Adventure Kayaking - Isle of Islay

Lauren T.

My partner Dan and I had the most amazing morning out on the water with Joe from Adventure Kayaking at Bowmore, Islay. Joe was incredibly safety-conscious from the start, making sure we were comfortable and confident before setting off. As a complete beginner, I really appreciated the time he took to teach me the basics and coach me along the way—it made the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

The paddle itself was stunning, and we were lucky enough to see a seal colony up close, which was just magical. Halfway through, we stopped on the rocks for a break, and Joe treated us to a cup of tea and a caramel log—a small but thoughtful touch that made the day feel even more special.

If you’re looking for a mix of adventure, beautiful scenery, and a guide who genuinely cares about your experience and safety, I can’t recommend Joe and Adventure Kayaking highly enough!

Pete B.

Fantastic day of kayaking and exploring the coastline off The Oa of Islay all led by an experienced instructor and guide in Joe. Our relative inexperience in paddling was taken in to account in the planning of our day including what would be possible with potential weather and sea conditions - this itself was an excellent aspect of the whole booking process.
With a fair weather forecast, Joe took us along the coast from Kintra to the sea stack of Soldier Rock and through assorted channels and caves - spectacular scenery, geology and wildlife including goats and an otter. The pace and instruction fitted fully with our experience and needs and a fantastic time was had through out the day. Joe took plenty of photos for us and mailed them in the evening - a few are attached to this post.
We certainly recommend Adventure Kayaking and will try to book again with Joe on our next Islay holiday - in the meantime our paddling skills have been greatly enhanced for using our own kayak and SUP wherever we go.

Alicja W.

We went for a kayaking trip to see a seal colony and admire the views of the island Islay from the water. The whole experience was amazing. Joe is incredibly attentive, nice, and knowledgeable. We went through the safety procedures thoroughly and set off to enjoy the beutiful scenery. We had a wee lunch on a nearby island looking over the seals. I highly recommend Joe for both short and longer trips. Really experience kayaker and a nice person.

Nic R.

We had a great day sea kayaking around the beautiful coast of Islay with a group of friends. Equipment was excellent, and the safety briefing was clear and reassuring. We stopped for a lunch on a nice beach before heading back. Joe is a great guide with fantastic stories from paddling adventures. Highly recommended.

Paul C.

Three of us had an excellent 2 days paddling with Joe. We are quite experienced paddlers so on meeting up with Joe, he suggested a range of options with pros and cons of each one, based on the tides and conditions. We really enjoyed discovering the varied coastline of Islay, especially the Oa which has spectacular features for rockhopping and exploration. Joe was extremely knowledgeable and we learnt a lot about Islay. Joe is also an excellent kayak photographer! His kayaks and kit are top notch. Thanks Joe for a great 2 days!

Samuel N.

Fantastic experience! Joe was amazing at explaining the karaks, rowing and sizing us to our wetsuits. Safety was a huge priority to him as well as just having fun. Beautiful day overall and loved every moment!

Ruth S.

We had two great days paddling with Jo in late July. He was helpful, knowledgeable and keen to show us the best bits of his island. Good company, good gear and great scenery. What else could you want. Highly recommended

Victor V.

What a great experience! Joe is very experienced so we felt in safe hands despite the gusty weather as he took us out on a sunset trip. He was very supportive and helpful throughout, patiently teaching us to kayak and we even saw a whole herd of seals! It was beautiful and fun and a real highlight of our honeymoon. Thank you Joe, kayaking is definitely at the top of the list of our favourite activities now!