Laura
Absolutely brilliant experience, would highly recommend to everyone!
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Two hours on Oddicombe Beach take you from a beach brief into a sit-on-top kayak or an open canoe, with coaching on launch, a forward stroke, a turn and a stop. The instructor works on the sand first, then stays beside the group in Babbacombe Bay so the pace follows how people are actually moving. A buoyancy aid and any technical layers for the day are fitted before you leave the slip.
Check in on the sand, pick a boat that fits, and hear how the bay is working. Coaching starts seated or on your knees, with forwards strokes, a stop and a turn before the group moves a little further along the sheltered water. Under 14s paddle tandem with an adult, so mixed families stay in the same session.
Come a few minutes early so changing and kit do not eat into water time. Sessions often run from May to October, commonly around mid-morning. We confirm the exact start when we approve your date, and we may shift slightly for tide or beach operations.
Oddicombe sits on Babbacombe Bay, a sheltered cove on the English Riviera with Blue Flag water and an easy beach launch. South-westerly wind is blocked here, so the bay is often calmer than the more open stretches of Torbay and suits a first two hours of coaching.
Caves sit close to the sand, and seals use this coast in season. Changing rooms, lockers and a beach shower are at the base when we are operating. There is no parking on the beach itself, so most people use the cliff railway or nearby bays on Babbacombe Downs and walk down Beach Road.
First-timers are welcome. Be happy getting a little wet and able to follow a safety brief on the sand. Children from 4 can join when they fit a buoyancy aid, and anyone under 14 shares a tandem with an adult.
Swimwear or quick-dry clothes, a towel, drinking water and a snack cover most days. A hat and sun cream help when it is bright. Your own wetsuit is welcome if you have one. Mention any medical notes that affect time on the water when you send your request.
Groups stay at six, which keeps the instructor close enough to give cues while you turn or stop. Coaches here work sit-on-tops and open canoes on this bay through the season, so the drills match a real beach launch rather than a pool script.
Kit is issued on the sand, including technical outer layers on cooler days. The session ends with a clearer sense of how to paddle forwards, turn, and get back to the beach in one piece.
Meet at Oddicombe Beach, Beach Road, Torquay, TQ1 3LB. There is no parking on the sand. The 1920s cliff railway from Babbacombe Downs is the usual way down, or you can walk the path from the road above.
Look for the watersports desk beside the slipway. Please arrive a few minutes before your start so we can fit buoyancy aids and run the brief without cutting into your two hours.
The booking is two hours from check-in on the sand through to packing kit away. Most of that time is coaching, with a short brief before you launch into the bay.
Come a few minutes early so changing does not eat into water time. We confirm the exact clock time when we approve your date, and we may shift slightly for tide.
No. The two hours are written for people who have never sat on a sit-on-top or in an open canoe. Coaching starts with launching and a forward stroke before a turn or a stop.
If you have paddled before, say so at the start. The same session can tighten those habits rather than treating you as a first-timer.
Sit-on-top kayaks and open canoes, chosen on the sand for the people in your group. Sit-on-tops are stable and easy to climb back onto. Canoes suit families who want to share a boat.
The instructor picks the craft after the brief, so you are not locked into one type before you arrive. Under 14s share a tandem with an adult.
Four, when the child fits a buoyancy aid. Anyone under 14 paddles tandem with an adult for the whole session, which keeps the group together in the bay.
Tell us ages when you request a date so we put the right boats out. Mixed families share the same instructor, just at a calmer pace if a younger child is in the boat.
Oddicombe Beach, Beach Road, Torquay, TQ1 3LB. Walk down to the watersports desk beside the slipway. There is no parking on the sand itself.
The cliff railway from Babbacombe Downs is the usual way down on busy days. Allow extra time in summer, then come to the desk a few minutes before your start.
A boat, a paddle and a buoyancy aid for each person, plus technical outer layers when the day is cool. Everything is fitted on the sand before you launch.
Bring swimwear or quick-dry clothes underneath. Your own wetsuit is fine. Leave phones in the car unless you have a case you are happy to get wet.
Swimwear or quick-dry layers, a towel, old or wet shoes, sun cream and a hat. A water bottle and a snack help after you come off the water.
On cooler days bring gym or walking clothes to wear under our dry layers. Pack a bag for wet kit afterwards.
Up to six, so the instructor can still give cues while you turn or stop. Family tickets and smaller private groups use the options shown when you request a date.
Tell us your headcount in advance so we have the right boats on the sand. Extra people cannot just join on the day.
Rain alone does not stop the session. We move or shorten the water time if wind or swell makes the planned drills unsafe in the bay.
We contact you when we need to change the plan. Check your messages the evening before if you are travelling a long way.
Through the main season from May to October, often around mid-morning such as 10:00 to 12:00. Exact times are confirmed when we approve your date.
We may adjust the start slightly for tide or how the beach is working that day. Arrive ready to change, not still looking for the path down.
We are a passionate team of experienced sea kayakers based in the beautiful Torbay area. Our mission is to provide safe, fun, and memorable guided kayaking trips that showcase the breathtaking scenery and rich wildlife of the English Riviera.
From our base at Oddicombe Beach within Babbacombe Bay, we are a specialist adventure operator in geology and wildlife tours throughout the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Whether you are learning a new paddle sport or planning an unforgettable family day out, we deliver sea kayak and SUP training, tours, and watersports beach hire with expert guidance and all the equipment you need.
Absolutely brilliant experience, would highly recommend to everyone!
Kieran was an organised, pleasant, knowledgeable and interesting tour guide. Also clearly, a very good kayaka. The only critique would be the size of the group. It was just too long to get everyone geared up and at the cave for all kayaks to go into and out. Otherwise a…
Great, good local knowledge, friendly instructor. Lots of wildlife and little adventures had. Recommend.
Amazing experience, would highly recommend to anyone!
Jose was very friendly and helpful! The bikes he provided were great for the price, and we enjoyed a unique gravel bike adventure in Spain. There were very few other companies offering gravel bike rentals. I would 100% recommend this adventure with Jose to any travelers in Spain looking to…
It was really enjoyable. I had never done kayaking before but after some short, simple clear instruction I was confidently making it way along the coastline. It was great to see things from the water you would've otherwise have been able to get a view of. I would definitely do…
Excellent day out with super efficient Kieran and Sam. Even a novice like me finally cracked the code to a good kayaking. The caves, guided tour on geological formations punctuated by marshmallow roasting and fossil hunting truly enhanced the overall experience. Would love to do it again. Plus - a…
Operated by Sea Kayak Torbay, a partner of adventuro.
Somerset and Dorset, United Kingdom
From £55
