Difference between revisions of "Flatwater trip ideas"
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− | This page lists suggestions and resources for flatwater [[Club trips|trips]] | + | This page lists suggestions and resources for flatwater and gentle moving water [[Club trips|trips]], mostly in the south east of the UK. |
=General resources for flat water trips= | =General resources for flat water trips= | ||
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* There's loads of information about the Medway online. Get Googling. | * There's loads of information about the Medway online. Get Googling. | ||
* '''Trip blogs''': A day from Tonbridge to Yalding [[2 star trip - River Medway - 27 July 2013|in 2013]] and [[River_Medway_2_star_paddle_-_26_November_2011|2011]]. To and from Yalding in [[2_Star_trip_on_the_Medway_-_29_September_2012|2012]] and a weekend trip from Tonbridge to Maidstone in [[Medway_canoe_trip:_15-16_May_2010|2010]] | * '''Trip blogs''': A day from Tonbridge to Yalding [[2 star trip - River Medway - 27 July 2013|in 2013]] and [[River_Medway_2_star_paddle_-_26_November_2011|2011]]. To and from Yalding in [[2_Star_trip_on_the_Medway_-_29_September_2012|2012]] and a weekend trip from Tonbridge to Maidstone in [[Medway_canoe_trip:_15-16_May_2010|2010]] | ||
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==Norfolk and Suffolk Broads== | ==Norfolk and Suffolk Broads== | ||
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* mildly tidal and more than a little windy, its a beautiful and remote area | * mildly tidal and more than a little windy, its a beautiful and remote area | ||
* [http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/ Waveney River Centre] offers camping and other accommodation, and good put ins (and might have a few canoes to hire) | * [http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/ Waveney River Centre] offers camping and other accommodation, and good put ins (and might have a few canoes to hire) | ||
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* you can pass through different waters such as Barton Broad | * you can pass through different waters such as Barton Broad | ||
* [http://www.thecanoeman.com/ The Canoe Man] will hire out canoes and a few kayaks and recommend wetsuit friendly B & Bs (he'll also drop you off at the starting point) | * [http://www.thecanoeman.com/ The Canoe Man] will hire out canoes and a few kayaks and recommend wetsuit friendly B & Bs (he'll also drop you off at the starting point) | ||
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+ | ==River Stour== | ||
+ | A favourite paddle of many, offering some simple run-able weirs and a camp site halfway along. The river runs away from towns and roads for a lot of its length. Its a well supported canoe trail with managed portages and passes being improved. | ||
+ | * Environment Agency [http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/StourNavigationGuide.pdf guide] | ||
+ | * An excellent canoeist written [http://www.paddlesporteast.org/image/Suffok_Stour_guide_2011.pdf guide] | ||
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+ | ==River Wye== | ||
+ | It's not in the south east but a wonderful river for trips, offering some beautiful touring as well as a few simple grade 2 rapids. | ||
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+ | * There is a well written [http://a0768b4a8a31e106d8b0-50dc802554eb38a24458b98ff72d550b.r19.cf3.rackcdn.com/gemi1011bujd-e-e.pdf guide to the river] that lays out many of the camp sites and access points. |
Revision as of 16:50, 2 October 2013
This page lists suggestions and resources for flatwater and gentle moving water trips, mostly in the south east of the UK.
Contents
General resources for flat water trips
- Pub Paddles is a great resource for planning flatwater trips in the south of England, though the trips are quite short.
- BCU 100 Paddles book is an old book now, but is online and can help with ideas for trips.
- Canoe England Canoe Trails
- http://www.canoedaysout.com/ has lots of good recommendations
- http://www.canoetrips.co.uk/ looks to be a lovely site with lots of well photographed and described trips
Suggested paddles
The Thames
Non-tidal Thames including backwaters: St Patrick's stream, The Loddon
- the non-tidal Thames offers many paddling opertunites and trips. Using the various backwaters you can make looping trips
- the club had a trip there in 2009, and again in 2010 and 2011
- We've hired boats from Thames Canoes for a few trips on the Thames between Henley and Marlow
- Canoe focus covers part of the same area: [1]
- Marsport appears to hire out Canoes for the day: [2]
- The Oxford Circuit is another great paddle with an easy get on. Also includes options of exploring some backwaters.
