Canoe, Kayak or SUP on River Great Ouse (Beds)

A fantastic, not to be missed, full day out on the water exploring on the Great River Ouse in Bedfordshire.

Event cost £40, including BBQ.

This river trip is a excellent days paddle starting on Bedford’s stunning Victorian Embankment before heading off to explore Bedfordshire’s rural countryside by canoe, kayak or Stand Up Paddle Board. You also get to brush up on your water skills with our very own private instructor and guide for the day.

A BBQ lunch in a private woodland is included and fun woodland activities including a River Crossing challenge. Who will fall in first?

All this for only £40 - Please only book on this event once you have pre paid the hire company using the link below.

We start at Bedford's stunning Victorian Embankment at 10.30am where we will meet our private instructor & guide for our day out. Instruction on your pre-chosen water craft will be given and you'll get your buoyancy aid.

We then hit the river for a most magical day out.

The river banks are teeming with wildlife, birds of prey, herons and flitting electric blue kingfishers. There are three portage points where you will have the opportunity to stretch your legs and swap over to try new equipment. The river is very picturesque with lots to see.

This paddle will begin from Longholme Island at the Boating Lake. You will see the site of the Victorian Boat Slide when you start, now converted into a water turbine for generating green electricity. Once on the water, your journey will take you downstream on the lower river, passing a little island. On warm days people often report seeing turtles sunbathing in the trailing branches of the Willows on this stretch of water.

As you pass under the old railway bridge, round a bend in the river you will then see the entrance to Priory Marina (housing some beautiful narrow and wide beam boats as well as one of George Clarkes Amazing Spaces creations). The river then opens onto a long (500 metres) straight wide stretch, a hotspot for swans and geese. 

As you paddle out from the lock area you will be engulfed by countryside again, with heavily reeded riverbanks and a narrow river channel. 

You will paddle around a local country park and then downstream passing a woodland campsite. This is our own private woodland area for our lunch and activity stop. A BBQ lunch will be laid on especially for us and will include a range of meats, salads, cakes and drinks both hot and cold.

After lunch we will then take on some team activities and a fun 'River Crossing Challenge'. Who will fall in first?

We then hop back on the river and paddle down to Great Barford Bridge and Loch. Ever been inside a Loch on a Stand Up Paddle board or kayak? Well you will have by the end of the trip.

Overall an excellent day out this Summer 2016 which is most certainly not to be missed.

Booking is easy too! and ONLY £40 each. Read below:

BOOKING: THIS EVENT HAS A CUT OFF BOOKING TIME OF 31 JULY. YOU MUST BOOK ON THIS EVENT BY 31 JULY BEFORE IT WILL AUTO CLOSE.

BEFORE BOOKING ON THIS EVENT YOU MUST:

1) Go to http://shop.canoetrail.co.uk/full-day---bedford-to-matchstick-wood-paddling-event-for-outdoor-lads-241-p.asp and select our special designed product. It is quite clearly marked in the 'products' section and will say 'Outdoor Lads'. Click on 'add to cart'.

THEN in the section saying 'Preferred Date? (We will confirm)' enter/type in your chosen preference of water craft, you can choose from (you do not need to put in the date):

Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)

Kayak

Canadian Canoe or type or say:

Do not mind what water craft

NB: Your chosen preference will be priority, but due to numbers on this event you may not receive your first preference. However we will be swapping around so we all get a go on everything if we wish to on the day.

2) Make the payment online

3) Book on the Outdoor Lads event page the normal way.

4) Sit back and relax, you're now booked on the event.

In the event of sever storms or lightning which causes our trip on the water to become dangerous, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled.