Frequently Asked Questions

Do you provide sea kayaking courses and training in Wales, Anglesey?  Coastal Spirit provides a wide range of sea kayaking courses from Introduction to advanced sea kayaking, as well as British Canoeing (BC) Leadership and Personal Performance Awards.  

Do you offer expeditions and holidays else wear? for experienced paddlers we have been to places further afield such as Pembrokeshire, Orkney, Outer Hebrides, Shetland, Norway and Greenland. 

Can I book on the Internet or over the phone?
To reserve a place on a course a booking form needs to be completed by each person, this can be done online.

When does the balance need to be made? If it's a two-day course a full invoice will be sent upon receiving your booking form.  If it's a longer course then a 50% deposit needs to be made as a minimum. Full payment needs to be made four weeks before the start of your course, otherwise, the booking will be treated as cancelled and we will offer the course place as a re-sale.  Payment confirms your place.

Can I book last minute?
Yes, if we have a place.  The whole course fee is required to confirm a place.

Can I pay by credit card?
No sorry.

Can I send you a cheque?

Coastal Spirit no longer accepts cheques.  Why?  Mainly for 2 reasons, getting lost in the post and or written out wrong.

Can I cancel a booking?
Cancellation must be in writing and will be dealt with as stated in our booking policy.

Do I need to be insured to take part in any of the courses?
We strongly recommend you take out insurance against cancellation and accident and personal injury.

What kit and equipment do you provide?
All of our kit and equipment is good quality and well maintained: hooded jackets, wet suits, buoyancy aids and nylon or neoprene spray decks, helmets, dry bags, paddles and a sea kayak!  

Can I bring and use my own kit and equipment?
Yes.  Providing it is suitable.

What sea kayaks do you use?
The sea kayaks we currently use are made by P&H and Venture.  

What do I need to provide?
Swimming costume/shorts and tee-shirt, like a rash vest or synthetic material (for under the wetsuit), and footwear (old trainers, sandals that stay on your feet or wet suit shoes). Sun/warm hat, sunglasses & cream, money for that coffee or mug of tea and lunch.

Do you provide lunch?
No - you need to bring lunch and a drink. 

What time do we meet?
We tend to meet at 0900 if you have a kayak and paddle kit.  If you need a kayak then we may meet earlier at 0830 at Anglesey Outdoors.

How do I know where to meet? We will confirm the meeting point which is based on the weather two days before your course.  If you need a sea kayak we will meet you at Anglesey Outdoors.

Do you provide sea kayaking qualifications and instruction?  Yes, we provide the British Canoeing UK personal performance and leadership qualifications.

Do you provide accommodation?
Coastal Spirit is not tied to accommodation, so if you want to stay in a tent, camper van, youth hostel, b&b or hotel or if you live locally, our price allows additional choice and reflects this.   Please see our accommodation page for some ideas and recommendations.

What if it's really windy?
It's one of the great reasons for working in North Wales with an island as big as Anglesey, you can normally avoid the worst of the wind and use what there is in a positive way. If the wind is particularly strong this may mean working on a local lake where we can still go over the various skills in a more sheltered location. 

Will Coastal Spirit ever cancel a course?
Coastal Spirit will notify the customer of cancellation as soon as it is able to do so where on reasonable grounds cancellation of a course is believed necessary due to unsuitable or dangerous conditions. In the event of this happening, we will offer customers the choice of either a full refund of the fee paid or another booking on a different date.

Are there any age limits for courses?
For all our courses you must be over 18 unless accompanied by your parent or guardian, and then 13 is the minimum age.

How fit do I need to be?
All of our courses assume a certain level of fitness and the fitter you are the more you will get out of your course. Core strength is the main element that is required. 

Do I need to be able to swim to go sea kayaking?
Anyone booking needs to be water confident and it's recommended that you're able to swim 100 metres as a minimum.  This way you're more than likely to get the most from your course.
 
Are all the courses safe?
Outdoor activities by their nature contain an element of risk and benefit.  Coastal Spirit manages your adventurous experiences with highly experienced, local and well-qualified guides.   Risk and benefits management will be discussed and shared with you.  This way you can develop your own awareness and understanding.

What do you mean by the term wild camping on your expeditions?
This means that there will be no facilities ... no bathroom, so no toilet.  As villages are passed and coffee shops are visited opportunities exist to freshen up and use a toilet.  Otherwise, we will go through how to manage ourselves in the outdoors, without these facilities and with a minimal impact approach.

Is it worth bringing my camera for the sea kayaking?
It can be, providing it is either in a waterproof one or in a specific dry bag. Whoever is running your course will tend to have a waterproof camera with them and will share any photos taken on a digital link - unless you express differently when booking.

I can't make the course dates you advertise?
If you want to do a certain course but cannot make the dates advertised, tells us what dates you can do, as we may be able to run another course. Particularly if this was a two-day course during the week.

How many people do you require to run a 2 or 5-day course?
Only two people.

Can I sea kayak over the Winter?  Courses for Introduction to Intermediate paddlers are from late March until late October, as the air temperature and the weather can be pretty unsettled from November through to March.  Courses for moderate to advanced paddlers and our surf & tide race skills courses run from March to November and a dry suit is required.

Where can I kayak in Wales?  Bala lake, Wales's biggest natural lake has a canoe trail 

Where can I kayak and paddle in North Wales?  You can kayak, canoe, swim and Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) on Llyn Padarn.  The lake is close to Llanberis and has the stunning backdrop of Snowdonia. 

Where can I kayak on Anglesey? If you have suitable experience then Trearddur Bay (Holy Island) to Porth Dafarch and back, Church Bay (NW Anglesey) South and back and Moelfre (East coast Anglesey) to Benlech and back.  Each of these three trips in the right weather and conditions can be excellent and provide a taste of what Anglesey can offer.  Further useful information is here and 'how to stay safe'.

How do I book a place?
Complete the online booking form, here. You will then receive an email to say your form has been received.  You will then be contacted shortly with an invoice for a deposit or payment.

If you didn't find the answer to your question then contact us by email or phone.