1/2 day Scenic River Trip - Middle Derwent

Learn to canoe in Derwentwater, Keswick Cumbria with this fantastic open canoe lesson, great for beginners to get canoeing on and fantastic for the whole family!

This activity is ideal for families, couples and groups! No experience is required.

This section of the River Derwent lies between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake. It's approximately 3km long, and a very pleasant grade I/II with plenty of places to learn the necessary basic skills for river running.

The River Derwent meanders its way through agricultural fields, with open views of the fells such as Causey Pike, and Grisedale Pike, interspersed with sheltered tree line bankings overlooked by the massive Skiddaw!

The river is seldom paddled and home to a variety of wildlife. A bird reserve at the southern end of Bassenthwaite Lake is home to even more wildlife, and the forest overlooking the water is the nesting place for our famous osprey.

The top section of the river has some fast moving water to negotiate and if the water levels are right there is also a surfing wave to play on and practice your canoe handling.

Our open canoes are very stable, comfortable and versatile,

We will supply you with your canadian canoe and paddles, and fit you with your buoyancy aid, that must be worn at all times.

After a land based safety briefing we will launch onto the water to learn basic canoeing skills. When you feel confident, and everyone is ready, we will set off on our river journey.

Our canoe instructors are all highly qualified, extremely professional and very friendly so rest assured you will be in very safe hands and will have a truely memorable time.

Itinerary

9.30am - Meet and shuttle vehicles to end point.

10.00am - Allocation of buyancy aids, canoes and paddles. Land based safety brief. Then onto the water.

13.30pm - End of river trip - pack up kit, load canoes and head home!

Experience

This river trip offers rapids, stunning scenery and the opportunity to know how to control and manoeuvre your canoe on moving water.

No experience is necessary.

Children are welcome - minimum age 10 years old

Any under 18's must be accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian.

Pickup / Dropoff

Meet at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick (CA12 5DJ) at 9.30am.

Regarding parking, there is a pay and display car park at theatre by the lake. Alternatively you might want to find somewhere around the back streets of Keswick, where parking costs nothing, but it can be a bit of a hunt to find a space!

Included / Excluded

Cost includes all specialist equipment and instruction.

Essential Information

Please wear warm comfortable clothing for paddling in - NO JEANS. Fleece or wool is ideal, also wear trainers or boots you don't mind getting wet (no sandals/flip flops).

Please bring:

Full change of clothes.

Waterproofs - trousers and jacket with hood.

Sun cream (you never know!)

Food snacks.

Any personal medication

Restrictions

No experience is necessary.

Children are welcome - minimum age 10 years old

Any under 18's must be accompanied by their parent(s) or guardian.