Backwaters

Adventure Equipment Ltd

Canoe Hire and Outfitting

Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful day on the river with a waterside picnic, or spend a weekend or holiday exporing an area 'off the beaten track' moving between campsites or B&B's; canoe or kayak touring offers a peaceful and environmentally-friendly way to travel.

Backwaters hire canoes and kayaks on a number of waterways in South Wales and the Borderland.

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal; River Wye; River Severn; River Avon

Waterways on which we hire canoes and kayaks

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Brecon - Pontypool. 50 km of placid water canoe touring (100 km possible with return trip), mostly without locks. Touring on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal offers spectacular scenery along with historical interest. The canal was built between in area's industrial heyday of the 18th Century and is linked with tramroads and lime-kilns which make it an ideal way to explore the industrial heritage of the area. Canal description/route planner

River Wye

Glasbury - Monmouth. 75-100 miles of canoe touring, mostly on grade I water, with some short sections of grade II rapids. The River Wye is largely unspoilt and offers spectacular scenery. Places of interest en route include: Hay-on-Wye town of books, Hereford Cathedral, Symonds Yat Gorge. River Wye description/route planner.

River Severn

Welshpool - Gloucester. A free nagivation from Pool Quay to Stourport, and a BWB controlled navigation (licence needed) from Stourport to Gloucester. The navigation offers 130 miles of canoe touring, mostly on grade I water, with some short sections of grade I and one grade III+ rapid. There are also several weirs. Touring on the Severn offers a combination of unspoilt 'wilderness' canoeing for much of its length, along with occasional picturesque towns. Shrewsbury Abbey, Ironbridge Gorge, Bewdley and Worcester are among the places that can be visited on a canoe tour of the Severn. River Severn description/route planner.

River Avon

Stratford - Tewkesbury. Shakespeare's Avon flows from Stratford upon Avon through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire to it's confluence with the Severn at Tewkesbury. The river is grade I with numerous locks and weirs. The river flows through some on England's most attractive countryside for much of its length, and abounds with places of historical interest en route e.g. Stratford, Evesham, Pershore, Fladbury, Tewkesbury. River Avon description/route planner.

 

Types of craft available for hire

Open Cockpit Kayak. This type of kayak is used for touring and is suitable for those who want to cover distances without going onto rough water. No capsize drill is needed, as in the event of a capsize you will fall safely out of the kayak. These are ideal for those who want to be ON the water, not in it.

Open Canoe. The open canoe is also ideal for those who want to stay dry, but it is a more versatile craft in many ways, and can be taken onto open and white-water with the correct training. With its large carrying capacity this is the craft for exploring well off the beaten track, or for family picnics.

Closed-Cockpit Kayak. These kayaks have relatively tight-fitting cockpits sealed with spraydecks to keep out the water, and are ideal for white-water or sea touring. To use one of these it is necessary to have practised the capsize drill, to exit the kayak safely underwater.

Open Canoe Camping. If you want to undertake an extended canoe camping tour, we can supply your canoe with tent, stove/fuel, sleeping mat and bag, and waterproof containers to pack it all in.

Bell-Boat (canal or limited sections of river only) A team boat for ALL which has been used by: primary schools; octogenarians; Scouts/Guides; those with learning difficulties; Olympic class paddlers...

Each Bell-Boat is guided by a trained and qualified 'helm' and this unique feature makes it possible for ANYONE to be able to enjoy paddlesport. We could, if you wish, train your teachers/leaders to helm the boats themselves, enabling your school or group to come Bell-boating regularly on a 'hire-only' basis.

The Bellboat is an ideal resource both for the outdoor activity section of the PE curriculum and as a platform for fieldwork in geography, biology and ecology.

 

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Wye

Canoe-hire on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Severn

Canoe-hire and outfitting on the River Avon

Guided Touring by Canoe or Kayak

 Guided Canoe Camping Tour - River Wye

COURSES IN CANOEING AND KAYAKING

Guided Outdoor Activities:

Climbing/Abseiling; Gorge-walking; Caving; Wayfaring; Multi-activity.

Accommodation 

Our Environmental Policy

Backwaters

Adventure Equipment Ltd

Bookings - 07815 542775 - Enquiries

Booking Form

  

E-mail*:backwatershire@btconnect.com

*When communicating with us by email, please include daytime and evening telephone numbers wherever possible.

Admin Office (existing bookings only) 05600 751426  

The waterways on which we hire canoes and kayaks have an established public right of navigation. However, due to the unclear legal situation, on many rivers in England and Wales the right of canoeists and kayakers to navigate are challenged. Backwaters supports the Campaign for Land Reform in Wales - More information and petition to the Welsh Assembly Government
Re-introduction of the Beaver into Wales

Wildlife Trusts in Wales are working on an initiative to investigate the feasibility of a beaver reintroduction.

More Information

Photo supplied by Allan Bantick , Cairngorm Wildlife Centre

Backwaters is associated with Mountain & Water: Wales-wide Adventure Ltd.