Latest News


 We will be open this year from 13 June through till 01 September 2026.

We will open every day that weather conditions are suitable for paddling.


New for this year are a 3-person sit-on kayak and a fleet of hard paddleboards.


When weather conditions are ideal we will be hiring paddleboards at Ettrick Bay 3 hours either side of High Water. Please check our Facebook page which will be updated daily.


We look forward to welcoming customers, old and new, this summer to the beautiful island of Bute.



Due to medical issues I will be unable to open the centre this summer. My apologies for letting our regular customers down. We look forward to welcoming paddlers in 2026, when we will have additional paddleboard equipment to cater to a wide range of customers.
Due to medical issues I will be unable to open the centre this summer. My apologies for letting our regular customers down. We look forward to welcoming paddlers in 2026, when we will have additional paddleboard equipment to cater for a wide range of customers.

 

Kilchattan Bay Kayaking is located in a safe and attractive Bay at the southern end of the scenic Isle of Bute on the west coast of Scotland. We are 90 minutes from Glasgow by train and ferry.


We hire sit-on kayaks and SUPs (Stand-up Paddlebords ) from the Old Pier in Kilchattan Bay village. Please note we work around the tides, so sometimes we will stay open in the evenings. Best paddling times are updated regularly on our Facebook page.


Kilchattan Bay Kayaking is owned and managed by Mark Gunston. After teaching Watersports and Skiing for 35 years in Europe, Israel and the USA, Mark now lives in Kilchattan Bay.




 Sit-on Kayaks

Our sit-on kayaks are tough, very stable and easy to paddle

They are suitable for all paddlers including those with little or no experience




 Buoyancy Aids

High quality buoyancy aids from Palm Equipment and Crewsaver are specifically designed for water sports with maximim freedom of movement for easier paddling




Paddleboards

Our SUPs (Stand-up Paddleboards) are made with a rigid plastic skin which  means they are stiffer and faster to paddle than inflatable paddleboards. This means more fun on the water and faster learning.


Amenities


A Public Convenience with wheelchair access is located next to the Pier


Picnic tables are available nearby


A cafe is located  inside the Post Office at the entrance to the village


Environment


Kilchattan Bay is a shallow bay that empties out at Low Water.


A variety of birdlife can be spotted at the water's edge at Low Water and the Bay is occasionally visited by seals.

Pier


Safe launching from the Old Pier, formerly know as The Quay


The stone quay was built in 1822 and used for delivering coal and supplies to the village as well as exporting lime in the 19th Centuty.


The Pier is popular with paddlers, sailors and windsurfers during the summer