Since 1990, when the club started, we’ve used many venues for our meets. Some are used regularly and are detailed below. Others have been used rarely or as one-offs, and are listed here as examples of suitable waters for canoe-sailing.
Coniston Water, English Lake District, Cumbria
One of our absolute favourite places to hold a meet is Coniston Water. Old Hall campsite, just south of Coniston village on the west shore, has good access for launching. The lake is scenic and quiet, with very few motorised craft or much other traffic. Being about 6 miles long it provides scope for a great day cruise, with the bonus of several handy cafés to visit. For day-sailing, there are a couple of parking/launch spots on the east shore and a big car park at the north end.
Ullswater, English Lake District, Cumbria
Ullswater is another lake that the group has often visited. There are a few water access points on the north shore and there are two campsites nearer Pooley Bridge, both of which we have used for meets. The lake is around 9 miles long with a few islands and two bends. These make for interesting and ever-changing views (and winds!) At the southern end there is a real feel of being amongst the higher mountains. Motorised craft are restricted, so there is little to detract from the tranquillity of the area. The café at Aira Force near the north shore is a favourite with a good landing beach next to the steamer pier. The tourist steamers and their wakes add some interest and although there is some road noise the overall sailing experience is very much worthwhile.
Loch Lomond, Scotland
Loch Lomond, just north west of Glasgow, is Britain’s largest lake. Although we have used the campsites at Luss and Cashel in the past, our favourite is at Millarochy on the quieter eastern shore, in the wider southern part of the loch. The cafés at Luss are a nice distance for a day cruise, including around and between the islands nearby. Or going north it’s possible to do a 40 mile day. You do get some power boats in a few popular areas, but the lake is so large that they are rarely a problem. Wild camping is controlled during the summer months but some members have wild-camped for a few days on “Wallaby island” (Inchconnachan) or others, often in November.
Bala (Llyn Tegid), Snowdonia, Wales
Bala Lake (or Llyn Tegid, to use its proper name in the Welsh language) is not a particularly large body of water at about 4 miles in length, but it is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by hills and mountains within Snowdonia National Park. It can provide some great sailing, varying from a gentle cruise with time to gaze at the superb landscape, to a challenging trip in the strong winds that funnel up the valley with the prevailing south westerlies. There is a permit system for any boat going on the lake, to assist funding the National Park’s work. Launching is possible from the large car park near the village end and there are two campsites with good access to the water. Our meets are based at Pant-yr-Onnen campsite near Llangower, part way up the lake on the south side, where fires are allowed on the beach, making a great focus for socialising each evening.
Rutland Water
Kielder Water
Windermere
Derwent Water
Grafham Water
Rudyard Lake
Roadford Reservoir
Norfolk Broads – Hickling Broad
Norfolk Broads – Barton Broad
Hornsea Mere
Rother Valley
Chasewater
Poole Harbour
Tighnabruaich
Tayvallich
Loch Sunart
Dart Estuary
Loch Tummel
Loch Ken
Loch Voil
Loch Leven
Isle of Luing
Menai Straits
Brighouse Bay
Strangford Lough
Silver Bay, Holy Island
Falmouth
Teddington
Southampton Water
Beaulieu River