WHITE WATER
This is the more elusive of the two. To create white water rivers that are suitable for kayaking, you need two things: high ground and high rainfall. Handling these conditions requires skill, strength and knowledge of how a kayak responds to certain forces, and that’s why white water kayaking is the more challenging version of the sport. You have to control the boat in the current, avoid rocks and stay upright as you descend falls and rapids - white knuckle fun for those who are up to it!
The Highlands
As home to the tallest peaks in the British Isles, and with a healthy amount of rainfall too, it’s no surprise that kayaking in the Scottish Highlands can involve traversing white water. The River Leven in Glencoe offers a terrific ride for kayakers with a thirst for white water.
North Wales
Second place in terms of altitude and white water kayaking opportunities goes to North Wales. The rains that fall on the mountains of Snowdonia form rivers that descend rapidly to the Irish Sea in the region of Gwynedd, but one of them is so strong that it remains a rushing torrent in Denbighshire, much closer to the English border and the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Stoke-on-Trent. This is the River Dee, one of the most accessible locations for white water kayaking in the UK.
FLAT WATER
Where rivers don’t have enough power to create rapids, they can generally be classed as flat water. Add to that the even more gentle conditions that you’ll find on most lakes, lochs and canals, and there’s a whole catalogue of places you can enjoy flat water kayaking. In the Olympics, this discipline is characterised by speed and paddling power, but as a leisure activity it can be whatever you want it to be - peaceful, playful, or even a way of travelling long distances - you decide.
We should point out that the regions we listed in the white water section also have a great deal of spots for flat water kayaking. Check out, for example, Loch Ness in the Highlands or Bala Lake in Gwynedd, the source of the River Dee.
Cumbria
If you want lakes, come kayaking in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Beautiful bodies of water ringed by the highest peaks in England are found here, making it a truly inspiring place for a paddle.
London
You don’t have to travel to far-flung corners of the country to enjoy watersports. That’s evidenced by the fantastic kayaking opportunities in London. There are parts of the River Thames to explore, lesser known rivers such as the River Trent in West London and whole networks of canals around Paddington Basin and the Docklands.
Hampshire
We could have chosen many counties on the South Coast of England as an example of a fantastic place for this sport with pleasant surroundings and a mild climate, but we’ve selected kayaking in Hampshire. As well as charming waterways such as the River Hamble, there are sheltered coastal waters to enjoy, including Portsmouth Harbour and Southampton Water.
Did you notice that we didn’t mention the sea? That’s because sea kayaking is a whole different story that involves specialist equipment, techniques and procedures. If you want to know more about that, stay tuned because we might write an article about that any day now. In the meantime, we hope that this guide to flat water and white water kayaking helps you choose the perfect place to enjoy this awesome sport!
