River Sessions

From around Easter to early August, we have a regular Thursday night paddle on one of our local rivers, canals and lakes. These are often on gentle stretches of water with a couple of small rapids navigable by all. Our experienced volunteer river leaders support these trips and aim to build on the skills gained in the pool. Each trip lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours and is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy nature.

It doesn't matter what you paddle, kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) you're welcome to join us.

 

Our regular paddles include:

 

The River Nidd at Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough

This is a short stretch of river, based around the car park at Conyngham Hall.  We use the river from the far side of the 'Horseshoe' field down as far as the barrier above the weir near Mother Shipton's Cave. There are a couple of small rapids at the top of this section. A short drop under the footbridge to the 'Horseshoe' field, then from the car park down, the river becomes wide and flat and is also used by the pleasure rowing boats available to hire from the opposite side of the river to Mother Shipton's Cave.

This is an ideal location for practising some basic river paddling techniques, and we tend to use it early in the season while there is still adequate water flow.

 

The 'Ripon Loop', River Ure and Ripon Canal.

This loop is formed by a trip down the river Ure, starting just above the bridge at Ripon Racecourse and returning on the Ripon Canal. It finishes near the lock keeper's car park, a couple of hundred meters up the road towards Ripon.

The trip starts with a slight drop below the road bridge, followed by a short, easy rapid, then a gentle paddle down the river until the Ripon Canal joins it. We then turn up the canal and make our way back to towards Ripon. There are two locks to portage around on the return journey.

 

River Ure, Westwick Lock to Milby Cut, Boroughbridge

We get on at Westwick Lock for a gentle paddle down through the countryside to Boroughbridge. This is one of our gentlest paddles, as the river is navigable by boats.

At the end of the paddle, depending on the water level and adequate safety cover, there is often an opportunity to shoot the fish ladders at the weir at Milby Island. This allows some of our more adventurous paddlers to play on moving water. 

 

River Ure, Milby Island Loop

The Milby Island loop starts above or below the weir and goes downstream to the river lock at the end of the Milby Cut canal. We portage to above the lock and continue back towards the top of the island to where we started. Often, we continue up the river towards the A1 bridges before finishing back at the car park.

For the more adventurous paddlers, shooting the fish ladders is an option both at the start of the loop and when we finish. Those not quite ready for the fish ladders can get in below the weir and get out from the Milby Cut canal near the car park.

 

River Wharfe, Collingham to Wetherby

Setting off from the Nature Reserve below the bridge between Collingham and Linton. There are a couple of small rapids upstream of the bridge where we can practice river techniques. Then downstream through a few small rapids and continue along the meandering river Wharfe till we arrive in Wetherby. Stopping above the weir in the town centre, hoping to finish before the Fish and Chip shop shuts.