Sea kayaking in Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Guided Sea Kayaking Sessions from Tenby Harbour
Sea kayaking in Pembrokeshire with Tenby Adventure. Our guided kayaking trips depart from our Tenby Harbour HQ and head out across the Pembrokeshire coastline — exploring inaccessible beaches, spectacular sea caves, islands, waterfalls and wildlife.
Prices start at £45 and the trips are suitable for adults, groups and families (we have double kayaks so parents can share with younger kids).
Our lightweight and comfortable sit-on-top kayaks are ideal for exploration with storage for snacks and spare clothing and even a built-in wheel for easy transportation up a secret beach! We’ve got both single and double boats, warm cags (a fancy coat with waterproof seals, very fashionable), comfortable buoyancy-aids and helmets to protect the noggin during the rocky bits.
Kayak guide Tom is a 5 star kayak guide, a knowledgable coastal forager, keen naturalist, hat-wearer and repository of jokes so bad they actually hurt your ears. We equip all our guides with the latest safety equipment – including a state-or-the-art satellite beacon to ensure safety
Looking for more adrenaline than a paddle? Try coasteering at Lydstep — same coastline, very different perspective: cliff jumps, sea caves, swim-throughs.
- Minimum Age 6 Years
- Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult
- £45 for kids (under 18)
- £55 for Adults
Cleddau River
Kayaking
Join us on a kayak voyage through the heart of Pembrokeshire, down the wildly picturesque River Cleddau. A little-visited part of Pembrokeshire National Park, the estuary winds past reeds and between steep oak woodlands, past castles and lost relics of the county’s heritage before opening up to join the sea. The wildlife we might see includes otters, kingfishers, herons, ospreys and a range of resident and visiting wading birds. Later in the year the reeds are host to roosting starlings that amaze with a spectacular murmuration on calm evenings.
With a variety of itineraries, our trips are timed to make best use of the tides. Get in touch if you’d like to book.
- Minimum number of people is 4, £60/person.
- Maximum of 12 people per trip
Advanced Sea Kayak
Caldey Crossing
An open-water expedition in specialist sea kayaks. We strike out from Castle Beach into the open sea around Caldey Island and pick our route on the day, depending on wind, tide and swell. Around 8km of paddling, views of the Tenby coastline you can’t get any other way, and a chance at the genuinely wild stuff.
Depending on conditions we might take in the offshore reef of Woolhouse Rocks (a resident seal haul-out with cormorant roosts and deep kelp forests), Paul Jones Bay with the prehistoric Nanna’s Cave, the back of the island via Drinkim Bay if the Spaniel Shoals (the tide race off the southern tip of Caldey) are behaving themselves, the front of the island with views of the monastery, and Eel Point and Frenchman’s Reef where the tide runs hardest. St Margaret’s Island — a protected seabird reserve — is investigated from the water.
Seals, sea birds and harbour porpoises are regular sightings; dolphins put in occasional appearances. We never guarantee sightings, and we keep a respectful distance in line with the Pembrokeshire Marine Code.
Previous kayaking experience essential. Strong forward paddling and turning required; some bracing knowledge an advantage. Reasonable level of fitness and under 100kg so the boats handle as designed. Maximum 4 paddlers per guide, minimum 2 to run.
£95 per person, all specialist kit, tuition and group-safety equipment included (VHF radio, satellite beacon, tow lines, group shelter, first aid). Available year-round, conditions permitting. Bookable by enquiry only — get in touch with your kayaking experience and preferred dates and we’ll come back to you within 24 hours.
- £95 per person, all kit included.
- Approximately 4–5 hours on the water.
- Maximum 4 paddlers per guide; minimum 2 to run.
- Bookable by enquiry — runs on days when extra guides cover our standard trips.
We kayak around the Pembrokeshire coast from our Tenby HQ. Trips might head to Caldey Island, through the sea caves at St Catherine’s Island, or down the beautiful Cleddau estuary — we pick the route based on conditions.
Yes — we have double kayaks so parents can share with younger children. Minimum age is 6 and all sessions are guided by 5-star qualified kayak coaches. Prices start from £45.
No experience needed at all. Our sit-on-top kayaks are stable, comfortable and easy to paddle. Your guide will cover everything you need to know before setting off.
