You are here: Home > Canoe Trips

Canoe Trips

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Important - Please Read!

When choosing your trip, and to ensure your enjoyment, please do not over estimate your fitness levels. All our trips require a reasonably level of fitness and those who do not canoe regularly will find a 3 hour trip provides plenty of challenge and exercise. If you are a bit nervous of canoeing, have young children or are not particularly fit, choose our Taster Trips which cover less distance and have more stops. Our River trips are suitable for those who are reasonably confident on the water and exercise regularly. If you are not sure just contact us.

Prices are per person in our stable double kayaks (or double plus child seat). Single kayaks are slightly less stable and more suited to those with some kayaking experience. If you do want a single kayaks please request this at the time of booking and add £5 per kayak to the standard trip price.

Evening Paddles

£25.00 per Adult
£12.50 per Child (under 16)

In the early evening the River Fowey really comes to life. With the tide in, shoals of mullet race up from the sea and peace and stillness surrounds you as the calm of the end of the day envelops the river and the sun begins to set.

This really is a great time to see the river in a unique way and we run regular evening canoe trips lasting around 3 hours often paddling up the Fowey River and "Wind in the Willows" Creek to Lerryn before returning to Golant. Trips end with the chance for well earned refreshments at the Fisherman’s Arms. Suitable for everyone, the evening paddle is a magical and relaxing way to end the day.

Kayaking Taster Trip

£25.00 per Adult

£12.50 per Child (under 16)

For those who have never canoed before or those who just want to take things nice and easy, our taster sessions will introduce you to the fun of canoeing before taking you on a leisurely trip on the Fowey River which will often include Lerryn “Wind in the Willows” Creek, St Winow and Penpoll Creek - or the many attractions of Fowey Harbour on our low tide departures.

Your guide will get you quickly into the basic skills of paddling before a gentle trip through the stunning scenery of the estuary. With around 3 hours of paddling and plenty of stops, the taster sessions are perfect for those wanting the chance to try some paddling in a fantastic location without having to commit to a longer trip on the river.

3 Hour River Trips

£25.00 per Adult
£12.50 per Child (under 16)

Canoeing from Golant on the rising tide, we take you up the River Fowey and  "Wind in the Willows" creek to Lerryn. You will see everything on the Kayaking Taster Trip itinerary plus either the Shipwrecks of Penpoll Creek OR the wilder sections of water upriver and the hidden inland salt marsh near to  St Winnow. Our low tide departures take you down past Fowey docks and Boddinick to the Fowey Estuary with its beaches, sea caves, scenic waterfronts and fortresses guarding the harbour entrance.

These are good trips for spotting wildlife in some of the hidden creeks en route with egrets, kingfishers, cormorants and shoals of grey mullet seen on pretty much every trip. On River trips we usually stop for a quick break somewhere special to give your arms a brief rest before heading back to Golant on a circular loop through the estuary. River paddles are perfect introductions to River Fowey kayaking for those with water confidence and reasonable fitness levels who want to challenge themselves to a longer paddle.

Half and Full Day Kayaking Trips by arrangement

For those with regular kayaking experience we can offer bespoke 1/2 and full day trips for groups of paddlers.

£30.00 per Adult Half Day

£15.00 per Child Half Day (under 16)

£40.00 per Adult Full Day

£20.00 per Child Full Day (under 16)

From the coast all the way inland, half and full day trips cover everything. Allow four or six hours which might include kayaking through the stunning natural harbour area of Fowey, crossing to Polruan, exploring hidden Pont Pill and canoeing down to where river and sea meet. On calm days we will have a lunch break on a deserted beach just out to sea below huge cliffs only accessible by water; if the sea is a bit choppy we break instead at the old harbour of Polruan.

With the tide turning we can head inland in the afternoon swept up the length of the river with all its scenic variety. Kayaking into the pretty inland village of St Winnow for a break before entering the wild upper reaches of the Lerryn Creek with plenty of time to paddle some of the remote inlets en route. Depending on tides, trips may begin or end even further upriver at Lostwithiel.  You will also encounter hidden inland harbours, shipwreck creeks and protected salt marshes teeming with wildlife; not a dull section anywhere on your trip - guaranteed!

You need kayaking experience and good fitness levels for half and full day trips - if not book a three hour Taster or River trip which you will find will be more than enough exertion for those who do not have regular kayaking experience but want more time exploring the estuary.

Private Group Trips, Birthdays, Stag and Hen Parties and Corporate Trips

Prices depend on the trip but are in the same range as our standard trips.

We have lots of experience of providing fun and active trips for private groups with very different priorities, ranging from the local Womens Institute through to Stag parties and fitness clubs.

We will work with you and the tides to plan a trip to suit your needs, be it with a lunch stop at a waterside pub, wildlife spotting, a full day expedition with a break for a swim on a beach or just a gentle paddle for an hour or two on the calm and unspoilt waters of the upper creeks. On a private trip we will run things to suit your groups pace and wishes which won’t be compromised by having other customers along with you. So if you want a bit longer for that pub lunch or you decide half way you want to slow down and turn off to explore a particular creek you have spotted – then no problem.

Send in a booking request and let us know how much paddling you would like to do and what stops you would like to make and we will work out the options for you to consider.

National Trust Kayaking  

4 hour trip accompanied by a National Trust Ranger

Adults £40  

Children £20 (under 16)

This year we will be working with the National Trust to run some special river trips accompanied by National Trust Rangers who have specialist knowledge of the area – and in particular those parts of the Estuary that are owned and managed by the National Trust. These trips are four hours in duration, travel at a relaxed pace and are timed to allow for a picnic lunch along the way (bring your own). Weather permitting we will travel from Golant village up Penpoll Creek, a hidden gem which we will often have to ourselves and its varied Estuary wildlife. From here we will paddle along the bank of the River Fowey and into Lerryn Creek and on up to picturesque Lerryn village. From where we can have an optional walk through National Trust woodland to Ethy Point. Time permitting we will then paddle around to St Winnows and visit its historic riverside church which dates back to the 7^th Century before heading back to Golant’s hidden harbour via Woodgate Pill and The Royal Boathouse where Edward VII once entertained his lady friends. Numbers are limited to 15 per trip with a minimum of 4 participants.

Information for all Canoe Trips

Happy Paddling!

Copyright © 2012 Encounter Cornwall