Upcoming Expeditions and courses
As well as our core offer of personalised day trips, courses and expeditions designed to suit you and your group, we are offering a small selection of courses and expeditions in some of our favourite places. If you would like to book onto any of our courses or trips get in touch at wildislesseakayaking@gmail.com​
​
All of our courses and expeditions have a maximum ratio of 1:4 to give each paddler the right support and guidance to make the most of the time on the water, and include the use of high quality kayaks, paddles and clothing.
​
For our availability for bespoke day trips, expeditions and coaching or alternative dates get in touch with us at wildislesseakayaking@gmail.com​​​
​
Expedition -Isle of Mull, Iona & Staffa
10th - 14th August 2026 (5 days)
1 space left!
Mull is one of our favourite islands and places to paddle. The varied coastline with towering cliffs, white sandy beaches, isolated islands, and the mountains of Mull providing a stunning backdrop mean that paddling here is an unforgettable experience. As well as being one of the best places in Scotland to see wildlife, including white tailed eagles and otters, Mull is known for its amazing geology and fascinating history.
Our aim is to run a continuous expedition making the most of the fantastic spots for wild camping, though we have the option of using the campsites at Fidden or Salen (payable at the site if used) if a basecamp or mixed style of trip suits the group and conditions.​
The expedition is aimed at the intermediate paddler. This would suit paddlers with a range of experience in different conditions and who are capable of paddling 15 - 25 km a day for 5 consecutive days, including paddling in wind up to Force 4. The cost of this five-day trip is £600.
Expedition -Small Isles
25th - 29th April 2026 (5 days)
The Small Isles, Rum, Canna, Eigg and Muck, are four fantastic islands that sit to the south of Skye and to the west of Mallaig. They stand out for their varied coastlines, dramatic history, spectacular skylines and amazing wildlife. As well as providing a beautiful place to paddle, the Small Isles are a great challenge for a sea kayaker with open crossings as well as circumnavigations to enjoy.
The nature of these islands as well as the distances between them mean that this trip is suitable for intermediate and above paddlers, capable of paddling 25-35 km a day for 5 consecutive days, including paddling in winds of Force 4 and above with the associated sea state. Experience of wild camping is also required. The cost of this 5-day trip is £600.
Expedition -Firth of Lorn and the Slate Isles
8th - 10th July 2026 (3 days)
The Firth of Lorn and the Slate Isles encompass the area around Oban and include Lismore, Kerrera, Seil, Scarba, Jura and the Garvellachs amongst many more. The range of islands and the fast flowing tides make this a great destination with lots of options to explore. Some of the highlights of the area include the magical island of Belnahua, the sense of history at the beehive cells on the Garvellachs, the swirling and whirling tides in the Sound of Luing and the views over to the cliffs and mountains of Mull.
This three day wild-camping expedition is perfect for someone with basic sea kayaking experience and who wants to build their skills and to experience a more challenging journey. We will aim to paddle between 15 and 25 km each day. The cost of this three-day trip is £350.
Expedition -Introduction to expedition skills
15th - 16th June 2026 (2 days) - OBan Area
If you have enjoyed a few journeys by sea kayak and want to embark on your first sea kayak expedition then this is for you. Over the two days we will cover the skills that make up a successful and enjoyable expedition, including planning, packing, paddling a loaded kayak, campcraft, reducing our impact and decision making.
​
The area around Oban is a great place to develop our expedition skills with a range of islands, inlets and lochs to explore. There are plenty of spectacular spots to wild camp making for a very memorable adventure. On this trip we would expect to paddle between 10-15km each day. The cost of this two day trip is £250.
Course -
Introduction to Sea Kayaking
2026
11th - 12th May
13th - 14th June
6th - 7th August
This two-day course is a chance for people to take their first paddle strokes in sea kayaks and learn what this fantastic sport is all about. Over the two days we will cover the fundamentals of sea kayaking including how to launch and land safely, how to control our kayak and how to make the most of our time on the water, whilst enjoying amazing journeys around the Oban area.​
​
The cost of this two-day course is £200.
Course - Skills and Confidence
2026
25th - 26th June
7th - 8th September
Take your paddling to the next level with our improver sea kayaking course. Designed for those who already have basic experience, this course focuses on building practical skills, improving control, and boosting your confidence on the sea. On this course we aim to cover how to handle waves, navigate safely, and paddle with confidence so you can enjoy every trip.
​
The area around Oban is a great place to develop our skills with a range of islands, inlets and lochs to find the right balance of sheltered water and more exciting seas. This course will mix journeying in amazing places with a focus on developing the skills and confidence to most enjoy our time on the water.
​
The cost of this two-day course is £200.
Course - Journeying in Tide
Seil And the Slate Isles
13th - 15th April 2026 (3 days)
This course will cover the skills needed to journey in tidal waters including the planning, tactics and techniques that empower you to make the most out of tidal flow. The waters around Seil have a wealth of islands with dramatic tides which make it the perfect classroom for developing the skills in moving water. This course will be a mix of journeys and coaching using different venues each day such as Loch Feochan, Cuan Sound, the Grey Dogs, the Sound of Luing and the Corryvreckan.
For the Journeying in Tide course, paddlers should be comfortable handling a sea kayak in wind and waves up to Force 3. The cost of the three days is £300​.
Course-
Tiderace Skills & the Falls of Lora
2025-
8th - 9th November 2026-
7th - 8th March
1st - 2nd June
29th - 30th October
This course is a chance for paddlers to experience the exciting tidal venues around Oban including the famous Falls of Lora. The focus is on building skills and confidence in fast flows including reading the water, navigating strong eddylines and using the features to our advantage. We can also include sessions on planning as well as safety considerations and rescues in moving water.
For these courses the maximum ratio is 1:4 to make sure we can provide the safety, support and coaching for paddling in these environments. The venues we could use include the Falls of Lora, Cuan Sound and the Grey Dogs, depending on conditions and the aspirations of the group. We would expect paddlers to have some experience of moving water and crossing eddylines (whitewater or sea) and to be comfortable paddling in wind and waves up to Force 4. A roll is helpful but not essential. The cost of each two-day course is £200.
Course-
Rescues and Incident Management
3rd & 4th June 2026
This course is a chance to develop your skills and knowledge in how to respond to rescues and incidents. This will include:
-
Developing robust safety frameworks
-
Calling for help
-
Towing in a range of scenarios
-
Self-rescues
-
Deep water rescues
-
Basic equipment repairs
-
landing and first aid
​
This course will cover the Paddle UK Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue course with plenty of time to practice skills and build confidence responding to scenarios. This is a great opportunity for a paddler looking to progress towards independent paddling with friends, working towards leadership qualifications or simply wanting to learn a different set of skills.
​​
The cost of the two-day course is £200.