Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre is the perfect place for paddlesports! I know that sounds like a bold claim, but we can back it up! Not only are we based on an incredible part of the River Itchen, but the really great thing about Woodmill is the fact that it’s the only place in the UK that boasts four different grades of water, so whether your skills are more suited for a placid water lake, the tidal estuary, or white water, this makes it a fantastic location for paddling in a canoe or kayak.
And if that wasn’t enough, we also have an extensive paddlesport shop on site to supply you with anything and everything that you might need to enjoy your adventure, you can check that out online by clicking here.
Discover
Discover Paddling £10
This one hour session is the perfect way to discover the world of canoeing and kayaking. Your instructor will teach you the basics of boat control and deliver some great activities to ensure you have as much fun a possible at the same time. Woodmill will provide all specialist equipment and clothing that you will require.
Who is it for?
Complete beginners aged 8+
Pre requisites
No experience required
What’s next?
Active Nation Outdoor Membership
BCU 1 star/Paddle power (for under 16’s)
Learn To
BCU 1 Star £95
The British Canoe Union 1 star is a clear stepping stone on the paddler pathway. The award is designed to help you develop basic boat control and foundation skills and can be taken in any craft. The course is a basic award which most people can achieve after one day of coaching. It’s a great start for beginner paddlers!
Who is it for?
Beginners aged 16+
Course length – 1 day (09.00 – 16.30)
Pre requisites
No experience required
What’s next?
Active nation outdoor membership
Improver level day trip
BCU 2 star award
BCU Paddle Power £30
Come and have a go at Paddle Power! it’s the British Canoe Union’s award scheme for young people. It’s fun approach aims to:
- Encourage more young people to come into and stay in the sport
- Provide progression and reward achievement in a wide range of topics
- Show all aspects of the sport – both competitive and adventurous
- Provide signposts into clubs where your skills and development can be nurtured
- Provide a flexible structure for delivery according to venue/situation
The Paddle Power scheme has 5 awards, each with a fun and easily identifiable progression tick list so you can see your progress.
Woodmill offers Paddle Power days every school holiday and at various weekends throughout the year. To help you get the most out of each session we will tailor the activities to your requirements so that you can progress through the levels at yor own pace.
Who is it for?
Beginners & improvers aged 8 – 16
Course length – 1 day (09.00-16.30)
Pre requisites
No experience required.
What’s next?
Further Paddle power sessions
Active Nation membership
Explore
Improver Level Day Trips £95
Woodmill’s improver trips are a great way to experience a new paddling location for the first time or to develop existing skills in a new environment, while under the watchful eye of our fully qualified coaches. It’s a chance to tackle the open water environment in coastal sea trips and grade 1-2 rivers. Here are a few of our favourite locations:
- River Hamble day trip
- Solent trip
- River Wye (Symonds Yat) trip
- Oxford loop (River Thames and Oxford canal)
Who is it for?
Improver paddlers aged 18+
Pre requisites
BCU 1 star or equal ability
What next?
Active Nation Membership
BCU 2 star award
Introduction to white water
BCU 2 Star £149
The British Canoe Union 2 star award is an improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding into how the paddle, boat and water interact. Sounds complicated, but we will make it fun! The award is obtained by taking the assessment in both a kayak and canoe.
Who is it for?
Improvers aged 16+
Course length
2 days (09.00-16.30)
Pre requisites
Experience in 2 different craft
In 2 different locations (ideally on journeys)
What’s next?
Active nation membership
Intermediate level trips
BCU 3 star
BCU UKCC level 1 coach
BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT) £95
Fundamentally, the FSRT course is designed for paddlers and coaches irrespective of their chosen craft. The objective is to teach simple and safe rescue skills that can be applied appropriately.
The award has 2 purposes:
- To provide the paddler/coach with the necessary skills to enable them to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
- To provide the paddler/coach with the appropriate rescue skills to be used to help themselves and/or others in difficulty.
Who is it for?
Improvers aged 16+
Course length
1 day (09.00-16.30)
Pre requisites
BCU 2 star or of equal ability
What’s next
Active nation memberships
Intermediate level trips
BCU UKCC Level 1 coach
River Wye Canoe Expedition £295
It’s time for an Active Adventure! This 3 day, 2 night trip down the River Wye is a great introduction to canoe expeditioning. We will be self contained throughout the trip carrying all camping equipment and food with us. The overall aim of the trip will be to paddle from Hay-on-Wye to Hereford and we will be camping at sites with basic facilities on the river bank. This trip includes return travel from Southampton and an introduction evening at Woodmill, prior to the expedition, where you will get the chance to meet your instructors and the other intrepid explorers before setting out!
Who is it for?
All levels of paddler aged 18+
Course length
3 days (including 2 night overnight camp.)
Pre requisites
No experience necessary but experience of paddling a tandem canoe is preferable.
What next?
