Since the pandemic, paddling has seen dramatic growth. When we were allowed out, many of us wanted to be near or on water, and paddle sports saw an explosion of new interest. So much so, that British Canoeing has seen a 127% increase in membership over the last two years.
You may have been living in London for years but if you still haven’t yet paddled around on the waterways, you’ve probably missed one of the best ways in which to see the city.
As Spring arrives, it is worth checking out a kayaking adventure as there are a number of excellent companies across the capital that offer an unmissable experience whether you are a tourist or resident. With plenty of choices for pleasure, corporate events or even birthday parties, there seems to be a kayaking experience for everyone.
Award-winning Back of Beyond in Richmond provides two-and-a-half hours’ worth of self-guided and guided tours on the River Thames during the summer. If you are new to kayaking, staff are on hand throughout to give you all the help that you need. If you fancy making a day of it, the ‘Grand Self-Guided Kayak Adventure’ takes you down the River Lane in Richmond for five hours of bliss.
Staying south of the river, you may have spotted people kayaking in Battersea courtesy of the London Kayak Company. You can take a one-way or 17-kilometre ‘Kayak Bus’ trip from their base in Greenwich to Battersea and then back. Or if you are feeling romantic, you can go for a moonlit paddle onboard ‘The Night Paddle Kayak’ route. Other options include the ‘Tower Bridge Return’ from Poplar to Tower Bridge, and the ‘Barrier and Back’, from Greenwich all the way out to the Thames Barrier and back again.
Also based in Battersea are Secret Adventures, one of the most famous kayaking operators that offer daytime and nighttime excursions. If you are feeling daring, why not book one of their overnight camping trips?
You can hire a kayak in London not only for fun but for charity too. The Pirate Castle company offers excellent 90 minute guided tours to the London Zoo along Regent’s Canal and back again. All of the money from their ticket sales go to give free boating adventures for children and vulnerable local community.
Whatever your reason to explore the waterways and however tranquil and eco-friendly kayaking may seem, the industry has a large carbon footprint from the manufacturing of kayaks that uses vast quantities of energy.
However, there is some good news. UK-based manufacturer, Gaybo Ltd trading as Wave Sport, has been making high-end kayaks since 1968. Today, Wave Sport is recognised as one of the longest-standing businesses in the sector, the company has found a solution to cut their carbon footprint and they are blazing the eco-trail for the kayaking industry.
In February, Wave Sport installed 422 x 420W Trina solar panels for their purpose-built factory and has generated around 4MW of free solar energy in 10 days to help power operations, saving 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.
Wave Sport Director, Andre Goldsmith, says “We are excited to see what impact the solar has once the weather improves. So far we have seen reductions in our pull from the grid and the occasional short periods when we are in fact totally off-grid and operating under the power generated by our solar installation. We are carefully analysing our power generation vs usage but it is too early to say exactly how much we will see our bills reduce… so far we are putting our faith in the theoretical calculations that we have the potential to halve our energy bills over the course of a year.”
Paul Vine, Director of OHM Energy adds “Wave Sport has made an investment in their business and the environment, and at current energy prices, they should recover their investment within circa four years. These solar panels have warranties for over 20 years and are predicted to save 1,795 tonnes of Co2 saved over that period. Going solar for Wave Sport was not only a pioneering move for the kayaking industry but also a smart commercial and ethical decision.”
Kayaking in London is a great way to unwind, and you can discover hidden gems and see iconic landmarks from a fresh perspective. Escape the pollution of the busy roads and enjoy travelling emission-free on the river. Now, when you’re paddling in a Wave Sport kayak, you can also be happy in the knowledge that your canoe was made using solar power.
