Top 10 Paddling Destinations From the Great British Adventures Book

Our Top 10 paddling destinations 

Ashley Kenlock and Richard Harpham are highly qualified canoe and kayak guides, coaches and adventurers who recently clocked up their 15’000^th  mile of expeditions including canoeing the Yukon River , sea kayaking 1000 miles from Vancouver to Glacier Bay Alaska and exploring Mallorca by SUP. Together they run Canoe Trail a multi award winning watersports and adventure company, regular writers for magazines they  recently completed their new paddling guide book called “Great British Paddling Adventures “ written by paddlers for paddlers from novice to advanced. Uniquely it covers canoeing , kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP) with short day paddles to multi day adventures including wild camping. 

The book has been endorsed by a number of people including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ray Mears, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Steve Backshall . We asked Ash and Rich to tell us about the book and some of their favourite rivers, coast and lakes they visited to compile the guide. 

The structure of the book is designed to really help paddlers to plan and enjoy a range of different waters safely, but also to enjoy other activities in the area and where to hire kit or access guided trips. The book is brimming with beautiful full colour photos of different craft used to complete each route as well as historic locations, features and hazards on the water and much more besides. 

Comprehensive introduction which details important safety and trip planning elements including :

• Route description providing details of what to expect when, portages and features on the paddle
• ‘Paddling further’ identifies where you can extend or shorten the trip 
• Annotated maps with details of hazards, facilities and locations 
• Locator maps - tube map style maps with distances between points of interest and hazards
• What 3 words, postcodes and grid references for points of interest
• Shared economy where to hire or get guided trips or activities particularly for more moderate environments or more challenging trips 
• Calorie Credits details of cafes and eateries
• Local activities identifying other activities in the area to help readers to enjoy a short break with multiple things 
• Wildlife Safari section covering what wildlife you might see 

Derwent water to Bassenthwaite Lake

The Lake District conjures up a nostalgic watery paradise partly frozen in time from yesteryear. Derwent water is a welcoming smaller lake nestled on the shores of Keswick . Launching from the Kettlewell National trust car park you are immediately drawn to various islands and islets that demand visitation. Swallows and Amazons spring to mind as you explore further. 

Our paddling adventure reached new levels as we located the small but perfectly formed Derwent River bubbling gently between Derwent water and Bassenthwaite. Slowly it felt a little more intrepid and off the beaten track. After a few bends we arrived at the small stoney beach below the pedestrian bridge and stopped for a picnic. Our dogs played ‘zoomies’ and it became one of our favourite paddling destinations of the book shaped by this picture postcard moment . 

Further on there is a small weir which you can paddle over in low conditions and the winding river then feels more remote again as you leave civilisation behind. A permit is required for bassenthwaite which is designated as a nature reserve. After passing under a couple of agricultural looking bridges the river opened up into Bassenthwaite which feels open and less intimate with a vast expanse of water to greet you. You can exit on the far shore to portage to several car parks.

Cambridge Backs 

First disclaimer is that you need to be a member of Paddle UK to access the waters on the Cambridge Backs . Once you paddle in, around and under the historic bridges, buildings and colleges of one of the world’s most famous university cities you will be entranced and return time and time again. 

The Backs stretches out behind the colleges with bridges to delight tourists with punts paddling alongside you. It’s enchanting and we have often found ourselves photographed and ‘papped’ by our visitors . The route looping through the city takes your under the magical bridge of sighs and around to Jesus green, Midsummers Common and eventually to Stourbridge Common and Ditton Meadows. There is a portage at either end of the backs, at the southern end at Landress Green and at the north at Jesus Lock. Past this point you are joined by the different college rowing crews from the brightly crested boat clubs . One of the most famous being the Cambridge Goldies Light Blues boat house. As fans of the boat race it is exciting to be paddling past. 

The river winds up to Stourbridge common a great place to pull in for a Picnic. Options are to shuttle and to A to B or mostly we opt for an out and back paddle. One year we SUP’d it in winter, no tourists and cold toes but definitely ‘the juice was worth the squeeze’. 

Finally to put the icing on the paddling cake you could paddle downstream from the backs to the Orchard Tea Rooms at Grantchester. If the backs is a bustling tourism destination the route to the famous tea rooms is narrow and winding as you paddle to the cafe of choice for Kings, prime ministers and poets alike . 

