Flatwater trip ideas

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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

Suggested paddles

River Wey and Godalming Navigations.

Resources:


Lee Navigation

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. You can walk boats over in about 10-15 minutes.
  • can do a loop though the navigation and the river
  • lunch in Victoria park is an option
  • The loop around the olympic part is now open again
  • The Limehouse Cut water can be a bit dirty and smelly.

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.
  • Hertford trip in 2011

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, 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 River Medway


Norfolk and Suffolk Broads

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)

River Stour

  • A favourite paddle of many, offering some simple run-able weirs and a camp site halfway along
  • The rive runs away from towns and roads for a lot of its length.
  • well supported canoe trail with managed portages and passes being improved.

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

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