Reviews

March 2023

Amazing day out with Leigh on Ullswater, definitely the highlight of our Lakes trip.
Leigh is a great host, teacher and entertainer! We thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this trip and the chats and games that we played during the day. Thanks Leigh, look forward to booking again!- Ben

February 2023

Brilliant afternoon with Leigh.😊👍🛶 So well organised, never turned up for kayaking and been offered heated gloves. 😊👍. Very thorough briefing before going into the water and felt very comfortable paddling around Ullswater. Highly recommended 👌 👍 – Emma

February 2023

The best experience! Leigh is amazing! Very patient and very informative. He has a story for everything and is always up for a laugh.
Really good experience would 100% recommend! – Danyelle

October 2022

As a beginner, I found the session super useful, and enjoyable, so certainly motivational boost to take kayaking as a regular activity. Highly recommended as an experience or as training and the format of one on one means it can be tailored to suite any level. – David

October 2022

Great introduction to kayaking on the lakes. Felt very safe with Leigh who was informative and entertaining. – Shaun

September 2022

Yesterday my partner and I took a Kayaking tour with Tall Bloke Adventures, led by the truly amazing (And indeed very tall) Leigh. I can say with absolute conviction, that it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in years.

It begins with a genuinely enjoyable and relatively short training session that also doubles up as an ice-breaker. Here you’ll learn just about everything you need to know to not only get by, but also feel confident enough to feel like a real life Kayaking champ.

Moments later, you’ll find yourself floating across one of the most astoundingly beautiful lakes you’re ever likely to see in real life, and that’s where the real fin and adventure begins.The scenery is astounding and times it feels like you’re Kayaking right through a painting by J.M.W Turner. It’s so incredibly tranquil and peaceful that even if you’ve never had an interest in Kayaking before, it does make you wonder why you don’t do this at least once a week! The tour lasts a good couple of hours and in truth, I could have spent the entire day out there. It was so visually arresting, enjoyable and so peaceful and one of the best ways to get a true sense of the environment and an understanding of this amazing location.

But the real star of the tour is Leigh. One of the warmest, nicest and most endearing people you’re ever likely to meet and also a truly gifted teacher. In another life, Leigh probably could have been a TV presenter or celebrity, such is the magnitude of his charisma. He has an incredibly ability to guide you around the beautiful Ullswater Lake, feeding you genuinely interesting nuggets of information, whilst somehow making you feel like you’re part of a really engaging conversation as opposed to a passive participant on a dry (no pun intended) tour. He clearly loves what he does and and his enthusiasm is so infectious that by the end of the tour I was close to quitting my entire career and asking him if I could join Tall Bloke Adventures to spend the rest of my days on the lake! Sadly, I’m a mere 5 foot 11 and it would probably be false advertising.

Leigh also takes pictures throughout and very kindly sent us the entire batch later that day. And in all honesty, even if he hadn’t, the memories will last a lifetime anyway!

Regardless of your experience or even your interest levels in Kayaking, if you’re visiting The Lake District, this should be right at the top of the list of your itinerary.

Huge thanks from Ian and Jess. This tour alone has convinced us to come back to The Lake District as soon as we can. – Ian

September 2022

Really lovely paddle today with Leigh providing fabulous conversation as well as expert advice. I had a one to one experience, reassured all the way with patient but lively support tailored to skill from Leigh. So relaxing and exciting being in such amazing surrounds. I learnt so much and had a ball! – Alice

August 2022

Absolute highlight of our Lakes trip. Best was Mr Tall Bloke who is the most friendly with great chat, “psychologist on the water “. No problem if you are a kayak beginner as you get excellent guidance plus with mini games. The lake itself was magical and tons better than the now commercialised crowded Windermere. Suggest you finish off with a meal nearby – we went to Inn on the Lake. Highly rated and please go if you are at the Lakes. – Mun

August 2022

We came as a big group of 6 and Leigh was so welcoming, incredibly knowledgeable and such good company to us all. He really helped us feel at ease. We really had a fantastic time, it was so much fun and absolutely beautiful. Thank you, we hope we’ll be back. – Catherine

July 2022

A truly wonderful experience, yes the glorious weather helped and the stunning panoramic views surrounding Ullswater. Leigh was a wonderful guide, he was easy company and I thoroughly enjoyed putting the world to right with him and his minefield of knowledge. On the water he offered observant and intermittent instruction but otherwise gave confidence for you to just sit back and glide of your own volition. I loved it and as a solo adventurer I was so please Leigh could offer me this 1:1 experience. I’ll be back. – Helena

