Go canoeing on a canal or river

With thousands of miles of inland waterways available to man-powered boaters, plus all the thrill of white-water weirs and rapids, it's a great way to see the countryside - and keep fit at the same time.

Getting started

Canoeing centres up and down the country offer equipment hire and instruction for people who are just dipping their toes in the water. You can learn the ropes ‘on the job’ as it were, with an instructor accompanying you on a tour down-river. Learn how to paddle, how to steer and how to handle rapids while floating through picturesque countryside.

What you’ll need

Old clothes. Preferably not denim - it gets cold and heavy when wet. Don’t worry too much though, you’re more likely to get a little damp from splashing than you are to fall in completely. Most centres offer showers and changing rooms so you don’t have to drive home in soggy clothes. You should also be able to take a waterproof ‘barrel’ onto the canoe, to store any spare jumpers, wallets, cameras or other valuables that you want with you.

Sunscreen. You’ll be out in the open for several hours and may get sun burned even on a cloudy day.

Waterproofs. Better to be safe than sorry – even in the great British summer.

Strong arms. This is a sport that requires some degree of upper body strength. If you’re built more like Olive Oil than Popeye, prepare yourself for a work out.

Buoyancy aid. Just in case! This should be supplied by the hire centre.

A paddle. Also supplied by the hire centre. Paddles come in different sizes. You should choose one that is around shoulder height.

A partner. The person at the back steers (the easy job, until you’re heading for the canal bank). The person at the front paddles (and builds bigger biceps).

A canoe. Well obviously.

What you’ll do

After pairing up, donning your buoyancy aids and choosing a paddle, your instructor will lead you out to the canoes. Stepping into the canoe is the hard part (or certainly the first hard part). Try not to wobble too much, sit down as soon as possible and watch out for puddles on your seat.
Once you’re in, and comfortably afloat, it’s time to start canoeing in earnest.

Your instructor should talk you through the basic paddle strokes – though much of it is instinctive. Obviously the more of the paddle you actually put in the water, then the more you get out of the stroke, so it is best to hold the paddle as upright as possible. Keep one hand hooked over the top of the paddle and the other more than half way down. The ‘steerer’, at the back of the canoe, is responsible for ensuring you track a straight line down river, instead of zig-zagging madly from one bank to the other – harder work than it sounds!

Steering – the basics

The steerer moves the canoe by pulling – or pushing – his paddle through the water at a 45 degree angle, just behind the hips. For example, if you are holding your paddle over the right of the canoe, and you want to move the canoe to the left, hold the paddle roughly one foot away from you and slowly push forward approximately 3 feet. If you want the canoe to move to the right, hold the paddle 3 feet away from the boat and slowly pull it back towards you. If you are holding the paddle over the left of the canoe, then simply reverse this procedure. Put simply, the canoe will move in the opposite direction to wherever you push the paddle. Easy!

Things to watch out for

Rapids. Hang on tight and close your eyes! Actually no, they’re not too bad – on a beginners course anyway. Try not to go down sideways, or to get stuck on any rocks, and you’ll be just fine.

Trees. A tree, however small, is sure to win any battle with a canoe. Canoes can be tipped upside down. Trees can’t. Avoid paddling near trees whenever possible.

Rocks. They stick up out of the water and knock you of course. Your canoe can also become stuck on them in shallow water - but you’ll have fun ‘shunting’ your canoe free.

Wildlife. Don’t get so caught up in paddling and steering that you forget to appreciate the beautiful wildlife all around you. Kingfishers and dragonflies flit through the trees, swans glide through the water and if you’re very lucky you could even spot an otter or a water vole.

Ready to get started? Find a canoeing club near you.

In this section ...

Next steps »

Once you’ve mastered the fine art of canoeing in a straight line, avoiding trees and staying upright in rapids, you may wish to take to the water on your own. More »

Playing on the rapids »

Think canoeing is all about paddling serenely down a slow-flowing river? Think again. More »