitement? Paddling through a sea arch and a cave would tick that box. When we got to the section where the cave was, the sea was a little rougher and entering the cave needed to be timed correctly but at no point did we feel unsafe. Rosalind and Catriona were absolutely fantastic and guided us with care, checking in on us all at regular intervals and always ensuring we were happy and confident in what we were doing. They obviously love what they do because we don’t recall seeing either of them during the trip without a massive smile.
Sea-sickness aside, we had a great time. Big thanks to Catriona and Rosalind for being so understanding about my partner being sea-sick and for also giving her an opportunity to cut the trip short and walk back to the car. An option which she did decline as she wanted to continue with the experience. Would definitely recommend an excursion with Sea Kayak Shetland.
Written 28 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review.
Rosalind and Catriona appreciated your feedback and we are all glad yu both enjoyed the trip, depsite the motion-sickness.
Written 27 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Phil Richards
Leicester3 contributions
Jun 2021
Superb! Wildlife, scenery, companionship, adventure....you must try it.
So close to the gannets, puffins, cormorants, seals, porpoises, and starfish.
Set off in the evening, returned after sundown in the midsummer twilight.
So close to the gannets, puffins, cormorants, seals, porpoises, and starfish.
Set off in the evening, returned after sundown in the midsummer twilight.
Written 9 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to post this lovely review.
So glad we were able to take you along.
Written 9 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma H
Exeter, UK24 contributions
Jun 2021
We had two fantastic days out in our own kayaks and thanks to the experience of our guides Rosalind and Angus, got to experience some amazing paddling in places we’d have never discovered on our own. The trips were a real confidence boost for us too and we definitely improved our paddling skills along the way. Whether your a complete beginner or experienced paddler, we can’t recommend Sea Kayak Shetland highly enough.
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Emma. Glad that we were able to take you (and your kayaks) and that you enjoyed your guided paddle trips
Written 27 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Klapperfrosch
4 contributions
Aug 2020
Experienced guides - gave a lot of information on sea life in Shetland in general and in Cunningsburgh bay specifically. Tour was along the front shore, we went into caves and were challenged by some shallow water paths through the rocks. Had a lot of fun and only one kayak capsized.....
Very good introduction into sea kayaking.
Beautiful weather conditions (sunshine & almost no winds) - saw seals, dolphins and even some whales in the bay.
We were not experienced in sea kayaking, went in with teenage daughter. Guides were very safety conscious. High standard equipment - very well cared for.
Very good introduction into sea kayaking.
Beautiful weather conditions (sunshine & almost no winds) - saw seals, dolphins and even some whales in the bay.
We were not experienced in sea kayaking, went in with teenage daughter. Guides were very safety conscious. High standard equipment - very well cared for.
Written 3 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We're glad you managed to get out with us and enjoyed your trip.
Written 4 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard Sheridan
Ipswich, UK2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
A fun, friendly and fabulous afternoon on the water. An engaging way to experience the dramatic Shetland coastline and see the wildlife up close. Angus, Rosalind and Wendy are superb guides, really professional yet relaxed and friendly. It was my first time sea- kayaking yet felt confident and safe from the outset. Can’t recommend this highly enough!
Written 27 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review. We're glad you enjoyed the experience and look forward to seeing you next time you are in Shetland
Written 28 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mywifesnightmare
Traphill, NC
do you have 2 person kayaks
Angus
4 contributions
Thank you for your enquiry. We have two two-person kayaks.
Mike S
1 contribution
Hello- Will be there on Friday June 15- Norweigan Jade. Would like to book Kayak trip for 4. Can you send me details- thanks
Angus
4 contributions
Hello Mike
Thank you for your enquiry.
We have another party coming from Jade that day and have arranged that we will meet them on the pier at 10.30am. (When we made that arrangement the Jade was not due to arrive until 10am, according to our information, so we may arrange an earlier rendezvous)
We will collect your party from and return you to the pier.
Please note that all our trips are weather and sea-state dependent.
Can you please email to
confirm if you would like to book a trip on June 15?
It would be helpful to know if any of your party have previous experience.
Kind regards
Wendy
77July
3 contributions
Bonjour Pascale, je voudrais faire du Kayak au Shetland et voudrait avoir plus d'informations. Est-ce
que tu avais de l'expérience avant d'aller là-bas? Es-tu allé pour une journée ou une demi-journée?
Merci.
Angus N
Lerwick, UK2 contributions
Bonjour, je suis Angus de Sea Kayak Shetland. Vous n'avez pas besoin d'expérience avant d'aller en mer. Si vous avez jamais été en kayak de mer, je pense une demi-journée est mieux pour vous
Cordialement