There is a large Pay & Display car park next to our centre, charging £8 for all-day parking.

Wear clothes appropriate to the conditions and bring a change of clothes. Footwear must be worn at all times; no flip flops, ‘Crocs,’ or Wellington boots.

1 Day Trip - Ross-on-Wye
To Symonds Yat East

Q: How long does the trip take?

This full-day trip is 15 miles and can take 5-6 hours to paddle at a gentle pace, but you have until 16:00 to return the boat.

Q: What if we have never canoed before?

This trip is 15 miles and can be challenging for beginners, especially when water levels are low. We recommend shorter trips for less experienced paddlers.

Q: Can our dogs come canoeing with us?

Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome, but please be sensible, especially in hot weather.

Q: Will we be unaccompanied?

Yes, 90% of canoe hire is unaccompanied. If necessary, we may guide you for safety.

Q: What if the weather is bad on the day?

We operate in most weather conditions. If the weather is unsafe, we will postpone or cancel at our discretion.

Q: Can we bring alcohol with us?

No, we have a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and glass bottles during the trip.

Q: Will we have time to stop on the way?

Yes, you can stop for a floating picnic or at public landing points, but be mindful of your return time.

Q: What is the youngest age someone can go canoeing?

The minimum age is 4 years old, but this trip is long and may not be suitable for very young children.

Q: Do we need to pre-book?

Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment, though there may be availability on the day.

Key Facts:
Duration: Up to 8 hours
Length: 15 miles

Paddle on the River Wye through the stunning Wye Valley countryside on this full day trip. Well worth the earlier start to avoid the busy launch site.

Suitable for more experienced paddlers looking to do a longer trip.

All customers must arrive at our centre in Symonds Yat East. We will then transport you to your start destination.

Additional Information >

Got any questions? Check out our FAQs >

Additional Information

Prices

Item for Hire	Price
2 Person Canoe Minimum of 1 adult + 1 child over 12 years old	£60 per boat
3 Person Canoe 2 adults + 1 child under 16 years old OR 1 adult + 2 children (12-16 years old)	£70 per boat
3 Adult Canoe Maximum combined weight = 34 stone	£80 per boat
Family Canoe 2 small adults + 2 small children under 100cm	£80 per boat
Single sit on top Kayak Experience required Minimum of 16 years old (accompanied by an 18+) Must be part of a group of 2 or more people	£45 per boat
Single Kayak Professional training required Minimum of 16 years old (accompanied by an 18+) Must be part of a group of 2 or more people	£50 per boat
Double Kayak Professional training required Minimum of 1 adult + 1 child over 12 years old	£60 per boat
Spars Join 2 canoes together Great for families and those who want to be more sociable.	£2 per pair

Times

Check-in Time @ our Centre	Latest Return Time
09:00	16:30
10:00	16:30

Bookings

How to Book

Call us on 01600 891 376
We take payment in full by Debit Card
You will receive a confirmation email upon booking
By placing a booking with us, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions

Cancellations

50% of the payment is refundable if cancelled more than 14 days prior to the activity
50% is non refundable
If you cancel in less than 14 days there is no refund

Full description

Useful Information for your Adventure

We launch you at the base of the historic town of Ross-on-Wye, which is a 10-15 minutes minibus drive from our riverside centre in Symonds Yat East.

After we give you a safety brief and get you into your canoes, we set you off down the majestic River Wye.

Paddle 6 miles of tranquil placid water leaving the town behind you. Look up to your right as you approach Kerne Bridge (your second bridge) to get a unique view of Goodrich Castle. Canoeing through Bishopswood, Lydbrook and on towards the Welsh Bicknor Youth Hostel, stop for a brief look at an amazing little church on the right-hand river bank.

You will then pass underneath the disused railway bridge at lower Lydbrook, following the river as it meanders in a big horseshoe underneath the famous Symonds Yat Rock Viewpoint, where the Peregrine Falcons nest. Depending on the time of year you may well see them hunting and teaching their young to fly.

You are now about 2 hours paddle from the finish, enjoy a floating picnic here, Just please leave nothing behind.

From here you paddle underneath Huntsham Bridge and past Symonds Yat West. It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to paddle back to our riverside centre at Symonds Yat East from this point.