Active Nation Membership
Improver/intermediate trips (ability dependent)
Introduction to White Water Kayaking £95
Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of experiencing White Water for the first time! Our introductary course is aimed at paddlers who want to move their flat water skills onto white water or for novice white water paddlers looking to boost their confidence and techniques. During the course you will learn moving water techniques such as ferry gliding and breaking in and out as well as an introduction to moving water safety and leadership. The course will be delivered on a grade 2 section of river in Dartmoor or South Wales. Specialist white water demo boats can be hired from Woodmill Canoe Shop for this course subject to availability.
Please note that transport to the venue is not included in the course price but may be arranged at extra cost.
Who is it for?
Improvers aged 18+
Course length
1 day (09.30-16.30)
Pre requisites
BCU 2 star or of equal ability
What next?
Active Nation Memberships
Intermediate level trips
BCU 3 star white water
Excel
Intermediate Level Day Trips £95
Woodmill’s intermediate trips are for paddlers who already have 2 star skills but now want to take these skills to a moderate water environment. The emphasis of these days is more of an experience builder than a full on coaching day but your instructor will be on hand to help develop your skills throughout. We have trips available for sea, canoe and WW kayak and are a good start for paddlers working towards their BCU 3 star award. Here are a few of our favourite places for the day trips:
- Old Harrys rocks (sea)
- Hengistbury head (sea)
- Lower Dart (Canoe)
- Dart Loop (WW)
- River Exe (WW)
- River Usk (WW)
Who is it for?
Intermediate paddlers
Course length
1 day (times dependent on trip)
Pre requisites
2 star award or equal ability
What next?
Active Nation membership
BCU discipline specific 3 star (White water, Canoe, touring, Sea)
BCU 3 Star White Water £149
The 3 star white water award aims to give the candidates the skills and knowledge to be safely led down a section of grade 2 water. Both days of the course will be learning days with assessments happening continuously throughout the course. Those that perform to the required standard and meet the appropriate assessment pre requisites set out by the BCU will be awarded the 3 star award. Thats something for your trophy cabinet! The course will be delivered on a grade 2 section of river in Dartmoor or South Wales. Specialist white water demo boats can be hired from Woodmill Canoe Shop for this course subject to availability.
Please note that accommodation during the course and transport to the venue is not included in the course price but may be arranged at extra cost.
Who is it for?
Intermediate paddlers aged 18+
Course Length
2 days (09.30 – 16.00)
Pre requisites
2 star award or equal ability
Evidence of paddling on grade 2 water
BCU 3 Star Canoe £149
The 3 star canoe award aims to give the candidates the skills and knowledge to be safely led down a section of simple moving water and open water in wind conditions of force 2-3. Both days of the course will be learning days with assessments happening continuously throughout the course. Those that perform to the required standard and meet the appropriate assessment pre requisites set out by the BCU will be awarded the 3 star. The course will be delivered on a moving section of river and a section of open water in the Dartmoor area. All specialist equipment can be provided if required.
Please note that accommodation during the course and transport to the venue is not included in the course price but may be arranged at extra cost.
Who is it for?
Intermediate paddlers aged 18+
Course Length
2 days (09.30 – 16.00)
Pre requisites
2 star award or equal ability
Evidence of paddling on moving water and in force 2-3 winds
BCU 3 Star Touring (Canoe or Kayak) £149
The 3 star touring award can be taken in a canoe or kayak. Separate courses will be run for each discipline. A successful performance at this level shows the candidate has demonstrated personal competence as part of a group paddling in a variety of venues including ungraded rivers with a discernible green flow and open water with wind force 2-3. Both days of the course will be learning days with assessments happening continuously throughout the course. Those that perform to the required standard and meet the appropriate assessment pre requisites set out by the BCU will be awarded the 3 star. The course will be delivered on rivers and estuaries in Hampshire and Dorset. Achieve this, and thats worth some major bragging rights!
Please note that accommodation during the course and transport to the venue is not included in the course price but may be arranged at extra cost.
Who is it for?
Intermediate paddlers aged 18+
Course Length
2 days (09.30 – 16.00)
Pre requisites
2 star award or equal ability
BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak £149
The 3 star sea kayak award aims to give the candidates the skills and knowledge to be safely led in a moderate tidal environment in winds no more than force 4. Both days of the course will be learning days with assessments happening continuously throughout the course. Those that perform to the required standard and meet the appropriate assessment pre requisites set out by the BCU will be awarded the 3 star award. The course will be delivered on and around the Solent. Specialist sea kayak demo boats can be hired from Woodmill Canoe Shop for this course subject to availability.
Please note that accommodation during the course and transport to the venue is not included in the course price but may be arranged at extra cost.
Who is it for?
Intermediate paddlers aged 18+
Course Length
2 days (09.30 – 16.00)
Pre requisites
2 star award or equal ability
Evidence of journeying on the sea