June 2022

Great morning with Leigh who was pleasant, informative, knowledgeable and very calm in explaining what to expect from the kayak trip. Once out on the water, we went near to an island and inlet as well as across the middle of the lake where we saw superb views. The 2-person kayak was extremely stable and easy to paddle. Would highly recommend and will be returning – 5 stars. – John

June 2022

Had an amazing 1 to 1 kayaking experience with Leigh. I’ve done kayaking before and enjoyed it but shown only the basics. With Leigh I was shown so much more. How to paddle the right way which makes kayaking even more enjoyable and easier. Very knowledgeable man easy to get along with. He’s even sent so links to the conversation we were having. Thanks Leigh. – Ben

June 2022

First of all Leigh, WHAT A GUY. Leigh is a lovely, kind person and you can tell he cares about the customers and their experience. He makes it fun, enjoyable, and also a learning experience, he’ll ask you about you and is genuinely interested in you as a person. He loves a good chat! Best thing we’ve done here, by a country mile. – Mattie

June 2022

Was a well spent day Kayaking with Tall Bloke Adventures, it was a very nice experience and Leigh made sure to have maximum fun and joy. He really knew how to teach kayaking and to make it joyful and interesting with his riddles and challenges. – Sara

June 2022

First time kayaking experience with my partner, Leigh showed us the ropes fantastically, great humour and accommodating to our skills (or lack thereof). Fully recommend, great day out for couples. – Martin

May 2022

Leigh is good instructor, top bloke easy to get on with ,was good to get out of the everyday norm, what an amazing adventure well worth our two hour drive ,couldn’t have asked for better condition and the view is spectacular.i would say you really got your money worth we was out on lake about three hours and there was a few surprises along the way. – Damian

May 2022

I had the most amazing time kayaking yesterday. The views where breathtaking.Leigh made us feel welcomed his approach was fab such a lovely man. I will definitely come again. This is a must do I specifically travelled 2 hours just to experience tall bloke adventures and I’m glad I did. The best adventure I’ve ever had. Stick it on your bucket list people..tall bloke adventures it’s a must thankyou for everything Leigh love Sam and King. – Sam

May 2022

Wanted to try something new and kayaking sounded fun. Couple that with a tall bloke who likes to chat now that’s a great way to spend a morning 😁. Such a good time, would highly recommend no matter what your experience levels are. Leigh makes it a fun experience and definitely doesn’t go overboard 😉 – Jo

April 2022

Brilliant afternoon with Leigh. He made our experience wonderful; we had so much fun. – Lydia

February 2023

What a cracking morning Kayaking with my partner Neil. Leigh made the whole experience enjoyable with great use of local knowledge about the area As experienced kayakers we still learnt a few tips from Leigh and enjoyed the games which made the whole trip even more fun Leigh ensured we were safe and warm whilst we enjoyed the lake and it’s beautiful scenery We’d highly recommend booking whether your a beginner or experienced. – Sharron

October 2022

My wife and I along with my daughter and her husband had a fantastic time on Saturday 1 October kayaking on beautiful Ullswater. Leigh was a really good and knowledgeable tutor putting my wife at ease as she was terrified of capsizing having never been on the water before. A top bloke who really knew his stuff and made the whole experience memorable and something we will treasure for a long time. Thank you. – Angela, Kevin, Rebecca and Rory

October 2022

Leigh was truly lovely and made our experience really enjoyable. Despite having very limited kayaking experience he was really patient in showing us the ropes. The trip was not only about the kayaking but a good talking point for then and in the future. With the added benefit of not capsizing. – Libby

August 2022

Would definitely recommend, Me and Sam both had the most amazing time, we had such a laugh and Leigh was so welcoming, funny and exactly the company you would like to teach you, he was also so understanding, knowledgeable and helpful when we were learning, not only that but he offered to take pictures of us on the water (which was optional) so we had the memories to keep. Definitely something we would do again. Thank you again Leigh 🙂 – Aimee

August 2022

We spent an amazing afternoon cruising in kayaks across Ullswater. Leigh was a great guide and happy to share his experience and local knowledge. Can’t think of a better way to spend a hot Summer afternoon. LOVED IT. – Theresa

July 2022

What a wonderful way to finish our stay in the Lake District and to see Ullswater lake. We have been Kayaking and canoeing before but Leigh was great at giving us advice on improving our technique and had just the right balance of fun, games & information. We learnt some interesting aspects from him about the lake and it was an absolute treat to go up the river at the end. A very attentive caring guide/instructor that clearly has a wealth of experience in what he’s doing and loves the area. – Ami

July 2022

Leigh is very informative & knowledgeable, had the best time and so much fun. Would recommend to anyone thinking of trying it. – Hannah