This trip covers 15 miles and you have until 16:00 to finish the journey, which is plenty of time. It is designed not as a race but a gentle paddle.

Top Tip – This may be an early start for some, but you will get on the river before it becomes busy, so it is worth getting up for!

more-info

FAQs

How long does the trip take?

This full day trip is 15 miles and can take 5-6 hours to paddle at a gentle pace, but you have until 16:00 to return the boat to us.

What if we have never canoed before?

This trip is 15 miles. This distance is not to be taken lightly when the water levels are low, as it can be harder work for those with little experience. We would strongly suggest you choose a trip that is shorter distance such as our 9 mile trip

We give every participant a safety brief which goes through:

How to paddle
Things to look out for (minor hazards on the way down)
What to do if you accidentally capsize (should not happen if you listen to the points above)
Emergency contact details

Where do we park?

There is a large Pay & Display car park right next to our centre.

On sunny days please leave plenty of time to find a space and purchase a ticket before your arrival time.

This is £8 for all day. You can pay by coins or card on the machines.

Can our dogs come canoeing with us?

Yes, as long as they are well behaved, not tied into the boat and are no bigger than an average Labrador.

Please be sensible if bringing your dog with you, especially in hot weather!

Will we be unaccompanied?

Yes, 90% of all canoe hire is unaccompanied unless we deem it necessary to guide you down the river because of the conditions on the day.

If we choose to accompany you, it is not intended to be invasive nor does it spoil your time on the water, it is there to help keep you safe.

If the water levels are higher than normal and we are still safe to operate, one of our highly qualified instructors will guide you down the river with a small number of other people. We still get you out to enjoy the trip but in a safe controlled manner.

What if the weather is bad on the day?

If the lovely British weather decides to rain on the day of your activity, we will still go ahead.

We ask you to bring the appropriate clothing and the right attitude to have some fun.

If we deem the weather to be unsafe, we will postpone or cancel your booking. This is at our discretion.

Can we bring alcohol with us?

Sorry, as a duty of care to all river users, the environment and the locals who live in the area, we operate a zero tolerance on any alcohol or glass bottles.

We reserve the right to check before allowing you out on the water. If you want to have a drink please do the responsible thing, enjoy your canoe trip and then visit one of the fine establishments right next to the canoe centre upon your return.

Will we have time to stop on the way?

You can enjoy a floating picnic or stop at public landing point to have your picnic, just be mindful of the time you have left to return.

Please remember you are in the beautiful countryside, and the river banks may be privately owned.

Leave nothing behind and take nothing but memories

What is the youngest age someone can go canoeing?

Our minimum age is 4 years old. All children under 12 must be accompanied by a minimum of 2 fit and healthy adults.

However, this trip is a long full day so we would not recommend this to people with very young children, as it is 5-6 hours in a canoe.

Please speak to us if you want to take little ones and we can help suggest the right trip for you to enjoy.

Do we need to pre-book?

We would highly recommend pre-booking to avoid disappointment. However, we may have some availability on the day, so please call us on 01600 891 376 and we will do our best to fit you in.

Is there a maximum weight?

The maximum weight of a person must not exceed 17 stone or 110kg, with a maximum weight of 34 stone or 230kg in a canoe including clothing and any gear.

What should we wear?

Please wear clothes appropriate to the conditions. Whilst the chances of you getting wet are slim, it may happen. Bring a change of clothes just in case. Footwear must be worn at all times. No flip flops, ‘Crocs’ or Wellington boots.

How many people can fit into a Family Canoe?

A Family Canoe can accommodate 2 small adults and 2 children under hip height, along with a small bag of necessary kit.

Please note that if you book a Family Canoe and you exceed the height/weight limit, you will be required to hire an additional canoe if one is available on the day.

You CANNOT get 4 adults in a family canoe.

Do we pay a deposit to book?

Upon booking we take payment in full, this reserves your spaces. You will then receive a confirmation email which will inform you of the details of the activity you have booked, including what to wear and how to find us.

Can pregnant people participate?

Sorry, we cannot allow anyone who is pregnant to participate in any of our activities.

faqs