A Look Back on 2025

Looking Back on an Extraordinary 2025

2025 began with a spectacular aurora lighting up the sky—an early sign that the year ahead would be something special. We were treated to weeks of glorious sunshine, which made this year’s symposium shine even brighter (more on that in a moment). Of course, the weather also delivered its fair share of windy spells (it is Argyll after all!), and unfortunately a few family hires had to be cancelled. Safety always comes first. The upside? The choppier days gave experienced paddlers the perfect conditions to demo a variety of kayaks.

A Symposium to Remember

This year’s symposium was nothing short of fantastic. Fully booked with sixty fun‑loving participants, supported by brilliant coaches and coaching assistants, the atmosphere was buzzing from start to finish. We enjoyed a lively ceilidh band, a visit from Amber Wave Paddles, and even a snorkelling session hosted by Argyll Hope Spot. A brave (and lucky!) few ventured beneath their kayaks to explore the kelp beds of Carsaig—an unforgettable experience.

A Chance Encounter With an Extraordinary Adventurer

One quiet morning over breakfast, a Facebook post caught my eye. It was from German paddler Urban Heupgen, whose goal is nothing less than to circumnavigate Europe by kayak—including Iceland. An astonishing feat of endurance and determination.

Urban was on Jura, but worsening weather meant he needed to pause his journey earlier than planned and find somewhere safe to store his kayak Noatun (named after the dwelling of Njörðr, the god of seafaring, fishing, and coastal prosperity) for the winter.

By that afternoon, he had crossed the Sound of Jura and arrived in Carsaig Bay, where we met for the first time.

He stayed with us for five days, organising his kit for hibernation and arranging his flight home. Urban is an incredibly humble and inspiring person, and it was a privilege to hear his stories and future plans. He’ll return in April/May 2026 to work on his kayak and prepare for the onward journey.

Keep an eye on Paddling Magazine for an upcoming interview with him. You can also follow his journey here: Blog:https://kayaknoatun.blogspot.com/ Instagram: @kayak.noatun

Celebrating Our Own Rising Star

Another highlight of the year was seeing Ava Barton—one of our symposium coaching assistants and a Paddle Scotland Young Ambassador —become a sponsored paddler for Nigel Dennis of Sea Kayaking UK and become the proud owner of an SKUK Pilgrim Expedition.

I’ve known Ava since she was fifteen, and her maturity,kindness, and capability both on and off the water have always impressed me.She’s a talented paddler with a bright future ahead.

A New Arrival in the Demo Fleet

One of the most exciting additions to our year was the long‑awaited arrival of the Rockpool Kayaks Tourismo in our demo fleet. This kayak has been an instant hit with everyone who’s taken it out. Stable, confidence‑inspiring and beautifully suited to expedition paddling, the Tourismo has quickly earned a reputation as a reliable companion for longer journeys. It’s been wonderful to see paddlers of all levels fall in love with it, and we were thrilled to finally have it available for people to try.

Discovering Sea Flow Designs

For once, Facebook’s algorithms worked in my favour when I stumbled across Juan Valencia of Sea Flow Designs. Founded by Juan, the brand focuses on creating innovative gear that genuinely improves safety and ease for sea kayakers. As an active guide and coach at Sea Kayaking Lanzarote since 2009, Juan grew frustrated with the lack of specialised equipment—so he started designing his own.

His products are clever, practical, and beautifully engineered. They arrived just in time for Christmas and even doubled as quirky festive decorations!

A New Addition to the Shop

A spontaneous catch‑up call with Jeff Allen led to another exciting development: we now stock Jeff’s brilliant Aide Memoires. These pocket‑sized, waterproof booklets are perfect for sea kayak guides and leaders,and I’m delighted to support Jeff by offering them in the shop.

Personal Firsts and Family Fun‍

Beyond the business and the boats, 2025 brought some personal milestones too and some amazing paddling. A friend “persuaded” me to join her for a swim—though in truth it was more of a quick dook, given the chilly water!

I also tried paddleboarding for the first time. Let’s just say my granddaughter put me to shame, gliding around as if she’d been doing it for years. I think I’ll happily stick to my kayak.

Looking Ahead

It’s been an amazing year—filled with support from family, friends, customers and suppliers. I’m grateful for every moment and hopeful for more of the same in 2026.

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead. Have a good one!

‍