Completely and exactly what I needed. I spent last week on a last minute jaunt- I decided I was finally going to do the NC500, but I didn't just want to spend my time riding around taking pictures, I wanted to eat, and explore and do things that I love- and that was when I stumbled across the guys at "Kayak Summer Isles". I sent a query across on their site's contact form and the lovely Tim was quickly back in touch (They take a 40% deposit, completely fairly, as I wouldn't want to be lugging those big Canadian canoes around for no shows). We met at Stac Pollaidh car park with the others (and the chap who was taking drone footage of the antics to advertise holidaying in the highlands), and dragged the boats down to the beach in our old trainers. Tim provided dry bags for any extra layers or snacks too- but there was no need for either as it was a bloody lovely day and there was a lemon drizzle cake for landing on the sand at the end of the Loch. Tim was a perfect canoe companion- the nerd that I am (and travelling solo) landed me in the boat with the instructor- but we had lovely chats, and he had a lot of interesting things to say, along with making great hot chocolate using a camping kettle, and introducing us all to- and thrashing us all at- mölkky, a scandi throwing game which I am definitely a fan of now. Tim, and the other instructor, Will (who I didn't have the pleasure of meeting) are both totally qualified instructors- and I'm entirely jealous of them adventuring and living up in the highlands. I will most certainly be going back to the highlands, and I'll be planning to head out with these guys again- it was genuinely lovely, and in such a beautiful setting. You can rock climb with them too... read more

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