Paddleboard adventure
The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was built and opened in 1827. This route is ideal for a first SUP trip – there is little traffic, it is very quiet and wide enough not to hit anybody! Purton is usually very quiet and deserted, and has a landing stage next to a car park, (£1 for four hours).
From Purton, there are fields on both sides, and in the distance, the Forest of Dean can be glimpsed on the left (west) side, and the Cotswolds on the east side. It is two and a half miles up to Slimbridge, (approximately one hour) which has a café and toilets next to the canal. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve is half a mile up the road towards the Severn, and this area is the busiest on your route, with much traffic going up the road to see the birds, and many boats moored. From Slimbridge this is our turn point to return to Purton.
Meet Location – Purton Village Car Park, Purton, Gloucestershire, GL13 9HU
Date – 20th May
Time – 11am – 2.30pm (approx to include coffee and inflating / deflating boards etc.)
Max participants – 8
Distance – 4 miles
Kit Hire Cost – £25 AdAstra Adventures (Board, paddle, BA)
Bring your own kit – £10
Booking Link – https://tinyurl.com/3eydtm37
Additional Costs – Parking (£1) and coffee!
Competency – This is a no-flow canal so is perfect for your first paddle journey. It is a great option for anyone who has not been on a SUP journey before. We will be paddling down to the cafe and then back to the cars to make logistics simple. If you are confident on your knees you can paddle this on your knees and practice standing up throughout the trip.
What to bring if hiring kit:
Water shoes or old trainers.
Money for the cafe at slimbridge
Dry clothes and a towel for afterwards
What to bring if bringing your own kit:
Water shoes or old trainers.
Money for the cafe at slimbridge
Buoyancy Aid rated 50N (you can hire if you don’t have one MUST BE WORN – £5 pay on the day to AdAstra)
Waterways license or British Canoeing Membership (IF YOU DON’T HAVE THIS YOU WILL HAVE TO HIRE EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO PADDLE)
Paddleboard and Paddle (paddleboard should be able to inflate enough and hold the weight of the participant without bowing in the center)
*If participants want to bring their own kit Katriona Shrives / AdAstra are not responsible for the quality of the kit and if we believe the BA or boards are not suitable for experience we will offer hire of our kit or the participant will not be able to attend the paddle (especially with BA’s as many are being recalled due to safety issues at the moment) if people have concerns then they can send me a picture of their BA / Board and I can check before the paddle.
Katriona Shrives Qualifications
British Canoeing Paddlesport Leader
WSA Adventure Guide
Outdoor First Aid (Up to Date)
NSPCC Safe Guarding
Current Insurance Valid until 10th June 2023 for up to 10 million through AdAstra Adventures.
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