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.

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.

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

May 21st to July 23rd

Each year we run a 2 star  training course which aims to bring relative beginners up to a standard where you can be a competent member of a group on a moderate/easy trip.

If you are a current paid up member or wish to join BCC,  you are welcome to apply for a place this year.   Please email paul  “at” fordahill.com to book a place on this course or get in touch using our Facebook page.  

There are ten sessions in all,  six evenings, (usually Mondays from 18.30 to 20.00) and four sessions covered in one weekend.  All of these sessions will involve meeting at the club hut to get a boat, kit and any additional equipment required. The weekend will have a focus on open boating which is part of the syllabus. Below is a copy of the syllabus and the training schedule dates, so you know what is involved. In past years, participants have ranged in age from 11 to 70+.

In the first week, we will meet on the Monday evening to book out and organise any equipment required and run a dry session. The aim of the dry session is to run through some key points which will include general safety, terminology and basic paddling techniques etc. On the following Thursday from 19.30 to 21.00 at West Buckland pool, we will run through capsize drills and rescues. This pool session will enable us to carry out the wet work in comfortable surroundings. Once the pool session has taken place we will be continuing the training in an open water environment at various locations, subject to tides and weather conditions.  These sessions will take place on a Monday evening. The weekend open boating sessions will be held on the 23^rd & 24^th of June.

The cost for this training will be just £70 for adults and £50 for under 18s and will cover the use of all equipment, pool hire and any coaching expenses. If however, you have your own boat and equipment the course fee can be reduced to £50. This will be payable at the first dry session together with any membership monies that may be due.

Places on this training course will be limited as we have a maximum number of members we can accommodate.

Any club members who  attended the two star course last year and now wish to take their assessment will be welcome to join the group to refresh their skills prior to the assessment.

We’re all looking forward to getting afloat on warmer and lighter evenings soon, meeting new members and making new friends and having fun on the water and practising and learning new skills. During the course, we will endeavour to incorporate a sea trip to expand the new paddlers skills and environments and the intention is to have a BBQ and social on the Saturday evening of the open boat weekend.

Paul Greenway  …aka Greenie        BCC Training Co-ordinator

  2  Star Training Schedule  2018