Kayaking: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, a couple of times. I actually went with some friends during a summer holiday in the Lake District last year. It was pretty exhausting on the arms, to be honest, but gliding across the calm water was incredibly peaceful once we got the hang of paddling properly.

I'd definitely lean towards a calm river or lake. Sea kayaking sounds a bit daunting because the choppy waves and strong currents can easily tip you over. With river paddling, the water tends to be much gentler, which makes it far more relaxing.

I wouldn't say it's a mainstream sport, but it's certainly gaining traction in coastal towns and near national parks. During the warmer months, lots of outdoor activity centres hire out equipment, so you often see tourists and families having a go on weekends.

Not really, apart from regular swimming lessons at our local sports centre. My family wasn't particularly outdoorsy, so we rarely visited lakes or reservoirs. I only really started exploring things like canoeing and kayaking once I went to university and joined an outdoor club.

I'd love to, especially somewhere scenic like the Norwegian fjords. Paddling between massive cliffs and admiring the landscape from the water sounds amazing. I just need to build up my upper body strength a bit more before tackling a longer trip like that.