July 2022

Good experience with excellent coaching by Leigh. Explained what we needed to do and helped when we were struggling. Really enjoyed our time on the water in the Kayak and would recommend it to others. – Vince

June 2022

Great morning with Leigh on a very sunny Ullswater in June. Leigh was pleasant, informative, very knowledgeable and calm in explaining what to expect from the kayak trip and answered any questions I had. Once out on the water, we went near to an island and inlet as well as across the middle of the lake where we saw superb views. The 2-person tandem kayak was extremely stable and easy to operate and I always felt safe. Highlights were seeing the lake and surrounding fells from angles you could only see from being on the lake as well as seeing a fighter jet flying directly overhead at less than 100 feet! Leigh took some photos on his own camera (as well as my friend and I taking our own photos) and sent the photos to us the same day. Would highly recommend the experience and will be returning – 5 stars. – John

June 2022

Fantastic time kayaking with Leigh. Excellent teacher and kayaking companion. Been kayaking before but not taught more than the basics. Leigh’s instructions were easy to follow and made the experience fun and easy. – Ben

June 2022

We spent a morning on Ullswater in a tandem kayak with Leigh there to guide us and have a good chat. We had a great time despite paddling against some pretty strong wind at one point. Would highly recommend, Leigh is a lovely guy and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. – Emily

June 2022

We did a morning of kayaking on Ullswater with Leigh. It was fantastic and would 100% recommend. Leigh had great kit – really nice kayak with splash decks so we stayed lovely and warm and dry on a cold day. He also gave us waterproof coats/trousers and gloves as it was due to rain, which we weren’t expecting and were very grateful for. We had been kayaking before, and Leigh was able to give us useful tips to improve our technique which was great. We did some fun activities, and just paddled around enjoying the stunning views! It was a very small group on that day (just us in a double and him) so it felt like we had our own personal instructor. – Isabelle

May 2022

Absolutely loved my kayak experience, the view was mesmerising. Leigh was amazing such a lovely man, really welcoming such a lovely instructor he was with us throughout the 3 hours on the water 100% going again. Bathroom facilities, parking all close by a must experience in the lakes. Thank you for an amazing experience. Love Sam and King. – Sam

May 2022

Four of us had a wonderful afternoon with Leigh on beautiful Ullswater. We felt safe, we had fun and Leigh was great company. – Judith.

May 2022

We had a great time kayaking with Leigh on Ullswater on one of his 5-8pm evening tours. The set-up and instructions were clear, and everyone in our group had an excellent time – it was calming but made fun, plus we had a great time chatting and getting to hear from Leigh about the lake and other stories. We always felt at ease and just had a very pleasant time! For me it was the perfect way to see the lake up close and have a good time with my partner and our friends. For the time and assistance we had from Leigh, I’d recommend this as a must-do activity and great value for money. Thanks to Leigh for a great start to our weekend holiday. – Sarah

April 2022

Leigh was a great instructor, even before we met him, he ensured that our experience was easy and enjoyable. He made sure on the water we had a great time, watching carefully and tailoring activities to meet our needs and abilities. Leigh was also great company, chatting away with his fantastic stories and making the whole experience one I would happily repeat. Can not recommend this more.- Louise

April 2022

We went Kayaking with Leigh and from the get go his energy and clarity was brilliant, just what we needed. We took to the water with ample assistance and guidance, Leigh is friendly, bubbly and a pleasure to talk to we had a wonderful time and would recommend his kayak experience to anyone. – Nuala

July 2022

Fantastic experience with Leigh – great guidance, stunning scenery and lovely to hear more about the area – highly recommended.
Thank you! – Rachel

May 2022

We had an amazing time out on the kayak today with Leigh. would highly recommend to anyone visiting the lake district. He made us feel comfortable and safe. The combination off the fantastic views, leighs games, story’s and his knowledge made it a perfect afternoon. 10 out of 10. – Terri-Jade

March 2022

We had a fantastic time kayaking. Despite it being very damp and windy we loved it. Leigh was a great guide, good conversation and we felt in good hands throughout our trip. Thank you very much. – Shona

December 2022

Kayaking with Leigh is an awesome experience for everyone! We highly recommend to meet him and have a kayaking experience, he is a great host, amazing person and is very patient with teaching ”newbies” 🙂 he keeps it informative and teaches you some technicalities through the challenges and also provide a very nice chat! we didn’t have our own waterproofs but Leigh took care of it and provided us with the gear which made the whole experience smooth and dry even on a rainy, late December day 🙂 kayaking in winter is amazing, there is not a lot of crowds and it makes the whole experience even more special! If you are at any point in the Lake District wondering what to try, head to Tall Bloke Adventures and enjoy kayaking with a spectacular view and a great company 🙂 – Mikhail

