Carnival of sea kayaking to launch in fine Highland waters

A carnival of sea kayaking will take to some of Scotland’s finest waters later this year.

The sea kayaking carnival will be held in and around Plockton in Wester Ross this summer.

Plockton Kayak Carnival will be held from September 11 to 13 and mark Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.

The event will also celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Sea Kayak Plockton which was set up after founder Alison French quit her job in pharmaceuticals in the south east of England and relocated to the north west of Scotland.

Ms French said the carnival was a way of “saying thank you to the people, landscape, and wildlife” that had made her time running her company so memorable.

The sheltered waters around Plockton offer perfect conditions for sea kayaking.

The carnival will welcome up to 70 sea kayakers to the sheltered waters in and around Plockton and Lochalsh with sessions graded in terms of strength of water and distance of the trip, with all levels catered for.

Ms French added: “We believe in giving people confidence out on the water. If people feel confident and relaxed, they’re more likely to learn and develop paddling skills, which will then enable them to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highlands from a totally different perspective.”

Hospitality and a celidh will be put on in the the village to mark the event. Highlights of the menu for the weekend will be a visit from Shonzey’s mobile fish and chip fan, a buffet by The Waterside Seafood Restaurant and the Sea Kayak Plockton flapjack.

Sea kayaking is a popular way of exploring the sheltered coastlines of the west and gives new persepctive on the stunning Highland scenery.

A talk by renowned paddler and author Brian Wilson, and Scottish and UK Adventurer of the year, Will Copestake – both who have completed solo

circumnavigations of Scotland – will also form part of the weekend.