It is considered a tough challenge in its own right.
And now, adventurer Dean Dunbar has become the first registered blind paddler to complete the Argyll Sea Kayak Trail.
Mr Dunbar, an extreme sports enthusiast from Blairgowrie, was part of a group of three who have been the first to complete the trail on stand up paddle boards (SUPs).
They set off from Ganavan at Oban on Thursday and arrived in Helensburgh on Sunday afternoon after completing the 93 mile route.
The team was made up of Ian Cormack from Glasgow, who runs SUP Ecosse, Allistair Swinsco from Carlisle who runs Northwest Paddleboards, and Mr Dunbar who is an inspirational public speaker.
All three are highly experienced paddlers.
The challenge was originally thrown down by Oban SUPer(Stand up Paddle Boarder), Cathy Winterton.
She was planning to be part of the team, but unfortunately due to family commitments has had to pull out.
Mr Dunbar said: “I was first told about this route last year, and since then I’ve been waiting to get started. I’d like to thank Argyll and Bute Council who have been of great support during the planning of this trip.”
Two years after being registered blind at the age of 29, Mr Dunbar did a charity tandem skydive which changed his life. Since then he has notched up over 80 activities around the world, ranging from adventure racing to zorbing, and set almost 20 world firsts in activities ranging from open-water swimming to stand up paddle-boarding.
In the early days, nine out of 10 outdoor companies would say “no” when he wanted to take part in their pursuits.
In 2002 he created and launched his website extremedreams.co.uk to say thank you to the “awesome” one out of 10 companies which said yes.
Since launching the website in 2002, Mr Dunbar has been asked to talk at many different events, but being scared of an audience he couldn’t see, he always said “no”.
In 2012, he finally accepted and hasn’t stopped since. He has talked at the Scottish Outdoor Pursuits Show, twice, the Fort William Mountain Festival, Dundee University, and for several private groups.
In 2014 and 2015 he was invited to introduce one of his films at the Dundee Mountain Film Festival.
When he isn’t preparing for his next talk, he’ll be training for his next challenge.
The Argyll Sea Kayak Trail is a group of easily accessible launch sites at key points along a route which links Helensburgh in the south-east with Oban in the north-west.
Argyll and Bute Council worked with businesses and community groups such as Scottish Canals, Tarbert Harbour Authority, Bute Forest and Toward Sailing Club to deliver the Argyll Sea Kayak Trail. The project was funded by the Coastal Communities Fund, Argyll and the Isles LEADER programme and Argyll and Bute Council.
Unlike traditional surfing where the rider is sitting until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders maintain an upright stance on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water.
