Flatwater trip ideas
Revision as of 13:12, 15 March 2011 by Danabel (talk | contribs) (→Non-tidal Thames including backwaters: St Patrick's stream, The Loddon)
This page lists suggestions and resources for flatwater trips. Members of the club are likely to have some of the offline resources mentioned - please ask on the forums.
General resources for flat water trips
- BCU 100 Paddles book - online, like
- Canoe focus has an archive of suggested paddles.
- 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
- 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
Generally the Lee 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.
from Limehouse Basin (The Limehouse loop)
- near to the club (still need to drive the boats over)
- can do a loop though the navigation and the river
- lunch in Victoria park is an option
- The loop may not still be a valid route whilst the Olympic Site is being developed
from Tottenham Hale
- canoes and kayaks can be hired from Stonebridge lock: http://www.lvcc.biz/
- well connected to public transport - no cars needed
- high portages when going south
- not that pretty
- a number of riverside pubs exist
North of Enfield
- much prettier section of the Navigation, some beautiful scenery with lots of options for trips
- looping trips still possible
- a longer drive is needed
- put ins / car parking / bathroom stops need to be identified.
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
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
- Canoe focus covers part of the same area: [1]
- Marsport appears to hire out Canoes for the day: [2]
- The Oxford Circuit is a 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 River Medway
- there is loads of information about the Medway online. Get Googling.
- for starters see : http://medwaycanoetrail.co.uk/
- EB Adventures hires boats on The Medway: http://www.ebadventures.com/
Norfolk and Suffolk Broads
- a map : http://www.richardsonsboatingholidays.co.uk/media/img/common/area_map.jpg
- offers many opportunities for flatwater padddling
- many places to hire canues
- can be busy with other watercraft
River Waveney
- leads to Oulton Broad, giving a trip with different areas to trip 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)
Other options
- you can hire canoes to paddle on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation: http://www.papermilllock.co.uk/canoe.htm
