Published on mars 17th, 2026 | by Paddleworld
Winter Sea Kayaking and Camping in the Scottish Highlands
Loch Etive is a 20-mile-long sea loch on Scotland’s west coast, well known to paddlers for the large tidal rapids near where it meets the sea, but it’s the wilder, remote upper reaches that Leigh van der Byl loves. Together with a local resident, Leigh set off for a few days of paddling and sightseeing up this beautiful stretch of water.
« The noise and stress of our modern lives simply vanish into the background. And we don’t need to be accomplished adventurers or do extraordinary trips to feel this way. Indeed, something as simple as a “micro adventure” weekend trip to a beautiful place can give us that.”
As a lover of the outdoors, the thing Leigh loves most about sea kayaking is the access it gives to these more remote locations, especially in the UK where so much land is developed and occupied. She especially loves the way time seems to slow down on these trips, and how life is reduced to a very simple set of routines; in this case, paddling, eating, and sleeping.
Watch this beautiful short film about sea kayaking and camping in the Scottish Highlands!
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