Build the confidence and competence to explore Cumbrian rivers under your own steam with a full-day training session run by experienced packrafters. This 7.5-hour course takes you well beyond the basics, covering the practical knowledge and on-water techniques needed to plan, paddle, and respond to whatever a river throws at you. Ideal for anyone keen to progress towards independent adventures, whether you're starting fresh or already have a bit of paddling under your belt.
Your day opens with a warm welcome at the meeting point, followed by a structured briefing that sets the tone for the coaching ahead. Your instructor will walk you through the aims of the day, fit your kit, and spend time on dry-land fundamentals — paddle grip, posture, stroke mechanics — before you touch the water. The first session on the river is deliberately paced for learning: short drills, clear feedback, and space to ask questions, so that the basics feel solid before you start building on them.
The middle of the day shifts into progressive skills development. Expect drills on ferry glides, turning in current, and moving confidently between eddies. You'll learn how to read water — spotting features like eddies, tongues, horizon lines and stoppers — and practise picking safe lines through increasingly varied terrain. Lunch is taken on a convenient riverbank or meadow, and offers a natural chance to debrief, ask questions, and set goals for the afternoon. Throughout, your instructor adapts the content to the group's progress, so no one is left behind or held back.
The afternoon is where everything starts to click. You'll work through self-rescue — what to do if you come out of your boat, how to re-enter, and how to keep yourself and your kit together in moving water — alongside practical drills in assisting others. The day ends with a longer applied run, where you put the techniques into practice on a proper stretch of river with your instructor nearby but increasingly hands-off. There's time at the end for individual feedback, next-step advice, and discussion of where your packrafting could take you from here.
The Lake District is a genuinely good place to learn river skills. Within a short drive you can move between sheltered beginner-friendly stretches and livelier sections with proper features to practise on — and your instructor will choose the venues that best match the group's level on the day. Depending on conditions, you might train on a wooded river with a mix of pools and riffles, a more open valley section with readable features, or a combination of both across morning and afternoon. The variety is part of what makes a single day here so productive.
What really helps learning in this part of Cumbria is the consistency of the water. Rivers here tend to offer accessible put-ins and take-outs, clear features for reading water, and a manageable scale — ideal for building skills you can transfer to bigger rivers elsewhere. The landscape also keeps the day interesting: sessions run through woodland, past stone bridges, and under shifting light that makes even the drills feel less like hard work. You leave with transferable skills and a much better mental map of the local river network.
This course is open to paddlers of all starting points, from complete beginners to those with a few sessions already under their belt. No prior packrafting or whitewater experience is required — your instructor will pitch the content to match the group. You should, however, be reasonably mobile: enough to sit in a packraft for extended periods, get in and out of the boat from the bank, and manage a full day outside with short walks between sections of water. Children aged 8 and above can take part when accompanied by a participating adult, and anyone 18 or over can join independently. Basic swimming ability and water confidence are important, as you'll be practising self-rescue drills that involve being in the water.
Packing thoughtfully makes a real difference on a skills day. Comfortable outdoor clothing suited to the weather works best, with a waterproof layer and plenty of warm options for breaks between drills. Sturdy footwear — trainers or light walking boots with decent grip — is essential, along with a full change of dry clothes for afterwards. Bring a packed lunch, snacks, at least a couple of litres of water, and sun protection (sunglasses included). All training equipment is provided, including packraft, paddle and buoyancy aid, and your instructor will talk you through it all before you start.
Packrafting is our only focus, and that specialism runs through every minute of the coaching. Your instructor is an experienced paddler with deep knowledge of Cumbrian rivers, real teaching skills, and an approach that prioritises clarity over complexity — so each drill has a clear purpose and sits within a logical progression. Small group sizes mean genuine one-to-one attention, proper feedback, and enough water time to actually practise what you're being taught rather than standing on the bank watching.
What really sets this course apart is where it leads. Because packrafts pack down into a backpack, the skills you learn here unlock a huge range of adventures — hill-and-river combinations, remote valley paddles, multi-day trips deeper into Cumbria and beyond. We'll help you map out sensible next steps based on what you've picked up, and you'll leave with practical coaching, clear goals, and the confidence to start exploring independently. Many graduates come back for more advanced days, guided trips, or multi-day expeditions once they've found their feet.
About the centre
Carlisle
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