Visit Scotland (the Scottish Tourist Board) confirms that Scotland has "the best sea kayaking in Europe". Their .pdf factsheet has a lot of background, some trip suggestions and good general advice, including a list of "operators". (Outfitters / guides to you and me). Some (but not all) of these offer kayak hire but you'll have to make your own enquiry as the leaflet doesn't give that info.

Adventure Hebrides - Half day and day trips run out of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides

Applecross Mountain & Sea Guides provide sea kayaking expeditions and courses for beginner to advanced intermediate paddlers. They also run expeditions to the Arctic Lofoten Islands, Orca whale paddling in Canada and the Dalmatian islands of Croatia. Scottish sea kayak and kit hire available all year

Boots n Paddles describe themselves as a mobile outdoor adventure activity company with bases at Inverness and Aviemore. They offer sea kayak hire.

Brookbank - Perth / Warwickshire / Carlisle / Lancaster. They have boats for hire, but require about 14 days prior notice usually.

Canoe Hebrides - Tailormade trips in the Outer Hebrides run by Tim Pickering and other top Hebridean guides. They also run trips to Sub Arctic Sweden sea kayaking in the Lulea Archipelego.

Clearwater Paddling are based on Barra in the Hebrides, but offer trips in Norway, Oman and Trinidad as well as their Hebridean ones.

Explore Highland are Inverness based and offer a range of courses, holidays and other activities, and also have a range of sea boats for hire.

Glenmore Lodge offers a variety of courses and trips, including sea kayaking.

Highland Ascent are based in Ross-shire, near Inverness and offer sea kayaking holidays and courses as well as mountaineering and mountain biking.

Hebridean Pursuits, run by Andy Spink and based in Oban, offer a range of options from trips to BCU instruction and assessments, as well as surfing courses and the Tiree Surf Gathering. They also run a "supported" trip to St Kilda.

John Muir Trust offers "cutting edge adventurous activities and environmental education experiences in wild places. Led by skilled and qualified leaders these trips are open to people of all ages and abilities."

Kari-Tek, based in Ayrshire, will hire Nigel Dennis boats - they also have a limited range of roof racks for hire, so you could fly to Glasgow or Prestwick, hire a car (check the appropriate type with Kari-Tek first), pop down to Ayrshire (under an hours drive) and you're then positioned to take your hired boat away! Nice lateral thinking. With the Clyde on the doorstep, and easy access to road and ferry links to the West Coast, this has got to be worth considering if you're planning on visiting Scotland.

Kayak Bute offer trips in the sheltered waters of the Kyles of Bute and the open water to the west. Dominated by the mountains of Arran, the Isle of Bute is a first class destination for sea paddlers.

Kayak Scotland is based in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland and offer a variety of day trips around the North East coastline and also offer multi day trips at various locations throughout Scotland including the West Coast.

Lakes Canoe & Kayak Hire.co.uk profess to do what it says on the tin - and offer instruction as well. Based in Keswick, so handy for Scotland if you were coming up from England.

Lochore Meadows Outdoor Education Centre near Lochgelly in Fife offers Sea Kayak hire. Contact Ali Dreyer, the Outdoor Learning Manager on 01592 583388 or info.outdoored@fife.gov.uk

National Kayak School offer a range of sea kayaking trips and courses and being based in Oban are well located for some great paddling areas. They say they offer sea kayak hire as well, so you can either hop on a ferry to the Hebrides or paddle stright out of Oban harbour.

Nevis Canoes - in Fort William - part of Stirling Canoes.

NorWest Sea Kayaking are based in the Achiltibuie, Summer Isles, Ullapool, Lochinver area. It seems they hire boats.

Paddle Lochaber are based in Ballachulish and offer half, full and multi day trips or courses for people of all abilities. All trips and courses are available to book online.

Rowland Woollven is a British Canoe Union Level 5 Sea Kayak Coach specialising in individual and small group sea kayak coaching and guided tours in the Oban area and on the west coast of Scotland.

Rockhopper Scotland say they offer "high quality guided Sea kayak trips based from Fort William" and also provide a hire service with pick up and drop off available.

