United Kingdom

Kayak the Jurassic Coast

14

Search for dolphins and discover secret beaches, on Dorset's spectacular Jurassic Coast!

Itinerary

Day 1: Introductions & Beginner's Sea Kayaking

Drive direct to Purbeck Valley Farm Campsite or we can pick you up for free at Wareham Train Station. Once everyone has arrived, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch (provided) and then we'll start getting kitted up, ready for your first journey. The first day is all about learning the basic key skills for sea kayaking in tandem Kayaks - with a short journey on the first stretch of the Jurassic Coast. We'll shuttle you back to your campsite in late afternoon for hot showers. You're then free to explore the local area at your leisure (Corfe village and Swanage) and it's up to you to find a spot that takes your fancy for dinner (not included).

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Day 2: Dorset Classics

After a hot breakfast at a cosy local cafe (included), we'll hit the water to explore some of the most iconic sections of the Dorset coastline - passing Chapmans Pool, Kimmeridge Bay, Worbarrow Bay or Old Harry Rocks. Through the course of the day, we'll travel around 8km, with plenty of breaks. The day includes a tasty picnic lunch (included) with a beautiful ocean view. You'll be picked up early evening and driven back to the campsite, where you can grab a hot shower and head out for dinner (not included). Your host can prepare a campfire for your group - just ask!

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Day 3: Swanage Bay

After a hearty breakfast at The Salt Pig Cafe in Swanage (included), we'll head out to complete our third section of the Jurassic Coast. First, we paddle to Studland Bay and Swanage Bay, stopping off at a fantastic secret beach for snacks. Afterwards, we'll continue to Durlston Point, searching for dolphins along the way. In total we'll travel around 8km today, at a relaxed pace with plenty of breaks. In the early afternoon, you'll get picked up and have lunch back at the campsite before collecting your things and departing. Free shuttle to Wareham train station provided on request.

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What's Included

Included
  • Kayak guides.
  • Specialist equipment.
  • Accommodation: pre-pitched bell tents with single beds.
  • Food: 3 x lunches, 2 x breakfasts.
  • Train station pick up/drop off.
Not Included
  • Dinner: most guests eat at one of the excellent restaurants near the campsite.
  • Travel insurance.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

14 verified reviews

Chris
Chris

(Aug 2023)

Excellent trip , both Matt and Mel were very Knowledgeable and friendly.

Trudy
Trudy

(Aug 2022)

Really enjoyed this trip and Mel was an excellent, knowledgeable guide on and off the water. The trip to Harry's Rock on the final day was a real highlight.

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Alison
Alison

(Aug 2022)

Fabulous trip, in a beautiful area, even for for beginners. Our guide Mel (Land & Wave) couldn't have been better & as there were only 2 of us, everything was fitted around us. He was knowledgeable on the local area, tides & conditions etc to make the paddling trips really enjoyable even though we had little previous experience. The tents & camp set up were very good but, not being a seasoned camper, the campsite facilities were slightly more basic than I had expected. We would definitely recommend & are already looking for our next adventure.

Helene
Helene

(Aug 2022)

Amazing trip, land and wave staff were brilliant. Will be doing it again next year

Carla
Carla

(Aug 2022)

Excellent trip!! Most amazing experience. Mel and his team were good fun, knowledgeable and felt very taken care of. Food tip top too. Only complaint - the cold showers on camp though great for waking the achey body!

FAQs

Before you go

Please see the section above for trip inclusions and exclusions.

Yes, most people book alone or in small groups.

- A warm sleeping bag and pillow - Swimwear to wear under a wetsuit - Old trainers or wet shoes to wear in the water - A rash vest to wear with a wetsuit (not essential) - A fleece and warm layers for the evenings - Sun cream, a sun hat, a small rucksack and a large water bottle - Additional snacks to keep energy levels up

On your trip

No experience is needed for Kayaking. You'll be paddling sit-on-top kayaks that are really stable and fantastic for beginners. At all times you'll be guided by a professional, qualified instructor. You will, however, need to have a base level of fitness and be able to confidently swim up at least 25m .

The rural campsite has hot showers and toilets. The pop-up campsite is on a working dairy farm in the countryside, with beautiful views and surroundings. There is no campsite shop. Wifi connection is not available, but there is good mobile signal.

Breakfast - we drive you and your fellow paddlers to a wonderful local cafe in Swanage called the Salt Pig Too. Breakfast choices include: locally-reared bacon or sausage ciabbata bap or scrambled eggs on toast PLUS Freshly Baked Croissant, selection of cereal, fruit juice and hot drink of your choice. You're welcome to order additional items, but you will need to cover the cost. Your packed lunch includes: The Salt Pig Sausage Roll/Quiche, Pipers Crisps, homemade fruity & nutty Flapjack, nutty hazelnut brownie and fruit. Dinner is not included. There are lots of options in Corfe village or Swanage town.

Our campsite is located on a working farm in between Corfe Village and Swanage. The camping field is set up with pre-pitched bell tents ready for your arrival. It's a comfy, spacious place to rest your head at the end of a busy day paddling. The views over Corfe Castle are gorgeous. There are two single beds in each tent. We provide a proper bed and mattress with a sheet - you just need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. We are not a 5* luxury glamping resort, but we will certainly make you feel very comfortable and relaxed in a beautiful rural setting! If you are a group of three people, the host can arrange for an extra bed to be put in the tent. Your tents will be grouped together with your fellow paddlers. There is also a larger shared social tent (with tea and coffee-making facilities) for socialising in the evening with other guests. Usually, we prepare a campfire for the group (just ask your host) and you can sit back and enjoy one of Dorset's famous sunsets. During the summer the campsite is also open to other guests.

The Dorset coast is well-protected and typically calm during the summer months. Most trips can run as planned, but sometimes the weather does force us to take alternative routes and your safety is always the first priority in making these decisions. Very occasionally, there can be severe weather that forces us to cancel the trip - in this case, we will give you as much notice as possible, and you will be offered a free date change.

There are plenty of stops along the way to fill up your water bottles. The lead guide will also provide water throughout the trip. Please bring a large water bottle. Drinking water taps are at the campsite.

Start: Your guide will collect you from Wareham train station from 10:30 AM, or you can meet the team at the campsite (Purbeck Valley Farm, BH20 5HU) at 11:00 AM/ 11:30 AM. End: Your guide will drop you off at Wareham train station at around 4:00 PM. There are trains to Waterloo every hour.

Solo travellers can either share with another solo or choose to have their own tent, at no extra charge.

Other FAQs

The minimum age is 18 years.

You can expect to kayak around 8km/ 5 miles each day.

The company we use for catering (The Salt Pig Too) can usually cater for most dietary requirement, provided they are given sufficient notice. Be sure to indicate any diet restrictions on your trip form. If you have any concerns/ your needs are very specific, feel free to contact The Salt Pig Too (thesaltpig.co.uk/the-salt-pig-swanage/) directly with your enquiry.

Your head guide is Rosie

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Land & Wave, based in Swanage.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Rosie