Below is the list of proposed padding trips from October to December. The actual river may change due to weather and river levels, but we hope to have alternating easy and harder trips throughout the season. There may also be additional trips which will be advertised.
Where you share cars, please pay your share of fuel costs and don’t wait for the driver to ask. Some of the trips are quite a drive.
PROCEDURE
1/ Monday A very short email will be sent out Monday to all club members advertising the proposed trip and it’s difficulty for the following weekend.
It will also ask for volunteers to lead and help provide safety cover for the trip by Wednesday.
2/ Thursday An email confirming details (river, meeting place, times etc) to be sent by noon Thursday to all members.
3/ Friday Anyone wishing to go should reply by em
4/ Saturday A confirmation email / text, including who is meeting where, will only be sent to those going on Saturday.
5/ If you need to cancel please text 07702593288. Text is best it will get through.
| Date | Trip type | Proposed river, may change | Suitability | |
| Oct | ||||
| Sat | 6 | Surf Training | By the English Surf Team at Sandymere | You will need a reliable flat water roll |
| Sun | 7 | Surf Training | By the English Surf Team at Sandymere | You will need a reliable flat water roll |
| Sun | 7 | Easy trip | Torridge – Blinsham to Taddiport (4 M) | A very easy trip suitable for anyone |
| Sun | 14 | Proficient | Dart Loop | Suitable for competent paddlers |
| Sat | 20 | Leaders Refresh | Dart, Lyn or Teign | Refresh for leaders or support paddlers |
| Sun | 21 | Easy trip | Exe – Black Cat to Bolham (5.5 M) | A very easy trip suitable for anyone |
| Sun | 28 | Proficient | Walkham or Teign | Suitable for competent paddlers, an easy pro paddle |
| Nov | ||||
| Sun | 4 | Improver | Barle – Dulverton to Exebridge (3 M) | Suitable for most paddlers, a nice little paddle |
| Sun | 11 | Expert/proficient | Erme | Suitable for expert paddlers |
| Sun | 18 | Improver | Barle – Tarr Steps to Dulverton (6.5 M) | A small step up for beginners but worth it |
| Sat | 24 | Competent | Torridge – Bideford to Weare Giffard | Suitable for competent beginners |
| Sun | 25 | Proficient | Teign | Suitable for competent paddlers, an easy pro paddle |
| Dec | ||||
| Sun | 2 | Improver | Exe – Bolham to Tiverton (3 M) | Suitable for most paddlers |
| Sun | 9 | Proficient | Dart Loop | Suitable for competent paddlers |
| Sun | 16 | Improver | Barle – Tarr Steps to Dulverton (6.5 M) | A small step up for beginners but worth it |
| ? | ? | Expert/proficient | Lyn if possible | Suitable for competent paddlers |
| Xmas | Eat and drink | |||
Easy river trips: (suitable for raw beginners, 2* trainees etc)
Torridge – introductory paddles from Bideford steps on the Torridge estuary, using the tide (grade 1).
Torridge – descents from Weare Giffard etc, (grade 1) (needs a high spring tide).
Torridge – Blinsham to Taddiport, (grade 1) (4 miles) (nice level at 1m at Torrington gauge)
Torridge – New Bridge to Puffing Billy (grade 1).
Taw – upstream from Barnstaple, using the tide flow and ebb to ‘go with the flow’ (grade 1).
Taw from Umberleigh down to tidal section at New Bridge (grade 1).
Exe – Black Cat to Bolham (grade 1) ( 5.5 miles)(1.4 is OK to run at Stoodleigh gauge)
Improver river trips: (suitable for competent beginners, ask for advice if in doubt)
Torridge – Beaford or Sheepwash (grade 1).
Taw – Kings Nympton to Umberleigh (grade 1 to 2).
Exe – Bolham to Tiverton (grade 1 to 2).
Lower Exe – Four Pines into Exeter (grade 1 to 2).
Lower Dart, – River Dart Country Park to Buckfastleigh (grade 1 to 2).
Tamar – Horsebridge to Gunnislake (grade 1 to 2).
Lower Barle – Dulverton to Exbridge (grade 1 to 2) (L0.40, M0.9, H1.4, best 0.55). 6 hrs run off from rain at Tarr Steps to Bushford, 9mm=0.25m
Barle – Tarr Steps to Dulverton (grade 2) (L0.6, M0.9, H1.4, best 0.7+).
Proficient river trips: (suitable for competent paddlers)
Dart Loop – New Bridge to RDCP (grade 2 to 3). (L0.45, M0.74, H1.2, best on the ledge 0.7)(3.2 miles)
Lower Tavy – Tavistock to Denham Bridge (grade 2). (L0.45, M0.6, H1.0)
Middle Tavy – (grade 2 to 3+). (L0.5, M0.65, H0.75)
East Lyn – Middle section, Watersmeet to below Myrtleberry, (grade 2 to 3 portage of one drop). (L1.5, M1.65, H1.8, best 1.52)
Teign – Dogmarsh Bridge to Fingle Bridge or on to Clifford Bridge (grade 2 to 3). (L0.7, M0.8, H1.4, best 1.0+)(3 miles)
Walkham – Huckworthy Bridge all the way to the Tavy confluence (grade 2 to 3). (min 0.42) (4.2 miles)
Plym – Shaugh Prior (grade 2 to 3+).
Expert river trips: (All these rivers get harder with high water)
Upper Dart (grade 3 to 4). (L0.5, M0.74, H1.1) (on the ledge =0.67)
West Dart (grade 3) (level must be 0.9+ to run, 1.2 is nice).
East Lyn (grade 3 to 4+). (L1.5, M1.65, H1.8, best 1.52) Brendon should be 1.55 but ok at 1.52
Erme (grade 3 to 4). (L0.67, M0.8, H0.9)
East Okement, Upper Teign, Upper Walkham, Avon etc only work in high water for small expert groups
River Guides (for description and grade of SW rivers)
Search “uk rivers guide” http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/south-west/
River Levels (for latest river levels)
Search “environment agency river and sea levels https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/river-and-sea-levels
Search “rainchasers” http://rainchasers.com/region/south-west
Weather Stations (for indication of amount of rain)
Dartmoor Search “Dartcom” http://www.dartcom.co.uk/weather
Exmoor Tarr Steps Search “weatheronline liscombe” then go to Precipitation