Canoeing/ Kayaking - do u need a license etc?
Discussion
After spotting someone on here posting about how good some of the cheap inflatable kayaks were I thought I'd look into it as there is a fairly popular river near me but I'm surprised (or confused) at some of the restrictions.
Now I know there are rights of way issues for walking cycling etc but I had a perhaps naive utopian vision of picking up a paddle an navigating the river to my hearts content ( or nearest pub) - I thought rivers werent owned as such.
Having checked my local canoe club website they say you cant go passed a lock a mile upstream because the environment agency hage restricted that as a fishing area and that similarly you can only go about 6 miles downstream IIRC. For the bits in between you apparently need a license ( which you can get through club membership).
Is this the same everywhere? I really didn't expect this to be so controlled or restricted. It'd be good to hear other people's experiences of this and kayaking in general before I rewrite my letter to Santa for that kayak!
Now I know there are rights of way issues for walking cycling etc but I had a perhaps naive utopian vision of picking up a paddle an navigating the river to my hearts content ( or nearest pub) - I thought rivers werent owned as such.
Having checked my local canoe club website they say you cant go passed a lock a mile upstream because the environment agency hage restricted that as a fishing area and that similarly you can only go about 6 miles downstream IIRC. For the bits in between you apparently need a license ( which you can get through club membership).
Is this the same everywhere? I really didn't expect this to be so controlled or restricted. It'd be good to hear other people's experiences of this and kayaking in general before I rewrite my letter to Santa for that kayak!
I wouldn't say I'm a mad keen kayaker, but I've got 2 and I do get them wet fairly often.
I've never even thought about where I'm allowed/not allowed to be . . . just put in and get paddling!!
Near me I've got rivers (flat & white water), estuaries, canals and the sea and tbh, I've paddled them all - never, ever been asked for a license ( that is sooo a new one on me!) and shared the water with everyone else.
I wouldn't take any notice of any bks about a "fishing area" (I'm an angler too) - just share the water with everyone else with mutual respect . . . get involved and have fun!!
I've never even thought about where I'm allowed/not allowed to be . . . just put in and get paddling!!
Near me I've got rivers (flat & white water), estuaries, canals and the sea and tbh, I've paddled them all - never, ever been asked for a license ( that is sooo a new one on me!) and shared the water with everyone else.
I wouldn't take any notice of any bks about a "fishing area" (I'm an angler too) - just share the water with everyone else with mutual respect . . . get involved and have fun!!
Many years ago (well, 15 or so) I was a member of a Kayak club and certainly, membership of the club gave us licence to navigate all the rivers and canals around us.
Quite a few rules for paddling on inland water-ways and if you have a club nearby it'd be well worth asking them.
With regards to fishermen..... not always happy to see someone paddling up 'their' side of the river.
Many a time I've had full cans of Coke/Lilt/ Dr Pepper lobbed at my head...
Not to mention the dead bodies in the water..
But it's a great sport and I wish I was able to start again - I've never been so fit and healthy as when I was canoeing!
Quite a few rules for paddling on inland water-ways and if you have a club nearby it'd be well worth asking them.
With regards to fishermen..... not always happy to see someone paddling up 'their' side of the river.
Many a time I've had full cans of Coke/Lilt/ Dr Pepper lobbed at my head...
Not to mention the dead bodies in the water..
But it's a great sport and I wish I was able to start again - I've never been so fit and healthy as when I was canoeing!
I used to kayak and canoe up to about 9 years ago. Nothing spectacular - wasn't particularly good at it - just something i did a lot with mates. We once went from Penrith to Windermere over three days - mainly without cars (apart from the impossible - i.e. no water - bits) - using candian canoes and walking in parts. Very little in terms of policing then.
We camped on one of the Windermere islands on the 2nd night - again, apparently something that you're not supposed to do - and no one said anything.
Really keen to get back into it though. 2012 is the year to do so!
We camped on one of the Windermere islands on the 2nd night - again, apparently something that you're not supposed to do - and no one said anything.
Really keen to get back into it though. 2012 is the year to do so!
sider said:
Well, you've inspired me.
Im going to a canoeing club again on Monday evening - first time since 1997 (the year i discovered girls and started to think about drinking lots!). I suppose you could call it a poor man's mid life crisis - sure can't afford a motorbike or Honda S2000!
You've picked a great time of year to start again...brrrr.Im going to a canoeing club again on Monday evening - first time since 1997 (the year i discovered girls and started to think about drinking lots!). I suppose you could call it a poor man's mid life crisis - sure can't afford a motorbike or Honda S2000!
It's in a pool!
You wouldn't catch me in a river this time of year! Or a lake for that matter!
I used to go to a canoe club all year round back until about 97, and we'd be in pools til about April, and on closed water until about September.
After i finished there, we just used to get out on rivers whenever we could. Last time i was in one was 2002 so going to be like learning to ride a bike again!
You wouldn't catch me in a river this time of year! Or a lake for that matter!
I used to go to a canoe club all year round back until about 97, and we'd be in pools til about April, and on closed water until about September.
After i finished there, we just used to get out on rivers whenever we could. Last time i was in one was 2002 so going to be like learning to ride a bike again!
Lightweight!
I started my canoeing one October (can't remember which year!) on the River Trent at full swell.
The same year I did a 10k K2 race on New Years day at an air temp of about 1˚c.
That was bloody cold....
Rivers all year round - Tuesday night and Saturdays for training and Sunday's for competing.
I started my canoeing one October (can't remember which year!) on the River Trent at full swell.
The same year I did a 10k K2 race on New Years day at an air temp of about 1˚c.
That was bloody cold....
Rivers all year round - Tuesday night and Saturdays for training and Sunday's for competing.
Never bothered but haven't paddled in the UK since moving to Switzerland in 2009 and when I did I was a student so the £15 BCU membership seemed like a big deal. The BCU membership is worth it because it gives you 3rd party liability insurance and the right to be on the river. They also use this money to fund kayaking development, and to lobby the govt for river access campaign.
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