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I just got back from 3 days canoeing/camping on the Wye - first time I have done this and I must say I absolutely loved it. Basically we booked, turned up was given a canoe, life vest and waterproof barrels and set on our way down the Wye - 3 days later they came to pick up up in Hereford.
Other than on the Wye, does anyone else know of any similar setups?
france is even better set up for it:
http://www.canoe-france.com/en/index.html
did you start from Glasbury on the Wye?
if not you can get going further upstream.
http://www.wyevalleycanoes.co.uk/
Love the Wye! We've used Monmouth Canoe Hire for a few weekend trips. Start up at Ross, paddle leisurely down to the Saracen's Head, drink too much. Eat too much. Sleep. Wake up. Eat too much. Paddle back to Monmouth and then home. Ace!
Might have to do that this sumemr again.
I've done it a couple of times. For added difficulty take a big dog. Or a bowling ball. Similar effect.
We had a great time hiring from Ross, taking them up to Glasbury in a van and then spending about 4 days paddling downstream, camping in fields and finding a pub every lunchtime and night.
It was 1976 though. But I don't expect much has changed.
I'm afraid you are stuffed by the access laws. The Wye is the only legal navigation in England and Wales worth doing. Plenty of other legal rivers, such as the Thames etc, but nothing as picturesque as the Wye.
Try Scotland. The Spey is classic trip.
Hth
Marko
We rented canoes from wyevalleycanoes for my stag do.
And the following year we did the same for a fake stag do!
You can rent canoes or kayaks, so if you want to go in pairs or on your own it's up to you.
I went in a canoe on my stag, and then on my own the second time (although we swapped about a bit, so finished in a canoe).
Definately recommend it...great fun.
One of my friends is a bit barmy and made it his aim to tip everyone in - except for my little brother who can't swim very well! That actually made it quite good fun, as he'd hide behind a bush and then come charging out at you as you paddled past!
We did the day long route which takes you down river to a pub, a few pints later the rental people will pick you up in a mini bus and take you back to the start.
Oh - so the Wye is pretty much unique without going to Scotland? That's a shame.
Though I am going to look at options on the Thames as its so close.
From experience I can recommend not getting drunk and falling asleep in a canoe on the Wye...