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  • About Me
  • Kayak Trips
  • Hiking Trips
  • Wild Camping Advice
  • Kayaking Advice
  • Gear Talk
  • Featured / Kayak Trips

    Scotland: A Solo Kayaking Trip on the Sea

    A solo overnight kayaking trip up Loch Etive in Western Scotland, and a film about the joys of sea kayaking alone.

  • Featured / Kayak Trips

    Scotland: Winter Kayak Camping on Loch Awe

    An overnight kayaking trip at the northern end of Loch Awe in western Scotland.

  • Featured / Kayak Trips

    Scotland: Winter Kayak Camping on Loch Lomond

    A few days of very rainy winter camping on an island in Loch Lomond.

Featured / Kayak Trips

Scotland: A Solo Kayaking Trip on the Sea

A solo overnight kayaking trip up Loch Etive in Western Scotland, and a film about the joys of sea kayaking alone.

Featured / Kayak Trips

Scotland: Winter Kayak Camping on Loch Awe

An overnight kayaking trip at the northern end of Loch Awe in western Scotland.

Featured / Kayak Trips

Scotland: Winter Kayak Camping on Loch Lomond

A few days of very rainy winter camping on an island in Loch Lomond.

Gear Talk / Kayaking Advice

Segla Gear Narwhal and Ikigai Paddles

A short review of the Segla Gear Ikigai and Narwhal Greenland style kayak paddles

Featured / Kayak Trips

Scotland: Winter Kayaking on Loch Etive

A sublime weekend of paddling and camping on Loch Etive, a long sea loch on the coast of western Scotland.

Kayaking Advice

Setting Up Cameras On A Kayak

An overview of the camera setup I use for shooting kayaking films.

Featured / Hiking Trips

The Lake District: Oxendale and Mickleden

A weekend of adverse weather but plenty of atmosphere in Langdale in the Lake District.

Wild Camping Advice

Gearing Up For Winter Camping in the UK

Let’s take a look at the considerations we need to make when choosing gear for a winter adventure in the hills in the UK.

Featured / Kayak Trips

Pembrokeshire, Wales: Newport Bay

A lovely day paddling with friends around one of my favourite areas in northern Pembrokeshire, Wales, launching from Cwm-Yr-Eglwys.

Wild Camping Advice

Popular Areas for Wild Camping in the UK

A short overview of some of the more popular and accessible areas for wild camping around the UK.

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Hi, I'm Leigh and I love the outdoors! I'm a keen hiker and kayaker, as well as a BCU certified kayaking instructor and Level 3 Outdoor First Aider here in the UK.

I am an ambassador for Segla Gear kayaking paddles, and am also supported by Level Six paddling gear. I also collaborate with P&H Sea Kayaks and enthusiastically promote their beautiful boats!

I love making outdoor videos of hiking and kayaking trips, and am also a bit of an outdoors gear nerd.

If you found anything on my site particularly useful and want to show some appreciation, feel free to Buy Me A Coffee!

