: more open ocean paddling sounds a bit dangerous/scary to us.

Ooops, that probably wasn't the photo to tempt you to Wales, then ...

We've paddled that same bit of coast in flat calm - you just choose the
other timing - slack water :-) Both Wales and Scotland have plenty of
sheltered parts too, and the tide races are just something to aspire to
when you do want some excitement (flat clam and beautiful scenery only do
it for you for so long, then your competence will ache for a bit more
challenge). Also, both Wales and Scotland have superb rivers for when the
winter does make the sea a bit iffy, and Scotland has many inland waters
offering more protected trips. You can camp almost at will on the Scottish
coasts and lochs. You can paddle somewhere different every weekend in Britain,
all year round, if you can make the time, and holidays can venture out to
more excitement throughout Europe ... or even the USA (we've just come back
from paddling in Yellowstone !)

Andy