Our guide to hiring a canoe

If you’re a beginner to canoeing, hiring a canoe and getting out on the water is one of the best ways to get started.  There are some incredible destinations in the UK and abroad where you can start dipping your oar in, and an increasing number of operators who offer a huge range of canoeing experiences.

What to do

Think about what sort of experience you want, whether you only want a short excursion to allow you time to grasp the basics, or want to throw yourself in the deep end (literally) and take a whole day out to see the sights via canoe. Most big canoe hire outlets will be able to accommodate your needs – some may even allow you to hire the canoe for an overnight camping expedition if you’re that keen to get started.

Which boat?

There are different types of canoe which gives you another thing to think about when looking to hire one out. The most common ones you’re likely to see floating down the river will be open canoes – popular due to their user-friendly design and the fact that they’re really easy to use whatever your skill level may be. Sit-On-Top boats are great for a sturdy and open experience, and closed cockpit kayaks are more suitable for those with more skill and experience, but feel free to try them if you feel confident. Once you’ve chosen your boat, you’ll be outfitted with some basic paddles and buoyancy vest, all to help you stay afloat – then you’re ready to go!

How do we get back?

If the route you have chosen means you are paddling down a river for a whole day, or even a multi-day trip, then the outlet you hired your canoe from will usually either provide a shuttle to take you to a point further down the river where you can then canoe back up to the outlet point, or will provide a shuttle to pick you up when you arrive ashore at the end of your trip. As outlets sometimes provide this sort of service, you don’t always have to plan a canoe hire trip around needing another vehicle – most places are accessible by bus or another form of public transport.