What? - River Dart Winter 2024 Club Trip is combining with Gene17's Adventure Paddlers Weekend

When? - November 29 to December 1 2024

Where? – River Dart Country Park (RDCP)

Claire Quigley, Tom Hyde and Grant McKelvie (and hopefully a couple of other leaders) are heading to the epic River Dart for a weekend of great paddling, linking in with the Gene17 Adventure Paddling weekend at the River Dart Country Park.

What’s the plan?

A few of us will be heading down on Friday morning early to get a PEER PADDLE on the Grade 4 Upper Dart, and to avoid the weekend traffic. The on Sat we will most likely run one or two laps of the Dart Loop and/or Lower Dart which is a G2/3 river by the Country Park, and we’ll see what’s running and what everyone fancies on Sunday morning before setting course to home.

This trip is suitable for anyone who has paddled a bit on moving water, ideally a couple of sessions at the Dee over the summer with us. But if in any doubt if this is for you please give us a shout on 07837 963160.

Accommodation

We have secured 2x 6 bed bunk rooms at the Country Park, which are £25 per person per night including linen. There is also the option to camp at the Country Park for £30 per night per pitch. Both of these include your entrance fee to the park which is usually £12 for the weekend.

To book one of the beds please email info@riverdart.co.uk quoting Shrewsbury Canoe Club. They will reserve your bed, and send you a link to pay. Payment must be made no later than 1 week in advance. If all 12 beds get booked then they currently have additional availability and can increase our booking. We don’t need to fill all 12 beds.

To camp, please just book your pitch at riverdart.co.uk to suit your requirements.

After booking to secure your place, we suggest you don’t make payment until the week prior - the Dart can be a bit temperamental with river levels, and there is no penalty for cancelling a min 7 days prior. We should have a good idea by then. 

You can self cater, but most of us will be doing breakfast and evening meal at the onsite cafe The Old Saw Mill which was excellent last year. This is not included in the accommodation fee. 

Kit and Boats

As always, kit and boats are available to hire from the Club for the weekend. Please book out on our website, and give me a shout on 07837 963160 to sort collection from our containers. You will be responsible for getting your boat and too and from the Dart. 

Needed; Boat with air bags, paddle, deck, helmet, BA, suitable winter paddling attire, sense of humour.

Details from Facebook Gene17’s Adventure Paddlers Weekend Page

The Adventure Paddlers Weekend, a meeting point for all kayakers near the end of the year celebrates Adventure Paddling! On Saturday Gene17kayaking hosts an evening of new films from recent expeditions. We'll also have a DJ to see the night through. We leave the daytime free for yourselves to go paddling with your friends, to catch up on old times and have your our adventure. The event is located at the highly popular River Dart, on Dartmoor, and is totally FREE as usual.

Upper Dart

https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/south-west/river-dart-dartmeet-to-new-bridge-the-upper-dart

The Loop

https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/south-west/river-dart-new-bridge-to-holne-bridge-the-loop

Holne Bridge to Buckfastleigh

https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/south-west/river-dart-holne-bridge-to-buckfastleigh

Cheers, Grant