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Recently returned from 2 weeks in the Cairngorms and the opportunity to give canoeing a go came up, so we both had a go, we loved it.
I have very little knowledge of how to get into canoeing, i.e. clubs, any memberships or if licenses are required etc. We are based in Shropshire and live very close to the river Severn.
Any advice?
A major issue in England is that there are restrictions on access to water. If you thought cyclists had it tough....
The best thing to do is to find a club and have a go. They'll have all the kit and be able to advise about legalities and best places to go etc.
That's how I started about 24 years ago.
There will be a club near you if you're near the Severn.
Also, this series of books are great for places to paddle and places to get on and off.
But if you're very new to it, then definitely go and seek out a club.
A British Canoeing membership provides access to canals, plus some rivers and lakes. You don’t need any permits for the sea.
By canoeing, I’m assuming a Canadian-style canoe with single-ended paddles (as opposed to kayaking where you have double-ended paddles)? Biggest decision is whether you go for an inflatable or rigid canoe - inflatables fine for clement weather on inland waterways or lakes but less suited to windy days or where you encounter tides or currents.
I just joined British canoeing, 47 quid pa, to get access to canal. I bought a 15 foot open canoe, paddles and trolley cart. All under 1k in total secondhand. Lots of canoes are c35 kg which I d struggle with, so I got a carbon one 25kg.
Canal access is 5 mins away so I ve been going most days. Good workout and lots of nature. May go to lakes but q happy pottering locally.
A British Canoeing membership provides access to canals, plus some rivers and lakes. You don’t need any permits for the sea.
I’ve just given up with British Canoeing after 10 years. Totally useless and toothless. They are only useful if you want to be a Coach or Club representative, where membership is mandatory.They have a full time access Officer, who, from what I’ve seen, has done absolutely nothing positive in the last 5 years. He puts it all over social media that he has met the shadow minister etc, but actual difference for the Members has not been seen. In the 10 years I was a member, I never had to show anyone my membership card, so I’d use canals whenever I want without fear of being stopped and asked for a licence. Most rivers are free, or, contested access. BC dont help there. So, for paddling the Severn, no point at all in being a BC Member.
The best thing to do is to find a club and have a go. They’ll have all the kit and be able to advise about legalities and best places to go etc.
Very much this. I have been paddling for 30 years, ww, sea and surf and without doubt the club was a fertile ground for gaining the experience, skills and close friends I have gone on to paddle all over the world with. I'll also add do a course at somewhere like Glenmore or Plas Y Brenin. A weeks worth of intense instruction is worth a year's experience - learn solid basics, get to try different boats and paddles and basically get a lot of confidence under your belt.
The Severn is a beautiful river and is a must do. I did a source to sea a few years ago and enjoyed every minute of it. Some of it requires a licence - IIRC we bought ours from the lock keeper for the section that required it. We had a mixture of wild camping/pub camping and a proper campsite on a fantastic late autumn trip.
You don't have to be a member of the BCU/SCA or WCA. In my experience any river where a permit is required, you can purchase one. Many are included in the membership prices though. As has been mentioned though, there is absolutely no right of access to the vast majority of rivers in England and Wales. So you'll need to research what's what, and of course being a member of your local club is going to help out massively. Here in Scotland you have a legal right of access to all rivers, bandit or nightime runs are not required!
In general terms, canoeing and kayaking are used interchangeably in the UK to mean the same thing. Technically a kayak and canoe are different - a kayak is paddled sitting with a two bladed paddle, a canoe is paddled kneeling with a single blade. You get open canoes and closed (decked) canoes. Some people are sitting in their open canoes....it all gets a bit confusing but you get the picture!
Song of the Paddle is a great on line resource for canoe/kayak touring in particular, UKriversguidebook was quite good for all disciplines but I think has been overshadowed by facebook groups these days. It still has a lot of useful info on it though
Join a club go out with others it's a good laugh and you learn a lot free. I also got a couple of hours one to one tuition from an instructor, pushing the price up now but you learn good technique. Lastly watch Ray Goodwins videos on youtube- free again
Find a club.
Learn some skills.
Enjoy.
