Kayaking on the Isle of Wight
Something for everyone...
Kayaking can be as serene or extreme as you like, and the Isle of Wight is the perfect place to take to the water, with everything from gentle, scenic inland waterways, to coastal shorebreaks and open water opportunities. There are plenty of beaches for launching from, all with easy access and mainly good car parking and facilities. If you don't have your own kayak/s and would like to try your hand, there are a number of companies offering hire or courses.
Where to Kayak
If you want to kayak independently then you will find an abundance of places to paddle; the coastline and beaches right around the Island provide a wide range of conditions, from flat water lagoons around Alum Bay, to open seas and wave-riding off Compton Bay or Freshwater.
National Trust-owned Newtown Creek offers sheltered kayaking in a scenic waterway which meanders up to Newtown Village, with it's conveniently situated New Inn - perfect for rewarding yourself with some of it's reknowned food and drink.
Warning - the waters of the Solent are affected by very strong tides at certain periods and are also very busy. Always be sure to take sufficient safety precautions when kayaking, and beware of other water users.
Hire Kayaks or Book a Course
There are several companies offering Kayaking courses on the Island, notably Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking in Freshwater Bay and the UKSA in Cowes. Both campanies offer various levels of course specialising in Sea Kayaking, with training based around the Islands many inlets and waterways. For more information and available booking dates please contact them using the detail below.
Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking
Isle of Wight Adventure Activities
Tel: 07769 680174, email or visit the website
Adventure activities are based in the water or in the woods of the spectacular West Wight area, with its cliffs, caves, surf and more!
Island Youth Water Activities Centre
Tel: 01983 293073, email or visit the website
IYWAC have a wide range of canoes and kayaks for young people and adults at their base in Cowes.
United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA)
Tel: 01983 203038 or visit the website
The United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) offer a wide range of water based courses from its base in Cowes.
