Jinaka Canoe Guides Logo   Introduction to moving water and rivers

- The River Lune  Prices and Booking

The River Lune rising on the north side of the Howgill Fells turns south and runs to the east of M6 motorway, passes Kirkby Lonsdale at Devil's Bridge and eventually meets the sea at Lancaster.  Devil's Bridge is one of our most popular venues for a day's canoeing. It is easy to get to with free parking, a large picnic area and usually a 'Butty' van. Most of the time, it offers both sheltered and moving water for beginner's and those with some skills. Sometimes, in wet weather, the river conditions are unsuitable for beginners, but may be good for advanced paddlers. In particular, Devil's Bridge offers a good introduction to moving water- ferry gliding, breaking in and out, and safety practice. There are successively stronger eddies as you move upstream which allows beginners and those with some skill to learn progressively and safely. A day on the Lune is designed to introduce people of all ages to 'Canoeing in Comfort'.

Pictures of the River Lune

Your BCU qualified coaches will provide you with high quality personal instruction.
A day's example programme will depending on weather and river conditions and would include the following as an example.
An introduction to your guides, other paddlers, your safety and your equipment.
There will be lots to learn: how to 'Canoe in Comfort', looking out for each other and other water users, sitting and kneeling, paddle strokes, trimming your boat, rafting up, what to do if you fall in, how to get a canoe to go in a straight line, how to turn, how to go sideways, communicating with your partner, when to stay and when to go, river language, blending in with the environment, making drinks, where to find access information, ferry gliding, the importance of edging your canoe, breaking out and breaking in, surfing, and more.
A suggested list of equipment required:
Remember it's easy to cool down, much more difficult to warm up. More advice at the time of booking will be given.

A sense of humour A spare sense of humour in case the first one gets wet. Check List
Clothing suitable for canoeing Warm outdoor clothing which dries quickly, if it gets wet. E.g. walking gear is OK. AVOID cotton.
Fleece- warm top and bottoms.
Sun hat, or warm hat and gloves.
Over trousers
Cagoule
A change of warm clothing

And a reasonably waterproof bag, if you have wet clothes. (We provide waterproof barrels).

Spare clothes

Always play safe and have spare. Don't forget sleeping clothes.

Swimming costume Handy if you want to swim.
Footwear Some footwear is essential. Wellies are suitable, trainers/sandals also.
A medical declaration These are confidential and must be completed at booking.
Treat o'clock Something edible to share
Personal needs Sun block, etc.
Personal Medication e.g. inhalers
Equipment A mug for tea/coffee/juice, etc.
Please avoid bringing Valuables, documents or other items liable to damage by water

Itinerary Example : day session 6hrs starting @1000hrs ending @1600hrs. - includes doubles canoes, buoyancy aids, helmets, paddles, instruction, but is exclusive of personal insurance and travel to Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. Costs depend on the number in the group, the number of coaches needed, the number of canoes required, activity location, etc.

Please note that a condition of booking is the acceptance that Jinaka Canoe Guides liability to clients is limited to the reimbursement of any money paid directly to Jinaka Canoe Guides. If it transpires that you are unable to attend after you have paid, with our agreement you may find someone else to take your place and transfer your place to them.

Your Guides
Paul Lethebee and Jim Davis enjoy the pleasures that travelling and playing on water brings. Paul and Jim have many years of experience of living and working in the countryside and both live in the Yorkshire Dales. They hold coaching qualifications awarded by the British Canoe Union covering the skills required for journeying on open water in canoes and frequently work together. Individually they also have other skills in mountaineering, caving, kayaking, sea kayaking and sailing as well as a good knowledge of things like plants, birds, fish and rocks. Paul and/or Jim will be on hand to coach you in canoeing skills, pass on country skills and respond to your questions and suggestions, without being intrusive.
Travel: You would normally use your own arrangements to travel to the activity site.
Documents/valuables: We do not think there is any reason for you to bring documents or valuables with you. Please leave anything unnecessary at home.
Health: A confidential medical questionnaire must be completed, returned and received prior to a booking being accepted. Whilst there will be a first aid kit, we would recommend that you pack any personal medication that you may require.
Safety and Emergency Procedures relevant to our activities have been identified and are available prior to booking. They will be introduced and/or practised at the relevant times.
Itinerary: Any proposed itinerary is an outline which will be followed subject to environmental factors, the most obvious of which is the weather. Your safety is paramount. Within this outline, we can be flexible and adapt the day's activities according to personal and group decisions. You will be encouraged to paddle with different partners and in different canoe positions.
Skills: Canoeing is an activity that is suitable for all ages. It provides a mode of transport that is ideal for observing and enjoying nature. Canoeing uses more coordination than strength so there will be no need for you to have anything other than a reasonable level of fitness. There are many skills that will be demonstrated and used throughout an activity/journey, some of which are canoeing skills while others are related to living with nature. A key objective for an activity/journey is to see how comfortable we can be and we shall be exploring skills that contribute to this. It is not necessary for you to have any water skills prior to an activity/journey. However, it is important that you will be able to be comfortable sitting in a canoe for from a few minutes up to an hour and a half at a time, as well as be calm in the event of an involuntary swim. We avoid getting wet as it is unnecessary, but unplanned swims do happen. If you have any doubts about this, you should reconsider the appropriateness of canoeing.

To make an enquiry, please send us a message and we will reply to you.
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