Jurassic coast Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove 

Anywhere with a UNESCO world heritage site designation is generally guaranteed to be a great paddling destination and we featured several in the guidebook. This is one our favourite sea kayaking trips that we have paddled many times and shared with hundreds of Canoe Trail customers .  

On our Jurassic trip we paddle a host of locations including Old Harry, The Needles and Lulworth which is always a favourite. Launching at Lulworth is usually a long carry weaving past other visitors with a sea kayak on our shoulders (you can bring a trolley). Once on the water the ‘hub bub’ quickly subsides as the stacked layers of folded sediment rock surround you in this ancient bay shaped almost like an amphitheatre . Nose out the bay paddle intro the prevailing conditions to check it’s a day for you (that way you can always return without needing a rescue.) 

Durdle door is about 2 kilometres down to Man O’ War beach and then famous well photographed archway. At the far end of the beach is Bats Hole which at higher tides and calmer conditions can be paddled through. The short paddle along to Durdle Door can be lumpy 3-D paddling in swell and windy conditions. Be warned! Durdle Door has been a source of many exciting developments in our paddling career including photo bombing a Bollywood movie being filmed at the arch..Cut! And …sea kayaking along to find a group of skinny dippers. Faced with kayakers their decision making seemed a little off as they ran from the sea!!! 

River Tweed 

The River Tweed flows purposefully along the Scottish and English border counties offering perhaps Britain’s best touring river with amazing wildlife, speedy short rapid sections, bigger weirs and obstacles which can be portaged and the more challenging Makerstoun rapid with the particularly puzzling named ‘Goat Hole’. 

Whether you start at Kelso, further up at Peebles or downstream near Coldstream its got plenty of interesting features for canoe or kayak touring. It is the perfect river to progress to moving water, from 2D to 3D paddling and more challenging grade 3 sections or dangerous weirs can be easily portaged. It passes ancient castles and ruins and eventually arrives at the tidal estuary section near Berwick upon Tweed. Tweedmouth needs to be tackled with the tide to avoid a slog but flowing under the massive viaduct and bridges in the town make it a paddle to be savoured. We have paddled this trip with our customers at Canoe Trail each Spring and also as a private trip.

River Great Ouse 

The River Great Ouse is our home stomping ground, as water people we know every nook and cranny. Rich joined Viking Kayak Club based in Bedford and learnt slalom, canoeing and as the sport developed tried most disciplines . Bedford is a river town with a stunning Victorian Embankment with leafy tree lined water and walk ways. The town has been embryonic for a large number of paddlers and coaches, racing and canoe polo. 

The river meanders through rural backwaters into the town from Kempston, passing by the embankment with a range of eateries and then back into more tranquille waters as it heads through Bedfordshire and then Huntington before meeting the Wash at Kings Lynn. It is a perfect touring river for all craft with locks, weirs and country parks offering families and other paddlers day trips to multiday adventures. The Canoe Trail base is at Kempton outdoor centre with high ropes, over 300 canoes, kayaks and SUP’s and a wealth of paddling experience in the staff team offering coaching, courses and qualification’s. 

Between Bedford and the sleepy riverside village of Great Barford is Canoe Trail’s private woodland which offer wild camping in a riverside campsite with clearings for open fires and compost toilets. It’s idyllic and was voted top 52 things to do in the world by Lonely planet for families and Top 3 destinations for SUP by Red Bull Magazine

The river is stacked with wildlife including otters, kingfishers , red kites and herons and boasts an incredible history with old bridges, locks built by Smeaton and even the spot where John Bunyan was baptised in 1650. The Bedford section of the Great Ouse has Cardington artificial slalom course , one of the first in the county where many slalom paddlers cut their teeth and Duckmill white water course now called Etienne Stott  Whitewater arena after the towns slalom canoeing gold medallist at London 2012. 

The Great Glen Canoe Trail

There is something incredible about crossing a country by human power, navigating from coast to coast and this Scottish paddle is on many people’s bucket lists. We have paddled it for decades when it was originally known as the Caledonian canal and on that trip we made the papers as our silver Grummand canoes caught the sunlight glint and were photographed as Nessie on the prowl. 