peakandpaddleuk

Camping beneath Gylen Castle last week was an abso Camping beneath Gylen Castle last week was an absolute highlight of these few weeks up in the beautiful Scottish Highlands #wildcamping #scottishhighlands #kerrera #outdoorlife
This morning was beautiful paddling out on Loch Et This morning was beautiful paddling out on Loch Etive as the tide came in. I’ll be heading home this weekend after three weeks here in the Highlands, and will greatly miss these wonderful mornings 😍 On another note, I really like the @hoverair_global  Aqua. Apart from a few small initial niggles, once I got used to how it works, it’s a really good little drone that’s going to come in really handy going forward #seakayaking #kayaklife #outdoorlife #kayaking
Watching the sun rise over Ben Nevis this morning Watching the sun rise over Ben Nevis this morning 😍 #seakayaking #kayaking #kayakadventures #bennevis
Sometimes things don’t quite go according to plan. Sometimes things don’t quite go according to plan. I spent the night camped on Lismore and listened to the wind howling all night, when it was supposed to drop. This morning I stood and looked at the waves and reckoned I may as well just get on the water and power through it. Almost an hour of lumpy paddling as the sun came up… not something I’ll be forgetting in a hurry #seakayaking #kayakadventures #kayaking #outdoorlife
A wee school night outing over to Lismore to take A wee school night outing over to Lismore to take advantage of the first full day of nice weather in two weeks! #seakayaking #kayak #outdoorlife #scottishhighlands
A magical evening stroll and camp on beautiful Ker A magical evening stroll and camp on beautiful Kerrera, an island just across the water from Oban in western Scotland. Camping below the ruins of Gylen Castle was fantastic! #outdoorlife #hiking #wildcamping #adventure
Some shots from a recent camp on the island of Ker Some shots from a recent camp on the island of Kerrera. Yep, I shot my first hiking video in quite a while! It’ll take a few weeks to finish the video in my spare time 🙂 #wildcamping #explorescotland #outdoors #outdoorlife
A perfect evening hike and camp last night on the A perfect evening hike and camp last night on the island of Kerrera in western Scotland, with magnificent views across the Firth of Lorn to Lismore, Morven and Mull #wildcamping #hiking #outdoorlife #hilleberg
Another moody evening on the sea #seakayaking #kay Another moody evening on the sea #seakayaking #kayak #kayaklife #intothewild
Okay so it’s a bit cheesy but LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIF Okay so it’s a bit cheesy but LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL KAYAK 😍 This was a blissful evening paddle on Loch Etive as the tide was coming in. I spotted around six or seven seals, four herons, one otter and a sea eagle. Heaven? Quite possibly. #seakayaking #kayak #intothewild #outdoorlife #phseakayaks
Some photos courtesy of @willcopestake of some pad Some photos courtesy of @willcopestake of some paddling we did up in northern Scotland last summer. Can’t believe this was almost a year ago now! The coastline up there is astonishing. #seakayaking #kayak #kayaklife #intothewild
Sometimes you don’t need anything else ❤️ #seakaya Sometimes you don’t need anything else ❤️ #seakayaking #kayak #kayaklife #intothewild
A beautiful evening on the sea #seakayaking #kayak A beautiful evening on the sea #seakayaking #kayaklife #intothewild #outdoors
An ethereal evening last night on the loch 😍 #scot An ethereal evening last night on the loch 😍 #scotland #vitaminsea #misty
An atmospheric evening tonight #seakayaking #kayak An atmospheric evening tonight #seakayaking #kayaking #outdoorlife #intothewild
Nothing like an atmospheric paddle on the sea befo Nothing like an atmospheric paddle on the sea before work. Seals spotted: 1 #seakayaking #paddling #kayaking #kayaklife
A perfect morning paddling on Buttermere with @mar A perfect morning paddling on Buttermere with @mark_rainsley #kayaking #kayakadventure #yourlakedistrict
A throwback to walking the Affric Kintail Way a ye A throwback to walking the Affric Kintail Way a year ago. Absolutely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! Here are some stills from the film I shot of the journey #hiking #affrickintailway #backpacking #thruhiking
Some photos from last weekend, paddling on the sou Some photos from last weekend, paddling on the south coast of England on a trip with my local club @hemelhempsteadcanoeclub , with guiding from @liquidlogistics. Despite paddling almost entirely with a Greenland paddle for the past few years, I’m finding myself paddling a lot with the @seglagear Taikiu K-Pro paddle these days. What a great little paddle! 😃 Photos by @stevemead_ #kayaking #phseakayaks #levelsix
It was supposed to be very windy this morning so I It was supposed to be very windy this morning so I was all set up to go for a pre-work hike near Loweswater, but as I drove alongside the lake, it looked amazing! So I opted for a morning paddle instead 😍 #lakedistrict #kayaking
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A solo sea kayaking and wild camping journey on Loch Etive in the Scottish Highlands. Join me on a peaceful trip along one of Scotland’s most beautiful sea lochs, as I reflect on the joy I find in sea kayaking, coastal camping, and time spent alone in nature.

Whilst editing this, I received the news that a friend had unexpectedly passed away. This film is dedicated to him. Rest in peace, Nate.

Thanks to @donnywilcox  for additional footage.

#kayaking #solocamping #soloadventure
Just The Sea And Me: The Joy Of Solo Sea Kayaking
Come along with Donny and I as we spend a weekend exploring the upper reaches of Loch Awe in the Scottish Highlands, a loch full of history, islands and beautiful ruins. 

Thanks to @PHSeaKayaks for lending me this Lightweight Carbon Kevlar Cetus MV for my trip! This is my favourite long distance kayak, and I've owned two of them myself. They're especially good for photography/videography as they're almost ludicrously stable.

And thanks to @donnywilcox  for the great company, additional footage and wonderful music. You can see his video of this trip here: https://youtu.be/SERtz37yKP8?si=qGN9w485-46TwD8n

00:00 Intro
00:40 Preparing to Launch
01:15 Getting on the Water
02:15 Eilean Beith
02:42 Froach Eilean
03:50 Badan Tomain
04:21 Lochawe Village
05:18 Kilchurn Castle
06:54 Inishail
07:56 A Garden of Stone
08:57 Evening
10:22 Morning
10:51 A Stunning Temperature Inversion
11:31 Unexpected Weather
12:37 The Black Isles
13:22 A Crannog
13:48 Heading Back

#kayakadventures #kayaking #wildcamping
Castles & Islands: Kayak Camping On Loch Awe
Come along with me for a bit of exploring around the islands in the south of Loch Lomond, followed by a couple of days of rather rainy camping on Inchconnachan, otherwise known as "Wallaby Island”.