Post pics: https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-paddling-pics-thread-%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%9a%a3%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%9b%b6%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%9a%a3%f0%9f%8c%8a/page/4/
"A major issue in England is that there are restrictions on access to water. If you thought cyclists had it tough…"
Sorry but that is nonsense. Yes there are odd issues but really that is the worst thing you can say to someone who wants to get into the sport. Where I live in the crowded south east there are still literally hundreds of miles of free navigable waterways not to mention the sea. Wales, the North and the Midlands has so much water its insane.
Don't just listen to the first fisherman or farmer who shouts at you and think they are right - 90% of the time they are talking bollox
we live on an island - everybody should have a boat!
Check out Song of the Paddle forum, great bunch on there.
www.songofthepaddle.co.uk
Re access we used to canoe on the Thames, all the stretches c Kingston to shepperton. The only hassle we ever got was one of the creeks in teddington, someone shouted it was illegal, no idea if it was or not.
British canoeing per year was 47 quid, a day permit for canal is 5 quid.
+1 Song of the Paddle, I'm not a club person but got into open canoes via that forum. Have had some amazing open and white water adventures solo and with family via and with folk I met through SOTP.
Ok I know everyone says join a club and for sure that is the quickest, safest way to build skills but it’s not the only way.
A friend or colleague might share the interest and be prepared to show you the ropes. You can pay for 1 to 1 tuition or small group training with a coach. Or you just buy a canoe and go for it. Higher risk but if you have any common sense and do the appropriate research you should be ok. I’ve been paddling since about age 8, never been in a club and not killed myself yet…
Ok I know everyone says join a club and for sure that is the quickest, safest way to build skills but it’s not the only way.
I kind of agree. Unlike say white water kayaking which for both logistical reasons and safety reasons is nearly always done in a group - be that mates or a club, open canoes (assuming that's what we are talking about here - OP has not returned to confirm) is often a more solitary affair. More the gravel or tour bike rider than the roadie club Sunday ride. Obviously it massively depends on exactly what and where you plan on paddling, but the skills required are not too significant and the rewards come from the journey and what you see along the way and less about the technicalities. The only big positive is local knowledge, but SOTP is pretty good there too.
Ok I know everyone says join a club and for sure that is the quickest, safest way to build skills but it’s not the only way.
Of course it isn't, but from the sound of the op, they're fairly unsure about a few things.
Joining a club will generally give you access to a large range of boat types to try, recommendations of places to go and the likeliness of hassle from landowners etc, dangerous sections to avoid and potentially boat transportation which you may not be set up for right away.
Nothing wrong with just getting out and having a go of course, but getting involved with a club can be a great way to narrow down what you want out of it quickly without spending cash on boats you might not gel with.
I've not been a member of a club for years and years now, but have fantastic memories of starting out with one (shout out Martlet Kayak Club, Brighton 👊)
Of course it isn’t, but from the sound of the op, they’re fairly unsure about a few things.
Joining a club will generally give you access to a large range of boat types to try, recommendations of places to go and the likeliness of hassle from landowners etc, dangerous sections to avoid and potentially boat transportation which you may not be set up for right away.
the irony is not all clubs are equal and knowing what to look for in club (and how to work out if they actually do it) is probably harder than buying the right boat!
I like the ones with outboards. That paddling business is for the larks 😆
Did canoeing(or is it kayaks, I always mix the 2 up at school. A few lochs and rivers but nothing extreme. Nearly mastered the Eskimo roll in the swimming pool, but just couldn't get that last bit that flips you round.
but just couldn’t get that last bit that flips you round.
So basically you are saying you got the falling in bit nailed 😉
Yes the 180 degree roll is pretty easy to master....the 360 takes a bit more time, though actually its one of the easier skills to learn. A good brace is far more useful!
The problem with most clubs around here (another shout for Martlets) is that they don't really cater for open boaters if that is what the OP is looking for. I guess if you are on the Severn then they may well have more canoeists around though? Can't go wrong with SOTP though, someone on there will be local to you and happy to help
So basically you are saying you got the falling in bit nailed
That will be the deliberately falling in bit.