Sea Kayak Guides
Sea Kayak Guides
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About
We specialise in bespoke guiding and coaching - whether you want to explore the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline, or have personal skills coaching or work towards yournext BCU award.We are some of the UK's most experienced coaches and we take great pride in offering you top quality equipment and a tailor-made experience.
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5.0
45 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Pan
St Davids9 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
amazing few days spent with martin and ben
on the 3 day course we learned lots of valuable tips and tricks for being safe in the water.
areas covered were self rescues, towing, radio work, rescuing others, and the theory that goes along side all of these aspect of kayak safety.
this was the 3rd course i’ve attended with these guys and each one has enabled me to be confident in leading groups on the water.
fair play- super course to attend!
on the 3 day course we learned lots of valuable tips and tricks for being safe in the water.
areas covered were self rescues, towing, radio work, rescuing others, and the theory that goes along side all of these aspect of kayak safety.
this was the 3rd course i’ve attended with these guys and each one has enabled me to be confident in leading groups on the water.
fair play- super course to attend!
Written 20 October 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.
woodallfamily
Hemel Hempstead, UK11 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Another great weekend with Ben, Martin, John & Rachel... Always learning something new as the team share their knowledge with us & their local knowledge is very helpful. We get the chance to stretch ourselves in the different conditions, great fun rock hopping & watching the seals.... From a respectful distance. Would highly recommend...
Written 25 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.
Traveltrek1
Wiltshire17 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We can't recommend Sea Kayak Guides highly enough. As a mature couple, with some canal and river experience but needing a refresher, we were looking to learn the basics to allow us eventually to set off independently. We enjoyed a wonderful two days with Martin and Rachel covering the essentials of the two day Introductory course from trip planning to basic boat handling and safety and rescue. Not only great company, but as excellent coaches and guides they gave us the confidence to push ourselves in conditions we wouldn't normally have contemplated, exploring the varied coves and rock channels and learning about the ecology of the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline. Hope to be back for more! Many thanks. Derrick & Joanna
Written 18 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.
Stewart
Aylesbury, UK1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
What a wonderful weekend. 16 of us went out with Ben, Rachael, Martin and John for a marvellous bespoke sea kayaking trip round Pembrokeshire. I am new to sea kayaking, so joined the ‘mellow’ group - but we still managed some rock hopping adventures and learned loads about kayaking In the sea. The more adventurous of us had a pretty wild fun time by all counts! Great team who know this coastline inside out and provided all we could have wanted from the weekend. Thoroughly recommended!
Written 17 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.
Jay H
Aylesbury Vale, UK6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Fabulous trip with Rachel, john martin and ben. So knowledgeable.
Appreciated sensitivity to wildlife, extensive local knowledge and kindly coaching.
Really could not have asked for more, the whole group trusted their knowledge & expertise and smiles all round.
Superb, well done:-)
Appreciated sensitivity to wildlife, extensive local knowledge and kindly coaching.
Really could not have asked for more, the whole group trusted their knowledge & expertise and smiles all round.
Superb, well done:-)
Written 17 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.
Marcus189
Winchester, UK17 contributions
Aug 2023
I had read about kayaking on the tidal standing wave in William Thomson's book The Book of Tides.
It sounded an amazing experience for me and my son with the only problem being that we had MINIMAL kayaking experience (although a fair bit of paddleboarding and sailing). I booked day of learning in Chichester harbour to prepare for the trip and then found sea kayak guides online.
I had a couple of chats with Martin and we agreed a plan to see if we might be able to get out there.
Our first morning, Martin took us out and led us around the rugged coastline, encouraging us to play near the rocks to see how we handled it. Martin gave us a lot of confidence we felt really safe trying exciting manoevures in the waves and small swell.
After lunch, he actually took us out to the waves and we were delighted he felt we were safe to go out there. We had a gentle play kayaking with the current before returning home with a plan to come back in two days to have a more serious go.
Martin got up extra early for a 7am start to give us the best chance to get out there and an early morning fog didn't stop us.
What really stood out was Martin's kindness and extremely relaxed manner and we all picked up paddling tips just by watching him.
We enjoyed some seal spotting whilst we waited for the current to turn and then headed to the rapids. Martin carefuly explained how to cross eddy lines and ferry glide into the main current. Both my son and I enjoyed a short surf on some baby waves before we had to leave as they quickly become too strong for novice paddlers.
Martin did everything we could have asked for and more and we are eternally grateful to him for such a great expereince.
His knowledge of the tide and currents is staggering and we even managed another little surf on the paddle back to Whitesands.
It is a stunning a beautiful place and the perfect playground for an active family like ours and I can see us heading back there very regulalry - the next trip will be to see more seals and the Puffins of Skomer Island.
There is no doubt we will use sea kayaks guides again. A small company passionate about helping people have memorable experiences.
We also had a cracking morning coasteering with Martin :-)
It sounded an amazing experience for me and my son with the only problem being that we had MINIMAL kayaking experience (although a fair bit of paddleboarding and sailing). I booked day of learning in Chichester harbour to prepare for the trip and then found sea kayak guides online.
