Prior to moving to Distant Hills Guest House in Spean Bridge, when we thought of the Scottish Highlands, our minds conjured up images of moody mountains, shaded pine forests and the odd dark loch dotted here and there. Never did we consider the miles and miles of stunning coastline, edged with pristine white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. To be honest, we never knew such tropical beauty existed on the West Coast of Scotland, not many people do!
The Adventure of a Lifetime
A few months after moving here, we discovered the jaw-dropping ‘Silver Sands’ of Morar beach, just an hour’s drive from Distant Hills Guest House, and not much longer after that, that we heard about sea-kayaking trips from the nearby coastal village of Arisaig. This sounded immense fun and a fabulous way to explore more of the Scottish Highlands from a more unique perspective. It shot to the top of our ‘must do’ list!
Making Dreams Come True
Always preferring to support local businesses, we booked our sea kayaking adventure with River to Sea Scotland based out of Spean Bridge. The first question Reece, the owner and private guide, asked us when we made the booking was, ‘What’s the dream folks? What do you hope to get out of the trip?’. Our dream was to paddle on shallow, calm and turquoise waters with seals swimming below us against a backdrop of breathtaking Highland scenery. We were asking for the world and we’d laid down the gauntlet for Reece!
Sea Kayaking with Seals – Our Fairytale Story
The night before our trip, Reece called us to finalise and agree plans for the following day. He updated us on expected weather conditions and tidal information, which were critical to achieving ‘the dream’. For once, we were in luck! The weather forecast and tidal information could not have been more perfect. We had been given the green light for our trip to go ahead as planned.
The following morning, we met up with Reece just outside of the popular tourist village of Arisaig and then followed his bright blue van loaded with kayaks to the parking spot winding for a few miles around narrow, back country roads getting occasional glimpses of the sea as our car peaked and troughed with the road contours. Our excitement was palpable. We had been blessed with glorious blue skies and warm temperatures and we were chomping at the bit to get kitted up and out on the water.
Reece donned us each with brand new, high quality wet suits, waterproof jackets, buoyancy aids, spray decks and paddles. Once attired, we began to load each kayak one-by-one into the inviting shallow waters. Before we set off, Reece talked us through what to expect and ensured we were fully confident with the water and how to use the equipment properly. As we paddled out of the sheltered bay, Reece watched our technique and helped us improve it where needed.
This doesn’t happen often, but I was honestly lost for words. I was so overwhelmed by the sheer natural beauty all around me. I just couldn’t believe I was paddling on turquoise waters occasionally glistening here and there in the sunshine, and so clear too, allowing me to marvel at the white sand below. I’ve seen plenty of photos promoting sea kayaking adventures off the coast of Arisaig but they always looked too good to be true! To be doing it for real felt, well…. indescribable!
And then we spotted our first seal! Reece had told us that this particular part of the West Coast of Scotland was home to a colony of over 600 seals, but we didn’t expect to see one so soon. We had barely left the bay and the first seal swam over playfully to check us out. He swam in between our kayaks popping his head up in different places like he was playing a game of hide and seek. One second he was in front of us, the next behind us, the next at the side of us and finally further away in the distance as something else piqued his interest.
A short while later, we reached a rockier area and the ‘skerries’, a series of sand banks that appear at low tide. Here we spotted the seals in larger numbers basking leisurely in the sunshine. Occasionally, one would lurch into the water, and once one went in, several more followed. I felt very privileged to watch the seals in their natural habitat.
For the next hour or so, Reece allowed us to explore the skerries at will. We decided where we paddled and it was great fun, like playing in a maze, but instead we were on the water, gliding in and out of water channels.
As early afternoon approached, Reece guided us to the most idyllic pic-nic spot on the planet! I challenge you to prove me wrong! We paddled our kayaks onto a remote sand dune island. If there had been a palm tree, I would have sworn I was Robinson Crusoe reincarnated.
Reece had timed our pic-nic spot perfectly. So keen to make our dream come true, he had kept us occupied and waited for the tide to be out just enough to see the ‘skerries’ at their optimum beauty and rather than sit on the white sandy beach, Reece led us to a slightly elevated spot, which allowed us to marvel at the rugged Highland hills marking the horizon as well as the Small Isles of Eigg and Rum and the Isle of Skye. Cameron and I were in a trance, completely mesmerised by the sublime views surrounding us.
As well as sharing this once in a lifetime moment with my better half, it was fantastic to share this with Reece and listen to his stories and learn of the passion that he has for the Scottish Highlands and the great outdoors. It seemed we had a lot in common!
Feeling a little giddy, not from any alcohol, but from being on a sheer natural high, the 3 of us decided to brave the waters and go for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Boy it was cold, but so utterly refreshing and made the whole experience and our senses even more heightened. Without a doubt, this was turning out to be one of the best days of our lives.
With every fibre of our beings feeling totally alive and energised after our swim in the sea, we got back in our sea-kayaks and paddled further along the coast in search of hidden bays. The water here was deeper and much darker in colour and the swell caused gentle waves, which Reece taught us how to paddle. The trip felt like it was in two halves: the morning feeling like a magical fairy-tale, and the afternoon an exciting adventure.
After more exploring, paddling and chatting, it soon became time to head back towards the car. It was with heavy hearts that we carried our sea-kayaks out of the water. The day had far exceeded our expectations and we were sad that it had to come to an end. As I tell our story, I feel I am reliving the dream. We had expressed our ‘dream’ to Reece and he had most certainly excelled in every way. Would we do it again? In a heartbeat!
Why Choose River to Sea Scotland?
It is clear from the narrative above that we had the adventure of a lifetime but there are many reasons we highly recommend River to Sea Scotland for your water sports activity. Here are some of our reasons:
- Reece only takes private groups, which means that there is an element of flexibility and your trip can be tailor-made to you. You can guarantee that your experience will be intimate and personalised.
- All boats and most wet suits, clothing and equipment are purchased brand new each season so you can be assured that everything is in excellent condition and of the latest technology.
- Reece is a very fun, friendly and charismatic person while also being supremely professional and safety conscious. Reece establishes trust and confidence from the outset.
- He is highly qualified and insured and is incredibly passionate about water sports and knows the local and surrounding area very well.
- At the time of booking, you will receive a confirmation email with all the information you need for your trip.
Other Water Sport Activities with River to Sea Scotland
In addition to the sea-kayaking, Reece offers a number of other day adventures including:
- Canoeing on nearby lochs and rivers
- Canoeing on rapids
- White water rafting
And day trips can even be themed, such as:
- Castles and shipwreaks
- Harry Potter film locations
- Nature and wildlife
If you are more experienced and comfortable with self-guiding, you can hire kayaks, canoes and equipment from Reece at River to Sea Scotland. Reece will drop your hire equipment off at an agreed water side location and will keep in contact with you throughout the day to collect it at the end of your agreed time period.
To find out more, or to book your own experience of a lifetime, visit https://rivertoseascotland.co.uk/ or contact Reece directly on 07949 292654. You will not be disappointed.
If you have enjoyed reading this blog and would like to read more about our adventures and all the fabulous things there are to see and do in the surrounding area, visit our journal page here.
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