I reviewed the first edition of ‘South West Sea Kayaking‘ by Mark Rainsley back in June 2008 (see the original review here).

Roll on three years and Mark has completed a thorough update in the form of the second edition which is now available directly from Pesda Press or from a wide range of kayaking shops.

In terms of whats been updated, Mark posted the following on the Southwest Sea Kayaking website:

What’s different in the new edition? Overall, I made about 450 separate changes to the text;

Out of date information has been updated or removed.

All phone numbers and web links have been checked and updated. I couldn’t believe how many had changed, about half of the accommodation details for instance.

Removed references to out of date accommodation and added new ones, including coastal hostels.

Updated reading/ reference lists.

Where I could squeeze it in, I added extra details about areas and routes.
Reviewed some of the tidal info in the last two chapters (more info available now, it was previously a bit thin).

About half the photos have been changed – I feel that the overall quality is better now, including lots donated kindly by other paddlers.

I hope that this new edition is useful, and helps paddlers to get out and explore the fantastic south-west coast. Thanks to all who helped with the process of updating it.

Comprehensive stuff to say the least. Mark kindly forwarded a copy of the book to me as a thank you for contributing a picture for the Solent section of the guidebook and from reading through the second edition the updates have definitely kept this outstanding guidebook as a must have for anyone paddling in the South West area.

Useful Links
Pesda Press – Publishers of South West Sea Kayaking
Mark Rainsley’s South West Sea Kayaking Website

Mark is undoubtedly one of the great authorities on Sea Kayaking around then South West. He describes three great routes on one of Simon Willis’s podcasts and his blog is testament to his knowledge and obvious enjoyment of the excellent paddling available in the Southwest.

The guidebook is, to be blunt, outstanding. Having a large collection of 80′s/early 90′s climbing and walking guides I was expecting to find a similar black and white, text heavy book with hand drawn maps. More fool me! The layout and quality of the guidebook is superb. Fantastic colour cartography, clear and interesting colour photographs and a modern, crisp, clean design combine to make this a visual feast.

The content is as impressive. Concise and accurate when it needs to be, yet in depth enough to provide the information needed. Each section begins with an overview of key info such as grade, distance, tidal information, start/finish points and coastguard details.

Mark then skillfully describes the route in detail. These descriptions cover a range of information. From anecdotes and history to geology and wildlife. He does this with a great sense of humour which raised more than a couple of smiles.

The photographs illustrating this guide are generally superb. They give an up to date insight into the routes and points of interest and for me prove have been a great source of motivation for getting out on the water.

The accompanying maps are wonderfully produced and provide more than sufficient detail for basic route planning, however OS maps are referenced for each section and are obviously required for comprehensive planning purposes.

It is obvious that Mark has taken a great deal of care to document to 50 or so routes that make up this guide as accurately as possible. As a recent review in Canoekayak magazine states:

Author Mark Rainsley paddled each trip and has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of the south coast in concise and informative descriptions, and the additional notes on local history, wildlife and geology mean that you can practically smell the sea air whilst reading it.

This is a superb guidebook and one that despite its high quality finish should not adorne your bookshelf, but sit thumbed, dog-eared and annotated in your kit bag as you work your way through the routes.