I had a couple of chats with Martin and we agreed a plan to see if we might be able to get out there.
Our first morning, Martin took us out and led us around the rugged coastline, encouraging us to play near the rocks to see how we handled it. Martin gave us a lot of confidence we felt really safe trying exciting manoevures in the waves and small swell.
After lunch, he actually took us out to the waves and we were delighted he felt we were safe to go out there. We had a gentle play kayaking with the current before returning home with a plan to come back in two days to have a more serious go.
Martin got up extra early for a 7am start to give us the best chance to get out there and an early morning fog didn't stop us.
What really stood out was Martin's kindness and extremely relaxed manner and we all picked up paddling tips just by watching him.
We enjoyed some seal spotting whilst we waited for the current to turn and then headed to the rapids. Martin carefuly explained how to cross eddy lines and ferry glide into the main current. Both my son and I enjoyed a short surf on some baby waves before we had to leave as they quickly become too strong for novice paddlers.
Martin did everything we could have asked for and more and we are eternally grateful to him for such a great expereince.
His knowledge of the tide and currents is staggering and we even managed another little surf on the paddle back to Whitesands.
It is a stunning a beautiful place and the perfect playground for an active family like ours and I can see us heading back there very regulalry - the next trip will be to see more seals and the Puffins of Skomer Island.
There is no doubt we will use sea kayaks guides again. A small company passionate about helping people have memorable experiences.
We also had a cracking morning coasteering with Martin :-)
Written 25 August 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.
kevin e
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Awesome, well worth it!
The weather was rather against us with strong SW and big swells pumping it, yes it was August after all!
However, Martin with his calm demeanour, coolness and vast local knowledge suggested some locations on the North coast.
I'd not done much up this way for quite a few years but both days turned out perfect.... relatively gentle seas, with some bumpy stuff though, caves, cruise ships, seals and jumping dolphins.... :-) also some local history and geology!
Covered everything we wanted to go through, plus more, but this is just in their nature. If you have anything you want to cover/practice they are more than willing to run through things with you.
Excellent equipment too, you don't get this quality at many national centres.. ;-)
We'll deffo be back for some more adventures :-)
The weather was rather against us with strong SW and big swells pumping it, yes it was August after all!
However, Martin with his calm demeanour, coolness and vast local knowledge suggested some locations on the North coast.
I'd not done much up this way for quite a few years but both days turned out perfect.... relatively gentle seas, with some bumpy stuff though, caves, cruise ships, seals and jumping dolphins.... :-) also some local history and geology!
Covered everything we wanted to go through, plus more, but this is just in their nature. If you have anything you want to cover/practice they are more than willing to run through things with you.
Excellent equipment too, you don't get this quality at many national centres.. ;-)
We'll deffo be back for some more adventures :-)
Written 18 August 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.
Mark H
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
Spent two days sea kayaking in North Pembrokeshire on a bespoke trip that involved exploring amazing coastal scenery, on the move coaching and watching wildlife. Our just turned fourteen year old had not been in a sea kayak before and was given lots of confidence navigating through rocky swells, caves and learning boat steering skills. Richard gave great coaching advice, delivered in an enthusiastic and caring manner. We even learnt rescue skills at the end of day one giving us confidence in our ability for future trips.
Day two was in flat calm seas, led expertly by Lukas who taught us coast and tidal planning and showed us plenty of wildlife en route. It was great to learn new facts about the amazing coastline and the incredible marine creatures that live there. To top it off, on our return journey the sun was shining and we were entertained by a small pod of bottle nosed dolphins. They got so close that you could hear them breathing! An unforgettable day. Can't rate Sea Kayak Guides highly enough. Thank you so much
Day two was in flat calm seas, led expertly by Lukas who taught us coast and tidal planning and showed us plenty of wildlife en route. It was great to learn new facts about the amazing coastline and the incredible marine creatures that live there. To top it off, on our return journey the sun was shining and we were entertained by a small pod of bottle nosed dolphins. They got so close that you could hear them breathing! An unforgettable day. Can't rate Sea Kayak Guides highly enough. Thank you so much
Written 13 August 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.
Geraldine J
4 contributions
Aug 2023
We have just had a brilliant couple of days out with Ben coaching our moving water skills around Ramsey Island and crossing the sound. Ben pitched it perfectly for us with just the right amount of challenge to keep it fun while helping us develop our skills and build our confidence. We came back buzzing and eager to go back for more. Thank you Ben for some fab coaching!
Written 9 August 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.
Deb H
Hemel Hempstead, UK4 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Ben, Martin and the team are so welcoming, and keen to share their knowledge - on coastal navigation, and detailed weather conditions - to fully explain why each paddling location is chosen for safety and comfort.
Each day is completely unique, and carefully tailored to meet all different paddling levels.
So encouraging - "Challenge by Choice" the frequent phrase - have a go if you want to, pass it by if you don't.
Each day is completely unique, and carefully tailored to meet all different paddling levels.
So encouraging - "Challenge by Choice" the frequent phrase - have a go if you want to, pass it by if you don't.
Written 13 July 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.
No questions have been asked about this experience