Kayak River Rolling Clinic

This course is geared for the paddler who has got some paddling experience and has never rolled before or those who want to develop their kayak roll further. Next date: 26th April, 16th May, 31st May…

Level: Grade 0: This means it is a flat paddle and should be within most people’s abilities.

£35

26th April, 16th May, 31st May 2026 - 11.30am-12.30pm
Duration: 60 mins

Kayak Rolling Skills From Professional Coaches

What's Included

Craft
Buoyancy Aid
Bank Based Briefing
Dry Bag
Paddles
Helmet
Professional Coaches
Activity Equipment

What else we can provide on request

Waterproofs
Hire of Wetsuits
Hire of Drysuits

We can help complete novices to those wanting to master their roll or those looking to build consistancy. Learning and practicing in the river is great as a realistic coached opportunity.

We can also help develop progressive skills and a 'bomb proof' roll for those with existing skills.

Dates

26th April, 16th May, 31st May 2026, 11.30am-12.30pm for a 60 min group session

practising rolling (ratio 1:3)

If you have a group of friends or group then why not contact us for a private booking. Email in to reserve a slot

Location:

Kempston Outdoor Centre, parking at MK42 7FB

Arrival 15 mins before session time. Please park at Mill Lane, MK42 7FB, turn right at the river and along the path through the trees to our Centre with our slipway on your left.

Requirements

Suitable for ages 8+ Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult 21 years and over.

Timings

1-hour sessions. Click on 'book now' to view timeslots.

Included

Kayak
Equipment
Instructors

What you will need to bring

ring comfortable clothing such as gym wear, shorts, a t-shirt or wetsuit, along with a pair of water shoes, or old trainers. Bring a towel and a change of clothes. No special equipment or clothing is required. You can bring a rash vest, goggles, or snorkel masks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if it rains?

Unless you hear from us then your booking will run on the day agreed. Canoe Trail runs watersports, paddling, and adventurous activities throughout the year with people enjoying the river and our woodland campsite during the different seasons. On rare occasions (it only happens a few times a year) we may move or change your booking. This will be in freak weather conditions such as extremely high river flows in spate or during heavy storms with lightning. You can read our full FAQ here.

What should I wear?

We paddle all the year round and believe the old adage “There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing”! Participants should wear light (gym style) clothing suitable for getting wet such as tracksuit bottoms or shorts and a top. Jeans are not the best things to wear as they wick water. In simple terms, dress for the weather and check the forecast beforehand. If cold then a thermal top or sweatshirt may also be needed. Hats and gloves are a great way to feel slightly warmer in winter and caps and wide-brimmed hats are also useful in summer to protect you from the sun. You should also bring a change of clothes in the event that you get wet. We do have waterproofs usually available, you can arrange for some courses and trips to hire wetsuits and drysuits.

How does the booking process work?

During the season our hire of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, and paddle and camp trips are scheduled for customers to book via an automated schedule. Typically Kempston base is open throughout the season 7 days a week whereas Bedford is usually weekends or holidays. At the time of booking you will need to enter medical information, any special requirements and sizes into the booking forms. You will also need to provide contact details and emergency contact details as a contingency. Depending on what you are doing (e.g. camping, expeds, etc), you can book optional extras such as wood (you need to bring your own otherwise), water, grills, tipis and luggage service, or if you're on an exped you can hire hire drysuits. Once you have booked and your information is captured by the system, you will receive an automated email including a QR code and parking information to help you arrive in good time for your booking and get checked in. See our Terms & Conditions - www.canoetrail.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

Why can't I select a date to book?

Our schedules are automated and are linked to the calendar and available resources. We have over 260 craft available (canoes, kayaks and SUP’s) so you can drop us a line if you want a date that you cant see. Our Kempston base is throughout the season every day whereas Bedford is only weekends and holidays. There is a cut off time of 30 mins prior to each time slot, so if you are making a last minute booking then call us and we can help!

Do you offer private bookings for a group?

Yes we do offer group, club and private bookings for all watersports including kayaking, canoeing, and SUP. As well as whitewater courses, qualifications, and our expeditions. Please contact us to discuss a private tailored booking for your team, friends and family. We run taillored sessions for youth charities, schools, family and friend groups, corporate and other groups to learn outdoor activities.

