Canoe the Wye
Living in the Wye Valley I feel very much part of the river which wends its way from its source up on Plynlimon in mid Wales to the Severn Estuary in Chepstow some 251 m kilometres away.
For much of its length the river forms part of the border between England and Wales but more importantly the river has rights of access from Glasbury to Chepstow which makes it the most popular destination for people who fancy pootling about on the river in a canoe…
My earliest memories involve messing about on and in water. It is central to so many happy times and when I bore my kids with old family photos they all revolve around water. Be it the sea, rivers, lakes or streams.
I was born deaf and had to have a series of operations as a young child so I wasn’t able to learn to swim until I was 6, so until then I had to sit on the side-lines and watch everyone else having fun. Suffice to say, as soon as I could swim (not very well) I was in there, with bells on.
As a family we had a mirror dinghy which lived in a yard by Bristol Docks. She was a beauty called Miss Piggy and my Dad would take my brother and I sailing every weekend.
Then, when I was 10 years old my brother moved in to Scouts (in those days girls weren’t allowed) and discovered kayaking. My Dad being my Dad (generally awesome) found a second hand, big green fibre glass kayak second hand and Kermit the Kayak was born.
Kermit the Kayak was magic, despite the fibre glass rash on the legs, the lack of foot rests, the unbelievably uncomfortable seat (it was more like an upside down dustbin lid), I was hooked.
I fell in love with that feeling of being close to the water, of having to read its path and work with it to get a safe course down a river. And now, I am a British Canoeing Coach and Leader and love taking people out on the river.
But how do you get to come and play? I’ll tell you!
A quick internet search of ‘canoe the wye’ and you will be inundated with companies who are running canoe hire, guided trips, lessons and even stag and hen parties. Canoeing the River Wye is really, really popular.
So one of the easiest ways to get you and your family on the river is to use one of these companies. Just a few pointers…
Cheapest isn’t necessarily best - have a gander at at TripAdvisor and Facebook reviews.
Guided tours are great, you will be with a local, informative guide (like me!) who knows the river well, its nature, the landscape and you will not only have an amazing trip but learn so much in the process
The rapids at Symonds Yat are awesome and a must do, having been over quite a few times I would recommend a helmet - heads and rocks don’t mix to well.
Pop a change of clothes in a dry bag if you can
Alcohol - okay, if I am honest I take cider and cheese when out on a canoe trip, but just a suggestion - perhaps save getting lathered for when you are back on dry land!
Swans can’t break your arm (really, they can’t) but if they have young they can get a bit hissy
Have fun, take you rubbish home, if you need a pee be discreet and take a ton of photos for the ‘gram
Some companies I would recommend are:
Inspire2Adventure - For guided canoe and kayak trips, they also deliver Stand up Paddle Boarding sessions.
Wye Canoes - Canoe hire from Ye Olde Ferrie Inn Symonds Yat, they also provide guided trips and Stand Up Paddle Boarding with their associate company SUPYOFI.
Wye Valley Canoes - Based in Glasbury where the right of navigation begins, the trip from Glasbury to Hay-on-Wye is absolutely stunning and a classic.
For more information about canoeing on the River Wye visit Wydean Tourism.