Canoeing on Coniston Water with Path to Adventure

About

Canoeing

See the Lake District from a whole new perspective

Explore Coniston Water - one of the Lake Districts famous lakes and see the magnificent scenery from a Canadian Canoe. We'll tailor the day to suit your group - whether it’s a fun day of games, exploring the lake and splashing with the whole family or a relaxing scenic journey, stopping along the way to visit its hidden coves and the remote Peel Island - also known as Wild Cat Island from the book and feature film 'Swallows and Amazons'.

Our canoes are designed to fit two adults and a child or even a dog! If you have a number of small children, or you’re not too confident on water - not to worry - we can join two canoes together to make a super stable and easy to paddle canoe raft. Fun for all the family.

We guide full, half day trips and expeditions on Coniston Water, Lake Windermere and Wastwater. Want something extra special? Choose a sunset paddle which includes a meal cooked over an open fire.

You'll be coached by an experienced instructor who will equip you with everything you need to have a safe and amazing adventure.

Canoe and Bushcraft

For something a little different, combine your canoe journey with Bushcraft and learn some skills along the way? Park your canoes on the lake shore and let our expert instructors teach you the fundamentals of bushcraft.

For a half day we will cover the exciting and essential skill of how to make a fire using traditional methods of flint and steel and fire bows. You’ll be able to boil water to make a brew plus have a go at some basic knife work.

On full day sessions you’ll get more time to perfect different methods of fire lighting, have a go at fileting and cooking Rainbow Trout for lunch and cook this over your fire along with some hand kneaded garlic bread.  We’ll teach you how to use a knife and axe safely. Ever fancied whittling your own spoon? We'll show you how under the eye of our experienced instructors (age dependant).

 

Sunset Canoe (Inc. Dinner)

Experience something truly unique. Join us on a tranquil evening canoe paddle and enjoy a cooked steak dinner cooked over an open fire whilst watch the Sun setting over the mountain.

On this privately guided canoe tour you will visit hidden coves and islands you can’t get to by foot. Stop off for a dinner of sirloin steak, potatoes and tomato cooked over an open fire by the side of the lake. Watch as the sun sets over the mountains as you paddle back to shore.

 

Intro to White Water Canoeing

Join us for an exhilarating few days of canoeing on some of the finest lakes and rivers this country has to offer. Learn new skills and experience the adrenaline of paddling on white water rivers.

This package is designed to lay the foundations, giving you the essential skills, confidence and boat control needed for this exciting moving water environment.

The first day is spent on beautiful Coniston Water. Here you will learn the fundamentals of paddling an open canoe. You will develop your forwards paddling techniques and learn the importance of trim and edging. We will also focus on controlling and turning your boat so that you have all the skills needed for a river.

As well as skills coaching, there will be plenty of time to explore the stunning bays and islands on Coniston Water. We will brew up using a traditional Ghillie Kettle and if conditions allow, make an improvised canoe raft to sail downwind.

You will then progress on the second day to paddling a grade 1-2 white water river. Here you will be safely led down the river by your guide, negotiating white water rapids, weirs and waves. You will be able to apply and build on all of the skills acquired the previous day, whilst learning new skills such as ferry gliding, breaking out and the ability to read a river.

This day could be held on a variety of rivers around Cumbria depending on the group’s confidence, ability and of course water levels. Whichever river we end up on will leave you feeling more confident and wanting more.

We will provide you with all the technical equipment needed for the weekend. This will include: -

•             A well outfitted open canoe and white-water paddle.

•             A winter thickness wetsuits, dry cag and snug neoprene socks that are always clean, dry and fitted correctly, enabling you to have a fantastic experience whatever the weather.

•             A buoyancy aid and helmet.

•             A dry bag for your lunch and personal kit.

We only work in small groups of up to 4 participants to 1 instructor.

Due to normal summer water levels - this package is available from November to March (unless there have been high levels of rain over a few days).