Sea Freedom Kayak Company operate near Oban and "run trips and sessions for individuals and small groups". They also offer a number of P&H Capellas for hire to "suitably qualified people".

Sea Kayak Highlands - based near Arisaig, have a double and 4 singles for hire.

Sea Kayak Oban - a dedicated sea kayaking retailer in Oban. Boats available for hire.

Sea Kayak Plockton - offer a range of courses and trips based out of Plockton, including "women only" courses.

Sea Kayak Scotland are offering courses and trips "on the West Coast" - they also seem to have boats for hire - based on the Isle of Seil between Oban and Lochgilphead.

Sea Kayak Shetland offer guided trips on Shetland.

Skyak on Skye. Gordon Brown's centre, in a superb part of the world.

Snowgoose are based near Fort William and offer sea kayaking as well as a range of other outdoor activities. They have sea kayaks for hire.

Standing Waves (based in Stirling) offers hire of sea & touring kayaks (single & double) / kayaks / canoes. The coaching / guiding part of Stirling and Nevis Canoes. They can provide guiding / courses / expeditions.

Stirling Canoes - in Stirling, have sea boats for hire.

Summer Isles.com appear to offer sea kayak hire - based near Ullapool.

Tiso have some sea boats for hire. Shops in Glasgow, Perth, Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness.

Uist Outdoor Centre is recommended, set in a truly magnificent Outer Hebridean setting.

Visit Scotland (the Scottish Tourist Board) have links to some of the centres in Scotland

WhiteWave on Skye offer a variety of activities, including sea-kayking.

Wilderness Scotland offer "small group" adventure holidays in Scotland, including sea kayaking.

Wales

The Canoe England Sea Touring committee has purchased 4 plastic double sea kayaks, as part of its continuing brief to promote sea kayaking. The kayaks are available for hire to individual BCU members, or to affiliated clubs. Currently 2 Kayaks are located in North Wales, 1 in Dorset and 1 in Devon. Click here for details.

Adventure Elements are based in North Wales and say they "offer a range of sea kayaking courses and expeditions for all ranges of abilities"

Cambrian Marine Centre, Aberaeron are a chandlery and say they "offer a full kayak service from sale to hire" - sea kayaks don't seem to be available, but they have a range of SOT's.

Coastal Spirit offer a variety of outdoor activities including sea kayaking trips, courses and assessment.

Cwm Pennant Mountain (and Kayaking) centre is run by Dave Evans, the BCU Sea Touring Committee Chairman.

Edge of Adventure offer a variety of adventures in North Wales, including sea-kayaking courses.

Isle of Anglesey Bike & Kayak Hire - based in Beaumaris - they have single and double SOT's for hire.

Mayberry Kayaking offers a range of paddling experiences in Pembrokeshire.

Plas y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, also offer a variety of kayaking courses.

Sea Kayaking UK (formally NDK) well respected sea kayak centre on Anglesey, who are also believed to hire kayaks.

Surf and Sea Kayaking Hire offer a "mobile service" in south and west Wales and will hire you a sit-on-top.

Twr Y Felin, the Outdoor centre at St. Davids, Pembrokeshire.

White Water Consultancy have started offering canoe and kayak hire service. They have a full range of boats from SOTS to 17’ Open boats and all necessary equipment is supplied. Daily and weekly rates.

England (Including Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Scilly etc)

The Canoe England Sea Touring committee has purchased 4 plastic double sea kayaks, as part of its continuing brief to promote sea kayaking. The kayaks are available for hire to individual BCU members, or to affiliated clubs. Currently 2 Kayaks are located in North Wales, 1 in Dorset and 1 in Devon. Click here for details.

Aberfal Outdoor Pursuits, in Cornwall, offer guided SoT trips on the Helford River.

Active4seasons are based in North Northumberland and offer a range of outdoor activities, including sea kayaking.

Adventurous Experiences - based on the Isle of Man, they say they specialise in sea kayaking as well as other outdoor activity.

Art of Adventure are based in Devon and offer a variety of courses and expeditions in UK and Europe.

Brookbank - Perth / Warwickshire / Carlisle / Lancaster. They have boats for hire, but require about 14 days prior notice usually.

Bournemouth Canoes hire kayaks.

