Jackie Jones
I have been sea kayaking for 19 years. It gives me an opportunity to leave the hectic times we live in and be in the natural world.
I love sharing this experience whether it is introducing people to sea kayaking, being there as a guide to help them explore new coastline or helping them grow their skills in more challenging conditions.
I am a Paddlesport UK accredited Advanced Sea Kayak Leader and Level 2 Coach.
I love journeying and camping from my kayak it is the best way to explore the coastline and distills life to the simpler things. Both the journeying and the living from the kayak are important to me.
Scotland offers a lifetime of opportunities with the right to respectfully roam and wild camp. I have had great fun journeying in Shetland, Orkney, Skye, Small Isles, Outer Hebrides and Ardnamurchan -Mallaig area.
Further afield I have done kayaking trips in Vancouver Island, Baja California, Florida Keys, Greenland, Australia and Spain.
Kayaking brings many friendships and treasured memories my favourite are near home ...crossing to Lundy at night with phosphorescence and a big harvest moon, crossing to Lundy with my son, hanging out with the posse of inquisitive seals who live there. Paddling with Minke whale, being joined by a baby dolphin In North Devon, being checked out by an enormous sun fish, paddling amongst Tuna in Cornwall....and of course many happy memories of the best local day paddle.....swelly rock hops in the sunshine at Lands End.
I love to collaborate with like-minded coaches and leaders. Some offers are provided together with these excellent friends and colleagues.
All of the pictures on this website have been taken on my last few years adventures.
Ethos……people and looking after our environment…
I pride myself in understanding people and tailoring days to give the experience you are looking for and keeping it fun and relaxing. Life challenges us enough; kayaking is a time for looking after ourselves and recharging whether we find that through challenging ourselves, developing skills or a peaceful day out. The ocean and the weather need our respect, when we work with them to find the right level of challenge and enjoyment we get magical days out that make us all happy!
I operate with a sensitivity and respect for nature ……oceans, wildlife and habitats. Like most of the kayaking community I aim to leave no trace in the ocean or shoreline, and spend some time collecting rubbish to help offset any impact I do have.
I have recently got involved in some wildlife recording projects and would encourage other kayakers to join in.
By contributing to the collection of both marine and land data we can provide critical support to conservation actions.
For one off sightings in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly you can use the ORKs app.
For recording wildlife sightings UK-wide use iRecord. Both submit their data to national databases including the NBN atlas which is the largest repository of publicly available biodiversity data for the UK.
Further to this, the UK wide Seasearch project uses information from volunteer divers and snorkelers to map the sea bed around the UK to gain better understanding of our marine habitats and accumulating evidence for marine conservation actions.
Get involved with your local projects….. Here Cornwall Wildlife Trust are working with the Seasearch project to map sea grass beds in St Austell Bay. In West Cornwall Mounts Bay Marine Group are mapping the seagrass beds around St Michael’s Mount.