Skills Development Courses

Develop your Sea Kayak Skills in Scotland's premier kayak destination; whether you are looking for an Introduction to Sea Kayaking, Moderate Water Development or Rough Water Handling, and take your sea kayaking to the next level with a stunning backdrop of the Skye coastline. Skye offers everything from flat calm waters, moderate water, rough seas and tide races. The opportunities are endless.

Accommodation is not included, but If you are planning to do a course or Paddle Skye Trip with us, we have reserved a bunk room at Skye Base Camp, which you can book for the duration. This is a shared 4 bed dormitory with other people from your course or other members of the public at £35 per night with excellent self catering facilities and friendly atmosphere for outdoorsy people. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this special arrangement.

Sea Kayak Beginner / Improver Course

An Introduction to Sea Kayaking that gets you going on your journey to becoming an independent kayaker. Refine your strokes, learn sea kayak rescues and learn to keep yourself and your peers safe, ready to enjoy kayaking with your friends. You can optain your Paddlesport Explore or Sea Kayak Award at the end of this course

Prerequisits: You are a beginner but physically fit and keen to learn something new, or you have been in a kayak a few times before and are comfortable on flat water.

3 days £315

Groups of 4 or more people receive a discount. Club discount also available for 3 or more in the shoulder seasons.

Dates for 2023
May 27 - 29
July 9 - 11
August 13 - 15

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Intermediate Sea Kayak Course

Develop your skills in moderate water, refine your paddling performance, gain confidence in F3-4 winds. You may be thinking about paddling with your friends in rougher seas or want to prepare to become a Sea Kayak Leader.

Prerequisits: You paddle fairly regularly or have done at least 20 days of sea kayaking, you have done some day trips and can manoever your sea kayak efficiently in F2-3 winds and small waves. You may have a 3* or Sea Kayak Award.

3 days £315

Groups of 4 or more people receive a discount. Club discount also available for 3 or more in the shoulder seasons.

Dates for 2024 
April 27 - 29 Confidence Builder for Rougher and Tidal Water with Doug Cooper
August 16 - 18
September 20 - 22 Confidence Builder for Rougher and Tidal Water with Doug Cooper

Advanced Water Development

Develop your skills in tidal waters, like Kylerea or Fladda Chuain, and rougher sea conditions of F4-7 winds or large waves around the Isle of Skye. Gain confidence and skills, and work towards Advanced Sea Kayak Leader or Advanced Sea Kayak Award.

Prerequisits: You are a regular paddler and are comfortable in F3-4 winds and moderate water conditions. You may have a Coastal Sea Kayak Award or a Sea Kayak Leader Award, ready to develop further.

3 days £315; 5 days £500

Groups of 4 or more people receive a discount. Club discount also available for 3 or more in the shoulder seasons.

Dates for 2024
March 23 - 27
October 17 - 21

Women Specific Courses

We are proud to offer the following sea kayak courses for women:


May 17 -19 Scottish Womens Paddle Symposium (Glenmore Lodge)
There are no dates yet for women specific courses, but you can choose one of the standard courses and we can make it women specific if still available. Don't be shy, just ask! We love those courses!

Why women specific courses?

The Scottish Canoe Association has been aware for a while that women are under-represented in paddlesports, especially in coaching and leading roles. Therefore they are encourageing women specific courses to introduce more women to kayaking and develop them further towards leadership roles.

Research suggests that women often feel and behave differently in an all-female environment and that the opportunity to take part in such events can, for some, have a real positive impact on their participation and how they feel about themselves (particularly when the norm is for females to be a minority).

Find out more in this article about women specific events.

Want more?

If you can't find what you are looking for or would like other dates, please get in touch.