Orkney and Shetland Sea Kayaking

Tom was introduced to paddling by a relative on Loch Tummel in a home-made lath and canvas canoe. While doing youth work in Edinburgh he decided to join a course for instructors. During the course he found himself paddling out to the Bass Rock on a perfect summer evening. He has been a sea paddler ever since. After a move to Easter Ross, early trips were mostly on the west and north coasts. A further move to Shetland followed in 1976. He spent over thirty years exploring the Shetland coastline.Chris has worked as an instructor, sea kayak coach, centre manager and outdoor practitioner in a wide variety of remote and beautiful outdoor locations in the U.K. and abroad over the past 35 years. After initially visiting Orkney to climb the iconic rock stack known as the ‘Old Man Of Hoy’, Chris fell in love with the islands and its pace of life and moved to Orkney in 2000. Before departing in 2008 he co-wrote the first edition of this book which was published in 2007. After a 7 years period away from the islands, the lure, draw and charm of Orkney pulled him back to working for Orkney Islands Council as the Outdoor Education Advisor in 2015. The amazing opportunity to live, work, play and explore in Orkney for the second time round has enabled him to gain an intricate understanding and knowledge of the coastline within the Orkney archipelago. Chris has even been known to venture to Shetland, to sample the equally amazing sea kayaking further north!Rachel learnt to sea kayak when she moved to Shetland to work as a marine scientist for the University of Highlands and Islands in 2003. Twenty years later Rachel still enjoys exploring Shetland’s unique and wild coastline. She spends much of her spare time coaching and leading trips for Shetland Canoe Club. Rachel has always enjoyed exploring some of the more remote coastlines of the UK, kayaking, diving and sailing and enjoys supporting others to experience the challenges and adventures of the sea. While fortunate to have dived across the world, she is passionate about exploratory diving and documenting the marine life of the more remote parts of the UK and northern Europe. When she is not working or kayaking Rachel likes to spend time with her young family, introducing them to Scotland’s seas and wildlife.

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