Amy
We had a great time trying canoeing for the first time. We will definitely come back next year to do more canoeing.
Launch on a beautiful rural adventure with our self-guided full-day canoe trips in Herefordshire. These journeys are between 17 and 19 miles, and promise immersion in nature, away from the bustle of urban life.
Our trips are self-guided. Our service includes either taking you upstream to the beginning of your journey, allowing you to drift or paddle back to where your vehicle is parked, or collecting you from your downstream destination to bring you back to the start.
Upon your arrival, you’ll be greeted warmly and equipped with buoyancy aids, paddles, and dry barrels for your belongings, all suited to your size.
Before you set off, we’ll conduct a comprehensive briefing on the shore, covering how to safely enter and exit your canoe, the basics of paddling and steering, recognising and avoiding potential hazards, and what to do if you capsize.
Once equipped and briefed, we’ll assign you one or more of our spacious, stable canoes. With our final advice and encouragement, you’ll be ready to launch and begin your adventure down the river.
You can choose from the following:
Our longest and most rural day trip! A tranquil 19-mile journey where it is common to go the complete day without hearing a single vehicle. Journey through nature from Lucksall, navigating behind Fownhope village, past Ballingham and Caplor Woods.
Lunch at Tresseck Campsite, New Harp Inn or a picturesque beach. Continue past charming villages like Sellack, and glimpse historic landmarks and abundant birdlife. Marvel at the five demolished stone railway bridges before reaching Ross-on-Wye, perched above the Wye River.
Embark on a unique 17-mile day trip from Hereford to Tresseck Campsite, passing through Lucksall Park and Holme Lacy Bridge. Enjoy unique views of the Cathedral and the Victorian footbridge, and stop for a bite to eat at Lucksall Park. Meander through Fownhope to Carey Islands and the ruins of the railway bridge.
End your journey on the right-hand bank after Hoarwithy Bridge, where a gravel beach and steps are located. Only 250 metres away, enjoy great food and local ales at New Harp Inn. To make your trip memorable, camp overnight with our friends at Tresseck Campsite.
The first trip begins at Lucksall and concludes at Ross-on-Wye, a historic market town, offering a scenic route along the River Wye.
The second begins in Hereford and travels through various beautiful locations such as Hampton Bishop and Lucksall Park, before arriving in Hoarwithy.
All trips meet at our base at Tresseck Campsite where you can leave your car and we will transport you to/from your start and end points. Tresseck campsite is situated in the centre of Hoarwithy village, just below the church in Herefordshire, located midway between the market town of Ross-on-Wye (6 miles to the south) and the city of Hereford (8 miles to the north).
Participants should be prepared for a physically demanding day on the water, requiring a reasonable level of fitness. While prior canoeing experience is not necessary, a willingness to engage with nature and embrace the challenges of the journey is essential.
We take pride in providing top-notch service from the moment you meet and brief with us, to the moment we pick you up. Our team of dedicated enthusiasts is passionate about creating an unforgettable day out for you. We provide top-quality canoes and safety equipment, and we're eager to share our love of this beautiful river with you.
All of our canoes have two fixed seats with an optional clip-in seat for a third person. Some of our larger family canoes can accommodate 2 adults and up to 2 smaller children, but it’s best not to overload the boat.
This is one of our most frequently asked questions and often one of the most difficult to answer as we operate under strict ratios based on the following numbers:
So, if your child is under the age of 4, I’m afraid we can’t accommodate you.
If your children are under 12, there’s a strict ratio of 1 adult per child.
We generally ask you to meet us at Tresseck campsite where you can safely park your car. From there we’ll transport you to the start point upstream where we will also collect you from and return you to your car.
Wear loose, lightweight clothing and trainers, aqua boots, or full sandals. Bring waterproof and windproof layers, and extra ones for warmth.
Don't wear wellington boots, flip-flops, or jeans. And be prepared to get splashed!
Bring fluids, snacks, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a warm top, full change of clothes. We provide waterproof storage; bring just enough clothing and food for comfort.
For your safety, we operate a zero-tolerance to alcohol on the river. Anyone found under the influence of alcohol or any other substances will not be permitted to hire or participate. We do not allow alcohol to be taken on your trip and reserve the right to confiscate it until your return.
If you’d like to enjoy a drink, please do so responsibly once your canoe adventure is complete – you may well find us in the pub when we’re done for the day too!
We rarely cancel a trip if it’s raining so make sure you bring the right kit to stay warm and dry. Once you’re out on the river, you won’t even notice!
Your safety is paramount to us and in extreme weather conditions or if the river level is unsuitable, sadly we won’t be able to operate and will contact you in the hope we can get you out on the river again as soon as possible.
Smaller, well-behaved dogs are very welcome to come along. However, larger dogs can cause instability in the canoe due to the weight moving around unpredictably, increasing the risk of capsizing. The same applies to more active or excitable dogs that may jump out of the canoe to swim.
That being said, we have had many dogs successfully canoe with us every month, so it ultimately comes down to your judgment.
We do not provide buoyancy aids for dogs as we have never met one who cannot swim. For safety reasons, we request that you never tie your dog to the canoe in case of a capsize.
We had a great time trying canoeing for the first time. We will definitely come back next year to do more canoeing.
We had a great trip with Hereford Canoe Hire. The equipment was perfect, and the scenery was amazing. We completed a 2 day trip from Hoarwithy to Monmouth - stopping overnight at Ross-On-Wye. Highlights included spotting lots of Kingfishers and also a Terrapin! What a great adventure!
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Hereford Canoe Hire, a partner of adventuro.