What happens if we're late?

You will need to arrive 10 mins before your booking time to allow for registration etc. If you arrive late, please note that you may not be able to do the trip you booked and may have to do an alternative route. In some cases, you may not be able to paddle on that day. If you are running late then please let us know ASAP by calling our mobile number. Please contact us to let us know if you are going to be late. Our staff work on tight schedules to load kit and reset trailers for the day. On expeditions and trips we aim to share our beautiful surroundings, wildlife and vistas with the group and cover the distance. We will travel at the speed of the group so occasionally an injury, participant struggling or inclement weather may affect our finish time. On courses we aim to start on time for the entire group to cover the course syllabus. occasionally an injury, participant struggling or inclement weather may affect our finish time.

What happens if I need to postpone?

When you make a booking you are reserving the equipment and space for your booking , your seat and place (as you would with an airline) and although we have multiple craft (over 300 ) they are not all available at every location. Please do let us know if you are going to have to postpone and in some instances with notice we may be able to move your booking in our calendar with an admin fee. Closer to the booking we are not able to accept a postponement.

Do I need a licence for a canoe, kayak, or SUP?

A common question we get asked is whether you need a licence for paddling canoes, kayaks or SUP's. The answer on rivers and navigable waterways is yes. As Canoe Trail we buy licences through our National Governing Body Paddle UK to cover all of our watersports activities. We recommend buying Paddle UK membership with many benefits including river licence and also discounts with key brands. The Paddle UK licence also allows access to certain private watersways such as Cambridge Backs, Norfolk Broads and waters managed by the Environment Agency. Other options for licences include the Canal and River Trust where you can purchase a 30 day Explorer Licence (this is limited to water controlled by them). You can also purchase licences for specific waters controlled by the Environment Agency such as River Thames, River Medway and Anglian Waterways. So to summarise Paddle UK is the best membership for access to the majority of waterways. Hire companies such as Canoe Trail provide the licence when you rent the canoe, kayak or Stand up paddle board.

How fit do I need to be?

You don’t need to be super fit to paddle, but a bit of stamina helps, especially around locks. Our 1-hour and half-day hires don’t include any locks, so there’s very little lifting. Full-day hires usually involve at least one, where you’ll need to move your craft a short distance on land (they do make great picnic spots though!). All of our routes for hire are considered 'Grade 0' meaning they're a great choice for beginners and we’ll give you plenty of tips before you head out. If you’re unsure, just give us a call. For expeditions then we often use the analogy of walking in the hills for a day with a light rucksack, its not lung busting effort but it does require up to 6-7 hours paddling in the great outdoors. We can provide guidance for customers on building Paddlefit endurance ahead of bigger trips.

Is there a weight limit for paddlers and equipment?

Generally there is a craft for everyone whatever their weight. Our instructors will try and match you to the best craft for you. Kayaks have a closed cockpit where your legs sit inside the kayak so the cockpit size is the critical element. We have several cockpits on certain craft that are larger and some craft are more stable than offers. Sit on Tops, double and single are more stable than conventional sit in kayaks. In some instances for taller and larger humans we have also provided one of our double kayaks for them to paddle solo to feel more comfortable. Similarly we have a range of canoe sizes from 15ft with 2 seats to 16ft with 2 or 3 seats and 17ft with 2 or 3 seats. The longer canoes are wider and more stable. With stand up paddle boards we have a range of boards that are thicker and wider which will be easier for bigger people. If you are unsure about the best craft for you then please do ask.

Do you take photographs?

We aim to take pictures at the start of your trip and post these to our social media for your ease of access. If you take pictures of your paddling trip please tag them with #canoetrail, @canoetrails (Twitter/Instagram/TikTok), Canoe Trail on Facebook/Trip Adviser.

How to find us. Transport? Parking?

The more rural locations have lay-bys and small car parks available. Please allow time for parking so you are not running late. Parking in Bedford can be more of a challenge but the council does have their own designated parking locations, please have a look online for the closest one to your start point and prices.