Going with the weather and prevailing wind is a top tip to make your trip more smiles than slog and when paddling from Banavie, ‘West to East’ to Inverness then consider taking the River Ness for some fun white water at Loch Dochfort. The Great Glen Canoe Trail usually takes 4-5 days and is 65 miles long taking in the canal stretches, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and Loch Lochy. Our Canoe Trail Great Glen guided trip featured in the Times for their Top 25 outdoor breaks a few years ago . 

Loch Ness is a challenging element of the paddle and is 26 miles long and behaves like a small sea in moderate conditions whipping up to potentially serious waves and swell. Check the weather and ensure you have the skills for the conditions. There are some campsites listed in the book but they can be exposed . 

River Dee and Llangollen Canal, Wales 

The River Dee offers so much action and adventure in a short time span and compact locations. Over many years we have paddled and led my sections of it with customers on our best of Wales trip. 

When asked to list some of our favourite paddles this had to be in the book with the Dee Loop including the Serpents Tail rapid and lovely bouncy grade 2 features. Conveniently you can paddle the loop down from the Mile End Mill site and then portage past the railway line onto the Llangollen Canal and paddle back to Horseshoe falls to paddle again. 

Staying on the canal and heading the other way (downstream) takes you to the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct known as the ‘River in the Sky’. Paddling across the aqueduct is on many people’s bucket list paddling trips.  The book highlights options to extend the paddling trips for many miles, local campsites and things to do, days out and the like. 

River Spey 68 miles from Loch Insch to Spey Bay

The River Spey remains one of the most iconic white water canoeing rivers in the UK with great rapids such as the Washing Machine and Knockandoo. It follows the Speyside whiskey trail with island and wild camping along the way as it weaves through the Scottish highlands. 

Starting higher up in the Cairngorms you can join the river for day trips and utilise local accommodation or camp out. Loch Insch gives you a fantastic start location to practice strokes and tandem skills with the small loch home to ospreys and an outdoor centre. Over the years we have featured many different parts of the Spey as day trips on our Best of Scotland expedition with trips running from Aviemore down to Boat of Garten offering some fast bends and small riffle rapids. 

The third element of the Spey in the book with options on each to extend each route runs from Bridge of Advie down to the bridge of Carron which includes the infamous Washing machine (Blackboat rapids) and Knockadoo Rapids. 

River Stour 

The River Stour is a 2-3 day 50 mile paddling route through Constable country passing Flatford Mill, small weirs and features some of which can be paddled and the exciting Langham Flumes. The flumes are two chutes that bisect the river flow offering a log flume style ride from the top to the bottom.

There are countless small pools and little weirs to break up with winding Suffolk journey from Sudbury to the East coast at Cattawade. The Stour conservation Trust look after this tranquil river way which is always a delight to paddle. Locks near Sudbury give way to lush river banks, hidden wild swimming spots, historic bridges and several pubs and campsites along the route.

We have paddled this hidden backwater for years and even used it as a training session out and back for our Yukon River Quest race in 2016.

River Ribble

The River Ribble is one of those charming rivers that invites you to return, time and time again with the section featured in the book running from Clitheroe to Ribchester. We first paddled in after lockdown and camped ‘vanlife’ style in the Covid testing car park. Once onto the river all remnants of 21^st Century life eased from our memory banks as we navigated this gem of our UK paddling locations. We launched downstream of Edisford Bridge and quickly felt at home on the sparkling waters. There was a small drop weir to portage.  

The river pours gently over slab rock with small riffles and iconic bridges along the route. It builds from small rapids to bigger ones with a more challenging S bend section near Hurst Green. From there it builds again until the ‘Wheel Rapid’ where the Ribble squeezes through a narrow rock gap producing boils and faster water. 

Exit the river at Ribchester Bridge,  give yourself a pat on the back and plan your return.

Quotes 

Adventures are good for the soul. And adventures on the water are even better!

Etienne Stott MBE

Rich and have poured their passion for paddling into this unique guide.

Steve Backshall

I cannot think of many people better equipped to share a love of paddling and the best locations around the UK

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

A unique guide to paddling some of Britain’s most iconic rivers, coastline and lakes

Ray Mears

A must buy for any paddler

Miranda Krestovnikoff