December 2022

Leigh was great, made us comfortable and so welcome. He is extremely knowledgeable and highly recommended. So much fun even in the December cold. The challenges set out were great and we enjoyed exploring the lake. – Mel

October 2022

Absolutely amazing experience, would strongly recommend for anyone. Leigh was a fantastic instructor and lovely to spend time with. – Oli

October 2022

Great fun in a beautiful location. Nice to do something other than fell walking up in the lakes. – Lorraine

October 2022

Amazing experience!! With someone who’s been kayaking before, I assumed I’d be in a large group and left to it but my assumption was completely wrong! Leigh was not only a great host with his bubbly personality but also taught me new skills that I can take with me on my next experience! I would 100% recommend. – Finlay

September 2022

Leigh was very kind and patient and gave us good explanations about the kayak and Ullswater. The lake is beutiful and we had a good experience. – Ariel

September 2022

Leigh was a great host and guide for our first trip out on Ullswater. Leigh was patient and diffused any arguments we may have had sharing a kayak with his sense of humour and stories. The lake was absolutely beautiful and the kayaking was great fun, the time flies by and even with our little experience we got a lot done and Leigh gave us pointers when we needed them. Highly recommended this trip. – Monique

September 2022

Leigh was a super host/instructor. Thoughtful & well organised. He tailored our experience to meet our needs. We have undertaken a number of different organised excursions/experiences during this (at home in the UK) holiday & this was by far the best one! Highest praise for Leigh…well worth the money. 😀😜🥰 – Judy

August 2022

Leigh is very friendly and sociable. It was a beautiful day for kayaking and Leigh made it extra fun by adding a game every now and then. – Asya

August 2022

Great tour with Leigh, he was very pleasant and respectful on arrival and throughout the trip. I really enjoyed how he planned activities for us as well as making it feel special with lots of pictures and lovely storytelling. Very easy to get on with and chat to! Would recommend any day. – Ebenezer

August 2022

We had a fantastic kayaking experience with Leigh on Ullswater lake. His teaching was excellent and he made our morning fun and enjoyable. We’d highly recommend booking Leigh for a kayaking experience even if you are a complete novice like I was. – Neil

July 2022

An unbelievable experience!! Leigh is a fantastic teacher who took his time with me after a nervy start on the water! Would recommend this is anyone and would love to do it again. – Conor

July 2022

Leigh was absolutely amazing, we were so lucky to find him! I booked this as part of our honeymoon trip and didn’t really know what to expect. Leigh was great at explaining everything and it was so chilled out but professional. We had a brilliant time on the water, Leigh is super easy to get along with and we all had some really interesting chats. Really grateful for such a lovely experience, thanks Leigh. – Lizzie

June 2022

Leigh is definitely a great and considerate coach for kayaking. We were always encouraged to do things at our pace. And amazingly after three hours, our kayaking skills and confidence improved so much. Also we enjoyed the stories and little games arranged by Leigh. Fun trip. Highly recommended. – Ming

June 2022

Would highly recommend this experience! We had such an amazing, tranquil and adventurous afternoon on Ullswater. Leigh was fantastic, helpful, kind, chatty, knowledgeable and just very keen to share his passion for the lakes. We would 110% return for this experience again – thank you Leigh – Amy

June 2022

Would highly recommend this experience! We had such an amazing, tranquil and adventurous afternoon on Ullswater. Leigh was fantastic, helpful, kind, chatty, knowledgeable and just very keen to share his passion for the lakes. We would 110% return for this experience again – thank you Leigh. – Amy

May 2022

I had a wonderful time kayaking with Leigh. Leigh is kind, easygoing, and personable. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to talk with Leigh and share our experiences while we kayaked across the beautiful Ullswater. I highly recommend this to anyone, it will be a memorable experience for sure. – Vivian

April 2022

Leigh is s an amazing host. I had never expected that kayaking could be this much fun! Leigh is professional and kind. He is also a good chatter. I particularly love his teaching philosophy – encouraging all the time. Highly recommend. – Chong.

April 2022

Really good trip out on the water Leigh is a great host and very knowledgeable about the area. – Richard.

April 2022

Fantastic experience!! This was our first time out on a kayak trip and it was so fun. Leigh was brilliant and keeping up entertained, as well as looking after us and our safety all the way through. I felt very comfortable and confident on this experience, even with next to no experience. Leigh has definitely made me want to look into ways to do this again as I had so much fun! I would 100% recommend this if you Want a safe and enjoyable way of getting out on the lakes. – Natalie