Slide a canoe into the water and your free to explore, to play, and discover rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters. Whether you choose to take the children on a days paddle, pack up for a wilderness trip, make the most of a evening trip, pitch yourself against white water or experience a night paddle with the stars, moon and sounds of the night. These simple craft can transport us to all these places - and to places we still wish to go.
Some of the ways to get into canoeing are through : a club (see links from elsewhere on this site), a centre (introductory sessions, weekends and holidays) or by visiting a dedicated ‘Open Canoe’ event with an organised choice of activities. These events usually cater for paddlers of different levels and ability, with the opportunity to try out different kinds of canoe. See the ‘Open Canoe’ events list for dates or contact myself for more information.
Choosing the right canoe means thinking about what type of canoeing you wish to do: recreation, marathon, white water, sailing, tripping, placid water etc. Consider how and where you’ll do most of your canoeing, many paddlers want a canoe that can do several things well. There are a whole range of canoe’s and materials: plastic, glassfibre, wood etc. on the market. I won't enter into the debate as to which is best material or canoe, but I must stress that before buying you must : have a go in as many different types of canoes as you can and if possible obtain guidance from a unbiased knowledgable canoeist.
In the United Kingdom the canoeist does not have automatic access or right to launch into any river. To provide help the BCU runs the River Information Service, staffed by local volunteers who can give information on their rivers. In most cases you can paddle legally on tidal waters (you may have to pay habour dues) and on common law navigation’s (ie. the Wye below Hay-on-Wye). You may paddle on the many statuary navigation’s (ie. the Thames) and on some private waterways (British Waterways canals etc.), provided you purchase the required licences. The majority of licences required are covered by the licence supplied within the membership package of the BCU. For further information see links elsewhere on this site or at : www.bcu.org.uk
To Contact Your Regional ‘Open Canoe’ Representative :
Bob Ottley
30 Lower Touches
Chard
Somerset
TA20 1NY
Tel : 01460 - 63812
Email : bobottley@canoeuk.co.uk
Bob Ottley, 30 Lower Touches, Chard, Somerset, TA20 1NY. Tel : 01460 - 63812 bobottley@canoeuk.co.uk or bob@ottleywr.freeserve.co.uk