As a self-confessed ‘landlubber’ David was surprised by his interest in our line of kayaks on the beach. He was holidaying on St Martin’s because his daughter was working on Tresco for the season. Looking for something to do before meeting up with her on her day off, he thought he’d have a go at kayaking.
The Isles of Scilly is a fabulous location for a solo kayaking adventure. Paddling over crystal-clear waters to uninhabited islands, visiting deserted beaches, is a great way to enjoy the beautiful environment of Scilly. David’s first ever kayaking experience was so enjoyable; it led to an ambitious plan to kayak over to Tresco to visit his daughter!
David’s first ever solo kayaking adventure
David’s first ever kayak hire began, as all our hires do, with a safety briefing. Having chatted to us on the beach in the morning, he was reassured that all the safety equipment was supplied and explained. We recommended a paddle at high water around to the beautiful Old Quay. This involves following the shoreline of St Martin’s so he would always be close to land. Reassured, he hired a kayak for an hour. “What a joy to be on the water, the kayak was so stable and such fun,” said David.
To the Eastern Isles!
The following day, David felt ready for a longer trip. This time, he headed out to the Eastern Isles, a group of islands approximately 25 minutes paddling time from St Martin’s. Heading straight to the island of Little Arthur he was greeted by an inquisitive seal who escorted him all the way to the deserted beach.
Stopping for a picnic lunch, he then headed to the island of Nornour paddling over a bed of seagrass which was alive with fish. Commenting on his experience, David said “The water was crystal-clear and I felt I could pluck the fish from the water with my hands”.
After Nornour, David headed to the stunning Ganilly sandbar. This is only exposed around low water. Here, he encountered a group of six seals by the sandbar. “The seals seemed so relaxed around the kayak; it was amazing.”
One last ‘dry run’
By now, with David’s sense of adventure sparked, he decided it would be a fun challenge to kayak to Tresco to meet his daughter on her day off. Feeling competent and enjoying the freedom that a kayak gives you, he decided his next port of call would be the uninhabited island of Tean. This is on the route he would take, if he felt confident enough to kayak to Tresco and back.
Tean lies to the west of St Martin’s. It has several beaches, the remains of a house and fabulous views across to the Round Island Lighthouse. It takes about an hour of paddling from our base on Par Beach, depending on how many times you stop and admire the view!
A solo kayaking adventure to Tresco
The big day arrived; it was David’s daughter’s day off. David felt he was ready for a big solo kayaking adventure. Hiring the kayak for the day, he paddled to Tresco to spend the day with his daughter. He had a fabulous time, made all the more special by him making his way to Tresco under his own steam.
Talking about his experiences, David said “I surprised myself by how quickly my confidence on a kayak grew. I felt safe and supported on every hire. I would thoroughly recommend a kayaking adventure; I had such a great time out on the water.”.
David had one more day of his holiday left after his kayaking trip to Tresco. So, of course, he hired a kayak again and headed back out to the Eastern Isles, hoping for another encounter with the seals!
Kayaking around the Isles of Scilly opens up a world of possibilities. There is the freedom to explore the islands at your own pace at any skill level. We were able to advise David on where to kayak and he felt safe and supported as he built up his confidence with each subsequent hire. His ultimate solo kayaking adventure took him to Tresco to meet his daughter.
We hire kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel sets from St Martin’s. We’re always happy to share our local knowledge to ensure you have a safe and memorable experience. The best moments happen at sea!
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