Upper reaches of the Tidal Thames
- good put in at Kew Bridge (ramp + parking + old skool caff)
- tidal, so needs planning
- lots of potential stops down stream
- central London traffic can slow down journey to and from put in.
- upstream towards Richmond is a nice simple paddle with a little tidal flow
The Lee and Stort offers easy flat water paddles - some are pretty, some are a little grim. Griff Rhys Jones' book & TV series 'Rivers' has a chapter/episode on the Lee Navigation and tells its history.
Starting at Limehouse Basin (The Limehouse loop)
- Local to the club. You can walk boats over in about 10-15 minutes.
- Paddle a loop though the navigation and the river, with lunch in Victoria Park
- The Limehouse Cut water can be a bit dirty and smelly.
- A hire option is MooCanoes
Hire boats on the Lee at Broxbourne
- Lee Valley Canoe Hire are situated in Edmonton, (a little north of Lee Valley WW Centre)
- Connected to public transport, on a train from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.
- offers a prettier area of the Lee Valley, outside the M25. There are backwaters that can be explored offering a nice loop back to the hire centre as well as a number of riverside pubs.
Hire boats on the Stort
- Whoosh Explore are situated in Bishops Stortford.
- Connected to public transport, on a train from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.
- A pretty paddle, that runs along side a train-line allowing one way trips with the hire company picking up the boats.
Hertford and the Lea North of Enfield
- Pretty section of the Navigation, beautiful scenery with lots of options for trips
- Looping trips are possible using the river and the canal, starting at Hertford, parking and putting in near the leisure centre.
- A couple of 'canoe safe' weirs may require helmets
- Trips blogs from Hertford in 2011 and 2012
General Resources
- lots of maps/leaflets of the navigation available
- Lee and Stort Navigations map covers the whole area (and includes parking and pubs): ISBN 0-86351-131-7
- fairly short flatwater paddles
- canoes can be hired: http://www.farncombeboats.co.uk/rowing.htm
Resources:
- National trust has book/map of the navigations (only sold at the site - no ISBN)
- http://weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_nav_1.htm (and a map)
- Nicholson Guide ISBN 0-7028-3302-9
Basingstoke Canal
- you can hire canoes to paddle on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation: http://www.papermilllock.co.uk/canoe.htm
The River Medway
- Well known and paddled canoe trail, it offers a growing number of canoe passes around the locks that allow some fun paddling and playing.
- Kent Canoes hires boats on The Medway
- There's loads of information about the Medway online. Get Googling.
- Trip blogs: A day from Tonbridge to Yalding in 2013 and 2011. To and from Yalding in 2012 and a weekend trip from Tonbridge to Maidstone in 2010
Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
- a map : http://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/media/img/common/area_map.jpg
- offers many opportunities for flatwater paddling
- many places to hire canoes
- can be busy with other watercraft
River Waveney
- leads to Oulton Broad, giving a trip with different areas to paddle in
- the club had a trip here in 2009
- mildly tidal and more than a little windy, its a beautiful and remote area
- Waveney River Centre offers camping and other accommodation, and good put ins (and might have a few canoes to hire)
Rivers Ant and Bure
- you can pass through different waters such as Barton Broad
- The Canoe Man will hire out canoes and a few kayaks and recommend wetsuit friendly B & Bs (he'll also drop you off at the starting point)
River Stour
A favourite paddle of many, offering some simple run-able weirs and a camp site halfway along. The river runs away from towns and roads for a lot of its length. Its a well supported canoe trail with managed portages and passes being improved.
River Wye
It's not in the south east but a wonderful river for trips, offering some beautiful touring as well as a few simple grade 2 rapids.
- There is a well written guide to the river that lays out many of the camp sites and access points.