Canoe courses Scotland

[Chainsaw]

Hi all,

Was down in Tiso outdoor experience at the weekend with the family and happened to take a wee look at some of the Old Town canoes that were up against the pillars. So her indoors happened to mention that it'd be good to have a canoe for messing around on the lochs with. After the first aider had brought me round she seemed quite amenable to a getting one. I struggled against her wishes for erm, seconds before I realized the futility of arguing against SWMBO so I gracefully capitulated

I realize this is probably better suited to SOTP but I know there is a good deal of 'crossforumers' from SOTP here so to save me another forum membership, I thought I'd post it here.

Which canoe is a question I'll ask later after I've been in a couple but obviously I'll need one big enough for the family and small enough for me to handle on my own. I've done kayaking before, I recall sitting my 2 star about 20 years ago with a guy from Fintry but I have no canadian canoe experience. I'd like to attend a course to teach me the basics, how to transport a canoe, how to launch, board, paddle, turn, land, recovery etc etc. I'd also like to cover, boat handling characteristics, info on basic equipment options, PFDs, paddles, canoe buoyancy and factors influencing the choice of this equipment. I'm not too happy with just hiring a canoe and taking the family on a wee paddle without having any idea what I'm doing or what kind of kit I should have.

I've been poking about on the internet and found a couple of local(ish) places offering some form of course as a basic introductions and I was looking for some feedback on whether they are good, bad or ugly. The guys I've found are;

Standing Waves Leisure Canoe & Kayak School, part of http://www.stirlingcanoes.co.uk
http://www.nationalkayakschool.com - Aberfeldy
http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk - Aberfeldy
http://www.brookbankadventure.co.uk/ - In Perth
http://www.killinoutdoor.co.uk - no courses but do hires

Any recommendations, comments or people I've missed would be gratefully received, PM me if you want to put the boot in

Apologies for the long post,

Cheers,

Alan

 

[gregorach]

Beyond Adventure will do you a custom course at a reasonable price. I did a day with them a couple of years back and was entirely happy with the experience. They're based in Aberfeldy, but they do most of their canoe stuff out of Killin.

 

[Humpback]

When I was looking for tuition I tried several companies and eventually booked with http://www.beyondadventure.co.uk/
I did the Fort William to Inverness trip last year with them and have booked again this year to do one of the River Spey descents.
I can thoroughly recommend them to you.
Alan

 

[w00dsmoke]

You are more than welcome to come out with me sometime and have a try.

As for canoes...

There's so many. Hire a few first and try as many as you can before buying. That's probably the best bet as canoes are often missold I reckon. If it's any help, I'll advise going for a canoe with good initial stability (if the family are using it they would appreciate feeling safe), but go for one light enough to paddle solo (fit a centre seat), avoid Colemans and the like as they are not really up to much.

A good place for good deals at the moment are The Bosuns Locker S Queeensferry, my mate bought an ex display old town minus £100 a few months back from there.

WS

 

[Aliwren]

I have booked on this course for later this year, just a three day course but its now run out of Fort William.

It is though Woodsmoke who are a very reputable company so should be abit bushcrafty as well!!

http://www.woodsmoke.uk.com/p/v/Courses/Lakelander/

Hope it is of interest

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Stirling Canoes for the course 2-3 days. Ask for Loch Voil to Lubnaig via the Balvaig.
Check out their boats when paddling them then hire some at the Killin shop and camp on the Loch Tay island.

I have used Stirling Canoes three times with big groups, safe and good coaching.

I would cross post to SOTP for further advice as there is also Bloggs, inc family trips, and plenty of Central Scotland meets.

Beginners are totally welcome at meets.:You_Rock_

Nick

 

[Chainsaw]

Top replies folks,

Beyond Adventure look good for a punt (pardon the pun) as do Stirling Canoes, I like to support local business' otherwise they wont be there for long!

As for which canoe, I'd like to get one for the 'summer' coming in but I'll definitely hire a couple first.

aw man I can see SOTP getting a new member, another forum to the list, it's getting to the point that I seem to spend more times on forums than I do doing stuff so I'm off to my garage to try and turn some firesteel handles!

Cheers,

Alan

 

[Grooveski]

Join SotP. You know it makes sense(Resitance is futile:borgsmile).

Consider hiring a Charles River at Castle Semple for a day. They're nice boats on friendly water to get a feel for things and the instructors are good people.
If you'd like to borrow one you're welcome to take the barge(a plastic prospector) away for a couple of weeks. I've no plans for it in february.