4 hour Self Guided Canoe Adventure

Many people choose the 4 hour Self Guided Adventure starting at 10:30 or 11:00am for a good old fashioned picnic!

The session starts with a briefing and introduction to paddling before taking to the water for your journey into the Back of Beyond...

1. Paddle the water between Teddington and Richmond Locks.
2. Explore the islands and riverside jungle as you go.
3. Stop for a riverside picnic and swim.
4. Visit a riverside cafe or pub.

Anyone taking to the River on a Self Guided Canoe Adventure must:

1. be able to swim 50 metres.
2. be able to paddle independently.
3. be accompanied by an adult if under 18 years.*
4. wear their buoyancy aid at all times whilst on the water.

*The adult to child ratio on the water is 1 adult to 2 children.

For all of our canoe adventures we recommend that you wear shorts, running tights, or similar, and wear a t-shirt with additional layers appropriate for the day. You also need footwear to paddle with, for example old trainers.

Many people choose to pack their favourite food and drink for a riverside picnic or, if you're planning on stopping at a riverside pub, remember a bank card or similar.

As part of your active picnic adventure, you’ll receive a (re)introduction to paddling, along with some guidance on where to paddle, and we’ll provide you with a dry bag that you can use to pack a towel, spare clothes, phone, wallet and (more importantly) food to take with you.

Pack your hamper into your craft (some people also decorate their canoes as well, but we’ll leave that to you to decide) before launching onto the Thames to journey along the river between Richmond’s iconic bridge and riverside and Teddington Harbour. Having paddled upstream you can raft up, or moor up for a swim, and then enjoy your picnic.

Once you’ve eaten all of the ‘quintessentially English’ cucumber sandwiches you possibly can and have enjoyed a refreshing elderflower pressé (!) you can paddle downstream past the islands and backwaters to Petersham Meadow from where you can wander along the riverside or walk up to Richmond Hill to enjoy the view that Turner so loved!