FAQs

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What is canoeing?

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Canoeing is a physical activity involving an open-top boat called a canoe which is around 15ft long. The canoe is propelled by paddling a single-bladed canoe paddle. Canoes can be paddled solo but more commonly with Western Tides in pairs. Multiple canoes can be lashed together to form a stable raft.

How hard is canoeing?

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If you’re not experienced in canoeing, you’ll be in good hands. You’ll start by learning the fundamentals on the beach before departing, and you’ll soon practice the skills on the journey - with some expert coaching tips along the way.

Physically, it can be tiring but we can go as far and fast or short and steady as you want. Each session is adapted to your individual wants and needs.

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How does the session run?

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You’ll meet your guide in Ravenglass where you’ll get kitted out with buoyancy aids, paddles and dry-bags for any personal kit. You’ll help unload the canoes from the trailer and we’ll wheel or carry the boats some 100m to the estuary. We’ll decide what the session will look like - how far we’ll go, how hard we want to paddle, and anything we want to do or see along the way.

Each session is scheduled to coincide with a convenient high-water tide, and we’ll aim to launch around 1.5hrs before the predicted high-water. We’ll paddle up one of the three rivers which fllow into Ravenglass. benefiting from the tide pushing us along, until we reach a convenient resting spot. Here we can wait for the tide to turn back while resting with some refreshments. We’ll then paddle back to our starting point where we’ll transfer the canoes and kit back to the trailer.

We’ll continue rain or shine - so bring your sun hat, shades, suncream as well as your waterproofs! Strong winds do present a challenge and in moderate winds we may adapt the session to be a shorter journey, but may include some canoe skills such as lining - where we use ropes to pull the canoes along the shore - or some bushcraft skills. In heavy winds, we’ll be forced to cancel and either offer a rescheduled date or refund.

Ravenglass is easily accessed by a wide range of public transport:

  • The X7 bus connects Ravenglass as far as Whitehaven in the North and Millom in the south

  • The Cumbrian Coast Trainline also connects Ravenglass as far North as Carlisle and Barrow in the south

  • The La’al Ratty minitature rail connects Ravenglass to accomodation up the Eskdale Valley

If travelling by foot or bicycle, there’s space for you to store belongings or lock bicycles up.

If coming by car, Pay and Display parking is available at the Lake District National Park Ravenglass carpark which is just a few minutes walk away.

What facilities are available?

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What about the weather?

What do I need to bring?

How do I get here?

Where will we go?

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Can I bring my dog(s)?

With the estuary combining the rivers Esk, Irt and Mite we’ve plenty of options of where to explore. You may have your own ideas of where you want to go, but the key consideration will be the weather - as certain conditions can limit our destination.

At a minimum, you’ll need clothes to be comfortable in the outdoors for around 4hrs. We’d recommend you pack and prepare for rain and shine - so hats, sunglasses, suncream as well as waterproof jacket and trousers, plus warm layers.

The goal is to stay dry in the canoes - however there’s always a risk of campsizing or falling in, so spare warm clothes are always recommended. It’s normally possible to keep your feet dry, but an old pair of trainers or wellington boots might be handy.

Finally, some food and drink!

In the village there’s public toilets provided by the Lake District National Park, which we’d recommended using before arriving.

There’s also a small village stores, offering essentials and stacks, within the Pennington Hotel, who also offer a bar and meals. The Inn at Ravenglass and The Ratty Arms are also in the village offering food and drink.

Very well behaved dogs, who are able to settle/lay down on command, and have good recoil off-lead, are welcome - provided you bring a correctly fitted buoyancy aid for them.

However, if you’ve not taken your dogs canoeing before and aren’t confident it’s for them, it may be best to leave to leave them behind.