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Jul 2020
7:21pm, 18 Jul 2020
1,072 posts
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Turtlemama
Hi SusiesueH, we signed up to the British canoe Union to get insurance and permits for most UK waterways. Annoyingly it doesn't include the Avon which is our local, but unofficially they seem to accept it 😊
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Jul 2020
9:01pm, 18 Jul 2020
18,928 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
When we lived in That London we had to get a licence from the waterways people for our canoe so we could take it to Norfolkshire. But I don’t think we needed it for normal rivers.
Up here in Scotland we don’t need a licence but access can be an issue (actually, I think access is an issue in England/Wales too).
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Jul 2020
9:01pm, 18 Jul 2020
18,929 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
BCU is a great place to start looking for information.
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Jul 2020
9:05pm, 18 Jul 2020
36,752 posts
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Nellers
I'm very out of the loop these days but back in the day (last paddled late '90s) access was an issue all over. Landowners often refused to recognise navigation rights and fishermen who pay to fish navigable waterways were often extremely antagonistic towards paddlers using "their" water.
I had a mate who finished up in hospital with brain injuries after having blocks dropped on him from a bridge by an angling club representative who objected to his legal navigation of the river. It was horrific. That was the worst I knew of but there were lots of less serious incidents.
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Jul 2020
9:07pm, 18 Jul 2020
18,930 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
~ shudder ~
I remember those days well. 
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Jul 2020
9:22pm, 18 Jul 2020
36,753 posts
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Nellers
Happy if its improved AC. It was often a bit scary
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Jul 2020
9:38pm, 18 Jul 2020
126 posts
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SusiesueH
Blimey! Hadn’t realised it was so territorial 🥺 thanks for the links - lots to research
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Jul 2020
9:44pm, 18 Jul 2020
18,931 posts
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Angus Clydesdale
To be fair, Susie, I never had much trouble even back then. And I believe it to be much improved. We used to paddle with a local club which is a great way to meet like-minded souls and also to get to know where access is best etc.
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Jul 2020
8:34am, 19 Jul 2020
31,782 posts
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halfpint
I joined a club which has been great. They offer lots of coaching opportunities to develop skills but also people to peer paddle with. I don’t do river much but not aware of issues with access. I guess our club folk know where they can access locally.
There’s plenty that can go wrong so I personally feel it’s important people have the skills to deal with those situations.
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Jul 2020
8:46pm, 19 Jul 2020
107 posts
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LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺
I've just signed up to British Canoeing so I can take my kayak out on the canals, and hopefully the broads. That seemed to be the most extensive coverage for areas we'd be likely to kayak in, without buying separate licences for different waterways. Does anyone actually check licences, though?
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