CHELTENHAM CANOE CLUB

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Get your tickets for the 2025 Lido Kayaking season!

8th May – 21st August 2025

Thursdays 19:30 – 21:00*

We have the lovely Sandford Parks Lido all to ourselves every Thursday evening throughout the summer. Whether you’re an experienced paddler looking to hone your skills or a complete beginner wanting to “have a go” we have something for everyone.

Beginner Multi-week Course
Beginner one off Taster Session

Our beginner course or taster sessions are led by qualified volunteers to give you a fun and safe introduction to kayaking.

Just Paddle

If you already know the basics you’re welcome to just come along and paddle!

Father and daughter at the Lido
Multiple kayakers at the Lido
Five kayakers
CANOE POLO

Friendly Polo Games welcoming all abilities

ROLLING COACH

In the “rolling corner” you’ll find a coach to help you perfect your technique

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Kayaking at the Lido is great fun for all the family

POST-KAYAKING PUB TRIP

Head to the pub afterwards, we’re a social club

* The final two sessions will finish earlier due to low light and the price will be discounted

White Water Kayaking

Regular trips whenever it rains during the winter months on Grade 2 – 5 rivers.

More Info

Summer Lido

Thursday evenings at the Lido between May and August. A perfect place to find out if Kayaking is for you!

More Info

Flat water touring​

Gentle river trips suitable for all the family.

More Info

We are a British Canoeing Quality Club!

We’re very proud to have been accredited as a British Canoeing Quality Club. It’s a sign of high standards at the club in the areas of governance, safeguarding and equality, diversity & inclusion.

Membership​

Prospective members can attend up to three events before we ask that you sign up to be a full member so you can come along and try it out before committing.

Members can borrow boats, paddles and safety equipment from the club stores at no extra cost. You also get discounted entry to the Lido sessions.

Adult membership is £46/year with discounts for families, young people​ and existing members of British Canoeing.

Read more about becoming a member

Club highlights throughout the year

In addition to the regular scheduled and ad-hoc outings, here are some of the Club’s firm favourites we repeat year after year.

May European Paddling Trip

In 2023 we headed out to Slovenia to paddle the Soča river and in other years we’ve been to the French Alps. In amongst the Grade 2 – 4 kayaking we take in the sights of the mountain ranges and sample the local delicacies (wine and cheese usually!). Kayaking in Europe is an unforgettable experience with beautiful scenery, crystal clear waters and since the rivers are often fed by glacial melt water there’s still plenty of water in summertime.

September Anglesey Sea Kayaking Long Weekend

Two days of exploring the North Wales coastline, seals, coves, cliffs and BBQ’s make this a fabulous weekend as long as the sun is out! Plus we’ll stop for some cheeky laps for the Tryweryn on the drive up to get the adrenaline going.

October Symonds Yat Slalom

The Cheltenham Canoe Club organises the Division 2/3 October Slalom competition at Symonds Yat. This is a volunteer ran event and there are plenty of opportunities to help out regardless of experience. As a club we have members who compete in every division from juniors through to seniors, and we have a selection of race-worthy fibreglass slalom kayaks available for members to loan out.

Kayakers on the river Dart

November Dart Weekend

The November Dart Weekend trip is usually the Club’s biggest of the year. We stay at a bunkhouse in Dartmoor from Friday night to Sunday. There are usually trips out to the upper, loop and lower Dart so something for most white water abilities. On the occasional year without rain we’ve taken a paddle down to the Dart estuary instead and had some ice-cream by the sea.