Canoeing in the lake district

[Bluefrog]

Hi, I want to go canoeing in the Lake District, preferably on a gentle river. Could anyone recommend somewhere I could hire a canoe for the day (bearing in mind I won't be able to transport the canoe)? I'm staying in Keswick and don't own a car, so I'll be travelling by public transport.

Thanks,
Ste

 

[The Cumbrian]

Hey Ste.

The Lake District is surprisingly limited for canoe hire on rivers, and you'd need transport to get back to your start point anyway.
If you're staying in Keswick, the closest place for canoe hire is Derwentwater Marina at Portinscale, about half an hour's walk from Keswick.

http://derwentwatermarina.co.uk/content/view/17/35/

You could also get on the bus down Borrowdale as far as the Lodore Hotel and hire a canoe at Platty+, which has the advantage of being near the mouth of the Upper Derwent. A trip that I like is to see how far I can paddle / pole / wade upstream, and then padle back down. Be prepared to get your lower half wet.

http://www.plattyplus.co.uk/index.php?page=activities&activity=canoe

Cheers, Michael.