Jersey Sea Kayak Adventures offer paddling on Jersey.

Kim Bull offers coaching and sea kayaking trips in Northumberland and the North East.

Kayak Scilly provide tuition, kayak hire and guided excursions on the Scilly Isles. Based out of Porth Thomas on St Marys.

Lakes Canoe & Kayak Hire.co.uk profess to do what it says on the tin - and offer instruction as well. Based in Keswick, so handy for Scotland.

Sea Kayaking Cornwall is an expedition centre specializing in sea kayak tuition and expedition training. Run by Jeff Allen and Simon Osbourne.

Ireland & Overseas

Argentina - SDK Kayaks run trips in Argentina. (Click for a Word Doc in English).

Alaska - Alaska Rafters offer a variety of adventure experiences from sea-kayaking to glacier trekking.

Belize - Slickrock Adventures run a variety of adventure holidays.

Brazil - Paraty Explorer say that they offer "guided day and multi-day trips. All inclusive, lodge-based trips on Brazil's Green Coast south of Rio de Janeiro".

British Columbia / Vancouver Island - North Island Kayak who are based in Port Hardy and Telegraph Cove. Powell River Sea Kayak operate in and around Desolation Sound. All these operators do kayak hire. Coastal Spirits run tours in the Quadra Island / Campbell river areas which take in Johnston Straite and the Discovery Islands. Odyssey Kayaking operate out of Port Hardy. Spookily enough, the Tofino Kayak Company is based in - Tofino. Spirit of the West offer "sea kayaking tours and trips around Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Kayak with the Killer Whales in the Orca waters of Johnstone Strait, British Columbia". Numerous other links here. The Paddler's Inn offer accomodation and kayak hire in the Broughton Archipelago.

Canary Islands (Spain) - Ekalis offer a variety of activities, including kayaking.

Costa Brava - Kayaking Costa Brava offer trips and sea-kayak hire.

Croatia - Lifejacket Adventures run kayaking trips amongst the Dalmatian Islands. Adriatic Kayak Tours offer guided trips and kayak hire on the Croatian coast.

Finland - Natura Viva say they are "the leading kayak rental and course provider in Finland". They operate from a base in Eastern Helsinki.

Fuerteventura - the Canary Archipelago - Kayakfuerteventura offer multiday expeditions, kayaksurfing, kayakfishing
and kayak and snorkel excursions.

Greece has got to be a great location! "House of Sea Kayaking" might help you enjoy it! Sea Kayak Milos says it is "a Sea Kayaking paradise in the Aegean islands of Greece. A family run business, we offer genuine hospitality, quality equipment and an amazing place to paddle. We are open every day from March thru November". Greek Island Activities say "We provide sea kayaking activities, courses and expeditions, from beginners to advanced, situated on the island of Poros [35 miles south west of Pireaus] port of Athens. We will be happy to advise on any matter regarding sea kayaking in Greece"

Greenland - discussion, with details of where to hire sea kayaks.

Ireland - Seapaddling.com offer guided trips and courses in the Waterford area. Deep Blue Sea Kayaking operate in Wicklow. H2O are in the South West near Kinsale. Atlantic Sea Kayaking are in Skibereen, West Cork. Tollymore Mountain Centre, Newcastle, Co.Down, run sea-kayking courses.

Jersey/Scilly Isles Centres are listed under England above.

Lanzarote - Kayak del Mar "is a sea kayak base for kayak enthusiasts and families interested in active holidays, as well as for the elite competitor looking for a special training challenge in summer or a warm weather preparation base in winter."

Maine Island Kayak Co offer guided trips in Maine, USA.

New South Wales - Xterra Adventures describe themselves as "an exciting, multifunctional activity and adventure company located on the Central Coast of NSW"

Norway - Clearwater Paddling offer trips in Norway. See this discussion for some mapping resources.

Portugal - Portugal Kayak.com offer trips and expeditions - based in Averio.

San Francisco - discussion with some ideas.

Sweden - Canoe Hebrides - Tailormade trips in the Outer Hebrides run by Tim Pickering and other top Hebridean guides. They also run trips to Sub Arctic Sweden sea kayaking in the Lulea Archipelego.