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 offer a variety of canoeing and mountain activities in the Applecross, Wester Ross area.

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.

Glenmore Lodge offers a variety of courses, 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 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 Country Park offers Sea Kayak Hire: Lochore Meadows, Lochgelly, Fife. Peter Crane (Manager) 01592-414300.

Mark McKerral offers a variety of sea trips, coaching and kayak hire from his base at Ballachulish.

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.

Rockhopper Scotland offer a range of activities in the Arisaig and Fort William area and there is a suggestion they may do sea-kayak hire as well.

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 Scotland are offering courses and trips "on the West Coast" - they also seem to have boats for hire.

Sea Kayak Shetland offer guided trips on Shetland.

Skyak on Skye. Gordon Brown's centre, 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 / guiding / courses / expeditions of sea & touring kayaks (single & double) / kayaks / canoes. The coaching / guiding part of Stirling and Nevis Canoes.

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

Tiso have sea boats for hire.

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"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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"

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.

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

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.

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.