Our half-day sessions involve around 2.5 hours on the water. We also offer full-day and multi-day kayak expeditions — get in touch if you’re interested in something longer.
FAQ's
A kayak (from the Inuit Qajaq) is a small boat, traditionally with an enclosed cockpit where the paddler sits. Our boats are so-called ‘sit-on-tops’, so you’re on – rather than in – the boat. This is mostly for ease of use and means a relatively inexperienced yakker can quickly learn to pilot our boats with a bit of instruction, which we’ll give you!
Nope! Our boats are stable, light and designed to be easy to pilot. They track brilliantly so you’ll have no problems going in a straight line. They’re also really manoeuvrable so caves and rocky bits can be negotiated with ease.
Kayaking is super-safe. However, we kayak on the open sea and that’s always something to take on with the appropriate respect. Total awareness of the tidal conditions and weather forecast is essential. That’s your guide’s job!
Even though an instructor with a fairly basic qualification can guide a kayak session on the sea, our guides are all 5-star qualified and that’s the highest yak qualification there is. We operate on the fringes of the Atlantic with a very large tidal range – so you definitely want an expert looking after you!
Our half-day sessions involve being out on the water for around 2.5 hours.
We do offer kayak expeditions lasting a whole day or even multiple days though – give us a shout if you’re interested in getting serious! Outside our peak season we’re always keen to organise a multi-day kayak-camp-kayak expedition.
It’s a good idea to wear some decent footwear – trainers are great – for walking up and down the beach or exploring the rocks.
Wear beach stuff – shorts and a t-shirt are fine, bring a jumper if it’s nippy. Depending on the time of year we might give you a wetsuit or a kag to wear.
Bring something to drink and a snack if you think you might get hungry. We have dry bags to store these bits (and any other belongings you might want to bring). Valuables can be safely left at our HQ whilst you are out.
Bring a towel for changing – our facilities in this respect are somewhat rudimentary! If you have a changing robe they’re a good idea.
Firstly – rain does NOT matter! Actually, it can be quite lovely to paddle through a downpour. If we don’t equip you with a wetsuit (that depends on the time of year) we’ll issue you with a kag that’ll keep the weather out.
Sometimes strong winds from certain directions and unusually large swells can cause us to move or postpone a kayak session. We can usually fall back to one of our more protected routes but on occasion that’s not possible. If your session is rescheduled and you can’t make it, or cancelled – you will be refunded in full. This doesn’t happen often during the summer.
As a rule we don’t take photos as a extra, we feel it can distract us from the job in hand – keeping you safe and happy. Your guide might snap some if they have their phone or camera (with your permission).
If you have a GoPro or action cam (that’s waterproof to at least 5m) we’re happy for you to bring it along. Helmet mounts don’t really work but if you have a floaty handle or a lanyard that can be safely attached, that’s all good.
Previous kayaking experience is essential — this shouldn’t be your first time in a boat. You should be confident with strong forward paddling and turning strokes, ideally with some knowledge of bracing. A previous sea kayak day, or several sit-on-top sessions in moving water, is the right level of background. If you’re not sure whether the trip is right for you, get in touch and we’ll help you decide.
The trip covers around 8km of open-sea paddling. The opening crossing from Castle Beach to Caldey Island is approximately 3km. The full route takes in points of interest like Woolhouse Rocks, Paul Jones Bay, Drinkim Bay and St Margaret’s Island, with the exact line chosen on the day depending on wind, tide and swell. Total time on the water is typically 4–5 hours.
The Advanced Sea Kayak Trip runs in winds up to Force 3 and swell up to 1.5m at 10 seconds. If the day’s conditions exceed our safety thresholds, we’ll contact you the day before to either reschedule or refund — your choice. The trip is bookable year-round, conditions permitting, but in winter the suitable-weather window is narrower, so we always recommend giving us a few possible dates.
We kayak across the Pembrokeshire coast from our Tenby base. Trips might head to Caldey Island, through the sea caves at St Govans, or down the beautiful Cleddau estuary — we pick the route based on the conditions on the day. For experienced paddlers we also run an Advanced Sea Kayak Trip out to Caldey Island.
Yes — we have double kayaks so parents can share with younger children. Minimum age is 6, and all sessions are guided by qualified kayak coaches. Family group prices start from £45 per person for our standard guided session.