Do I need to be able to swim?

Participants should be confident in and around water although they do not need to be swimmers. We will provide all safety briefings and equipment for the day, including a buoyancy aid for all paddlers.

How easy is it to learn to roll a kayak?

Learning to roll a kayak is like many new skills with some expert tuition and time to practice beginners can learn qucikly. Typically novice kayakers either learn in a swimming pool or have assistance to learn in a river. The kayak roll can be broken down into simple steps, paddle positioning, activating the roll, body position and hip flick for example. Working with experienced coaches who can demo different rolls and then support your learning journey pays dividends to learning to roll a kayak. Our venue at Kempston Outdoor Centre, Bedford is a perfect venue with shallow sections and beaches to nail your roll in a kayak.

How long does it take to learn to kayak or canoe?

Learning to canoe or kayak is like many outdoor pastimes you can take to the water quickly and be paddling around within the space of a few minutes and learn the foundation taster skills in 2-3 hours. The Paddle UK Start Award reflects this simple 'taster' or 'have a go' option where you learn to paddle forwards, stop, turn and effect some basic steering strokes. Then like most sports it then takes a lifetime to master, perhaps changing the environment to sea or whitewater or paddling perfomance craft. This paddling learning curve can be broken into bite sized chunks and aided by professional coaching, experience of different locations and conditions and of course qualifications. The Paddle UK personal performance awards PPA, mvoe from the Start Award to then Discover (a full day of coaching to develop skills further) followed by Explore which can be a further 1-2 days of tuition. From there you can hone skills and keep learning.

Which is easier to learn kayaking or canoeing?

The foundations and basic strokes of kayaking and canoeing are extremely transferable from one to the other. Many people find learning to kayak slightly easier with less to think about with a double ended blade. Solo canoeing requires participants to master paddling on one side with a goon or J stroke which combines forward paddling with some steering or course correction. Usually within a first session most people are able to paddle their canoe or kayak in a straight line and an manoeuvre it about.

What is the best course to learn to kayak?

The best course to learn to kayak is our new Intro to Paddlesport Kayaking course which is broken down in 3 levels (3 x 3 week programmes), Level 1 - an intro to kayaking with foundation skills including forward paddling, turning and steering with a Paddle UK Start Award, Level 2 is more progressive with edging, combination strokes, sideways movement in a kayak, Level 3 is the next step up into white water with moving water and journeying in a kayak, this element of the course will include using our white water training facility, paddling at Bromham with simple rapids and learning to paddle journeys effectively. Alternatively you can book private lessons to work on specific skills or techniques.

What is the best course to learn white water canoeing skills?

Canoe Trail offers a several white water canoeing or kayaking skills courses where paddlers can learn novice or intro skills, develop intermediate white water skills or progress more advanced skills such as breaking in, breaking out, rolling on white water, surfing and ferry gliding. You can book onto our half term intro to moving water with 2 hours at our Bedford based facility or join us for our Matlock Day in the Peak District paddling down from Darley Dale to Matlock Baths learning white water skills with simple rapids and riffles to learn on.

How can I learn canoe, kayak and SUP safety and rescue skills?

There are various courses that include an introduction to safety and rescue courses including the Paddle UK Discover which offers and some self rescue techniques and also the PSRC (PaddleSports Safety and Rescue Course ) which is a great 1 day course with a mix of theory, practical skills and lots of rescue including deep water rescue, unconscious / entrapped, self rescue and others. There is also specifically the SUP safer course which is a SUP specific skills include prone paddling, self rescue and rescueing others. Kempston Outdoor Centre is a great venue to learn safety and rescue skills with over 300 craft and professional coaches.

What are the best qualifications for learning to kayak and canoe?

There are several different options for learning to Canoe and Kayak in Bedford which is only an hour North of London by train or car. You can opt for private lessons or group lessons or alternatively book onto a Paddle UK Qualifications course called PPA, Personal Paddling Awards which include the Start Award (couple of hours), Discover Award which is a day or the Explore Award which can be one or two days of coaching from a professional outdoor instructor .

Location

Kempston Outdoor Centre, park at the Mill Car Park