Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Kayak Trips
  • Hiking Trips
  • Wild Camping Advice
  • Kayaking Advice
  • Gear Talk
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Kayak Trips
  • Hiking Trips
  • Wild Camping Advice
  • Kayaking Advice
  • Gear Talk

Hiking Trips

The Lake District: Eskdale

An overnight trip to Eskdale, one of the Lake District’s quietest and most remote valleys.

Hiking Trips

Eryri: Cwm Idwal

A cold and foggy day in the Ogwen Valley in Eryri, North Wales with an overnight wild camp on the slopes.

Hiking Trips

The Lake District: Mickleden Valley

A tranquil day spent exploring Mickleden in Greater Langdale, followed by a night on the hills.

Hiking Trips

Eryri: Cwm Tryfan and Llyn Bochlwyd

An atmospheric winter day hiking and camping in the Ogwen Valley.

Hiking Trips

The Chilterns: Autumn Woodlands

A hike and wild camp in the Chilterns, taking in the last of the autumn’s colours.

Kayak Trips

Scotland: Loch Etive Overnighter

A solo overnight adventure on beautiful Loch Etive in western Scotland.

Kayaking and Wild Camping in Loch Lomond

Kayak Trips

Scotland: Loch Lomond Multi Day Trip

A few days of kayaking and wild camping in southern Loch Lomond, Scotland

Sea kayaking in Arran

Kayak Trips / Kayaking Advice

Scotland: Circumnavigation of the Isle of Arran (2023)

A five day circumnavigation of the Isle of Arran by sea kayak in July 2023

  • « Previous Page

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

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
As the weather warms, there’s always a part of me As the weather warms, there’s always a part of me that misses the stark beauty of winter. I was fortunate to spend around six weeks in Scotland over this past winter, enjoying plenty of time on the water, surrounded by the mountains. Paddling in winter is tough but in many ways it’s my favourite time of the year because of how quiet and peaceful it is #kayaking #paddling #seakayaking #seakayakinguk #phseakayaks
Threading the Needles on the Isle of Wight! While Threading the Needles on the Isle of Wight! While I generally have a strong preference from my Greenland paddles, I’ve been paddling more and more with a @seglagear Taikiu recently and absolutely love it. It’s a perfect paddle for these more dynamic days on the water ☺️ #seakayaking #kayaking #paddling #vitaminsea
A bit of a bouncy day paddling over to the Isle of A bit of a bouncy day paddling over to the Isle of Wight with @gone.kayaking #seakayaking #kayaking #paddling
Want to feel happy? Go kayaking! #seakayaking #kay Want to feel happy? Go kayaking! #seakayaking #kayaking #dorset
My latest short film is on YouTube now. It’s a ver My latest short film is on YouTube now. It’s a very personal ode to my love of solo kayaking although I hope it’ll appeal to anyone who loves spending slow time in nature #kayaking #kayakadventures #wildcamping #outdoorlovers
My kayak and a tent is a recipe for a perfect week My kayak and a tent is a recipe for a perfect weekend 🥰 #seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakadventures #outdoorlovers
A perfect day #seakayaking #outdoorlife #kayakadve A perfect day #seakayaking #outdoorlife #kayakadventures #wildcamping
A grand day out #seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakad A grand day out #seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakadventures #scottishhighlands
Out with my kayak on a solo overnighter 😍 #seakaya Out with my kayak on a solo overnighter 😍 #seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakadventures #paddling
Scotland ❤️ #seakayaking #phseakayaks #outdoorlife Scotland ❤️ #seakayaking #phseakayaks #outdoorlife #scotland #seglagear
Scenes from a sea loch 😍 #seakayaking #wildcamping Scenes from a sea loch 😍 #seakayaking #wildcamping #kayakadventure #explorescotland_
A slice of heaven #scotland #seakayaking #scottish A slice of heaven #scotland #seakayaking #scottishhighlands
Follow on Instagram
A solo sea kayaking and kayak camping journey on Loch Etive in the Scottish Highlands. This reflective and personal outdoor film follows a peaceful paddling trip and wild camp along one of Scotland’s most beautiful sea lochs, exploring the quiet simplicity of 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.

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
Subscribe

Peaks And Paddles | Kayaking, Hiking & Wild Camping © 2026. All Rights Reserved.