This is what I’d call a very slow adventure.  We all need one from time to time.

Thanks to P&H Sea Kayaks for the loan of this gorgeous Cetus MV in Lightweight Kevlar Carbon Infusion layup. The very low weight of this high performance kayak makes solo trips like this a lot easier!

Recording of The Bonnie Banks Of Loch Lomond sung by Barbara Ann Macdonald, used with permission.

00:00 Intro
01:00 Launch at Luss
02:40 The Islands
06:50 Inchconnachan Shore
07:25 Coffee Time
09:05 Good Morning
10:30 The Joy Of Solitude
12:20 The Second Morning
13:05 Preparing To Leave

I use @segla-gear  paddles and @LevelSixInc  paddling gear. 

#kayakadventure #kayakcamping #wildcamping #lochlomond
My Own Island: Winter Kayak Camping On Loch Lomond
Come along on an absolutely perfect weekend of paddling and camping in one of my favourite places, the beautiful Loch Etive in western Scotland. This film is a love letter to both kayaking, as well as the outdoors and how it makes me feel, and I hope it resonates with all of you.

I was joined on this trip by @donnywilcox  and you can watch his video of the trip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJL3buRzBts

I paddled the P&H Volan 158 sea kayak for this trip, a perfect weekender kayak for the mid sized paddler.

1:00 Taynuilt
4:50 Rubha Barr
6:24 Day Two
7:17 Walk Up The Glen
8:40 Heading Up The Loch
11:37 Aird Trilleachan
13:48 Ruins at Inverghiusachan
14:43 Evening Light
16:20 Day Three
17:45 Heading Back Down The Loch
19:00 The Seals Of Inverliver

#seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakadventure
Being Here: Winter Sea Kayaking and Camping in the Scottish Highlands
When I made my first video last summer, I never would have thought that many people would want to watch a shy, 40-something woman paddling and ambling around, so thank you to everyone who tuned in to watch in 2025! Here is my end of year highlight reel.

I used to think you had to go off on big expeditions to have adventures, but anyone can have a micro adventure. Just plan your route, pack your bag, and go out there. Disconnect from the hustle and bustle, and go find yourself again 😄
Stop Scrolling and Go Outside #microadventures #wildcamping #kayaking
A quiet, gentle weekend enjoying the two western valleys of Great Langdale, following the paths through Oxendale and Mickleden, hiking amidst autumn colours, the sound of the rivers and the shifting clouds. 

Conditions on the first day sadly cut filming short in the late afternoon, and persistently poor weather for the rest of the weekend presented some challenges, but I hope that this video will fill you with a sense of peace and calm. Mickleden, in particular, is one of my favourite parts of the Lake District, and the atmospheric conditions throughout the Saturday were absolutely wonderful, really showcasing the last days of autumn.

If you enjoy my videos, you can buy me a coffee to support me! 🙂
https://buymeacoffee.com/peakandpaddleuk

#hiking #thelakedistrict #wildcamping
Gentle, Silent Hiking in the Lake District | Great Langdale
A gentle sea kayaking outing along one of my favourite sections of the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, launching from Cwm-Yr-Eglwys and paddling into Newport Bay. Calm swells, rugged cliffs, and good company made for a perfect day on the water.

If you enjoy my videos, you can buy me a coffee to support me! 🙂
https://buymeacoffee.com/peakandpaddleuk

#seakayaking #pembrokeshire #kayaking
Sea Kayaking around Cwm-Yr-Eglwys in Newport Bay | Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
A memorable night and morning in Eryri, Wales
Moments Like These #wildcamping #hiking #clouds
Just down the road from the heaving peaks of the Glyders and the Carneddau lies a quieter, often overlooked mountain, Crimpiau. Though modest in size, it more than makes up for it with breathtaking 360º views across the Eryri skyline. 

From Capel Curig, I took the long, winding way up, following part of the Snowdonia Slate Trail as it wandered through the undulating landscape before the short, steep climb to the summit. A calm night alone at the top gave way to an unforgettable morning, as the valleys below filled with a sea of cloud. A truly unforgettable autumn trip.

If you enjoy my videos, you can buy me a coffee to support me! 🙂
https://buymeacoffee.com/peakandpaddleuk

#wildcamping #silenthiking #hiking
Peaceful, Silent Hiking in Eryri/Snowdonia | Incredible Cloud Inversion
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