Kayak touring involves longer trips on rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries and the sea.
On club nights members can paddle up or down the Gloucester Sharpness canal from the clubhouse or join regular Tuesday evening ‘off site’ paddles on nearby local rivers or from different sections of the canal. These trips are enjoyable leisurely journeys which take in the scenery and wildlife found along local waterways.
Throughout the year, daytime touring paddles at the weekend are organised on our local rivers; the Severn, Avon or Wye. These enable touring paddlers to do longer trips to improve their skills and widen their experience on suitable stretches of water. This can also include a gentle introduction to paddling on moving water or the opportunity improve their general paddling abilities under supervision.
Our weekend trips away are also well attended. For the past 10 years or more, the club has run a weekend paddling and camping trip to the Gower in south Wales, providing an opportunity to experience taking to the sea for touring paddles or to enjoy kayak surfing. We also organise a weekend of paddling and camping in North Wales which includes sea paddles, lake paddles and the opportunity to enjoy the local Welsh canals, as part of an all club trip. From time to time other weekend trips are organised to enjoy sea paddling in Dorset, Wales and other venues.
To support introductory training the club owns a selection of suitable touring boats and equipment for you to use initially so even if you are a complete beginner with an interest in paddling please do get in contact. Beginners do need to complete the introductory sessions and do some further paddling on the canal to practice skills and build fitness, to be able to take part in the Tuesday night local trips and the longer weekend trips.