Canoeing in Northamptonshire with Canoe2

A few months ago me and a friend decided to embark on a canoeing adventure in our home county of Northamptonshire, our starting point was Islip or the Thrapston Nine Arches Bridge (opposite The Woolpack Pub) and the end was Oundle Mill 8.5 miles away.

Arriving for briefing with organisers Canoe2, we were shown on how to correctly paddle, how to get in and out of the canoe safely…maps and life jackets ready we moved the canoes over to the edge of the river and the first challenge was to get into the canoe without capsizing!

This particular routes takes you through 4 locks (or around them to be exact) on the River Nene, along route you’ll find platforms where you get out of the canoe and take the canoe around the lock, finding another platform and getting back in to carry on paddling.

The first few times are interesting as you’re getting used to the canoe and balance and also trust in your canoe partner on holding the canoe steady whilst you get in/out.

 

The whole route takes you through a lovely part of Northamptonshire and one where I’m very familiar with on land, coming through the area on the river is a completely different experience and you see things from a different perspective…take this bridge, I drive over this every day on the school run and yet from this angle I never appreciated how lovely it actually is!

Canoeing on the River Nene is a great experience and canoeing in general was a lot easier physically than I thought.

Other routes are available, shorter and even longer routes where you can camp in bell tents along the way for a truly back to nature experience.

For a 2 person canoe on the route detailed above costs £90 per canoe, but do look out for special offers at certain times of the year.