If I were to suggest a modification for the second edition it would be the inclusion of ‘out and back’ options for the paddles. I paddle with my partner, and we only have a single car – so for a day trip the primary option will be returning to the same location. Information on best points to start the trip, point in the tide etc would be helpful.

Hope that’s useful,

Mark

My husband and I are coming to Scotland in September for a wedding. We would like to get in some kayaking while we are there. I was wondering if you could recommend the name of some kayaking guides/tours. We are open to anywhere in the U.K. We live in BC, Vancouver Island and. We are intermediate paddlers.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanks,

Regards Halina

Here’s a blast from the past! Glad you’re surviving and clearly thriving! Congrats on the kayaking, books and blogs etc. You are clearly a kayaking legend these days. Good stuff.

I am now a billionaire, married to a model and living on my own private island, collecting classic cars. Well, something like that. It’d be good to catch up some time.

By the way, just in case you’re wondering – I shared a room with you in our first year at Lancaster Uni about 176 years ago.

Cheers,
Jon

You have got a really nice blog. It’s interesting to follow. Keep up the good work!

/Peter

Mark

We spent the last summer paddling and flopping in the waves of the Ilses of Scilly on inflatable kayaks. On return we finally got a couple of sea kayaks and took off and around the South West. I say out and about until we read your book. It has been such a help knowing where,when and how to get to the places we had missed. I’d also like to thank you for decreasing the arguements between us on where we are going today. Instead, your books gives a focus and if not the exact same trip its a great start. Thanks very much

This year we return to Scilly with the new kayaks and hopefully get more water time in. Anyway, perhaps bump into you around the south west sometime and I’ll buy you a Doombar as a thank you.

I am planning to swim the uk coast in 2010 and am looking for any info, books, diaries, navigation manuals etc, all relating to previous expeditions in kayak as these are the nearest I can expect to my trip. I shall be towing my raft (www.globalboatworks.com) click projects, finning craft. The raft contains the usual camping gear and two weeks food and water fully loaded. I intend to be mostly unsupported, but will on ocasions have some land and sea (rib)support. I shall make use of the white sail, but not the full rig.

Can you direct me to any material that you consider would be important to help plan each days swim, tides and in particular the more difficult areas to swim around. My speed will be half to one third of a kayak and limited to ten mile open crossings at the most, around 5 hours each. I will need escape routes to come ashore (almost at will) and avoid dumping surf, reefs and miles of cliff. When the chips are down, turning back may never be an option.

I feel to start around April, from the South West in order to get to Scotland during the longest hours of daylight, to assist me in getting around the more difficult areas. But I base this decision on no evidence that even clockwise is best.

Hope to hear from you

Haydn Welch