Heading to the Lakes winter 12.

[psm outdoors]

Hope to be heading up to the Lake District during Feb/March 2012. Looking for a cottage/house to rent for a week sleep 10/12 canoe club paddlers, need advise on base location and must do classic grade 3/4 rivers to run.
Likely to be mix of kayakers and open boaters who are happy to flat water lake paddle/mountain bike/hike/climb etc on dry days.

Any ideas/local knowlage welcome.

[psm outdoors]

It's official our CC is heading to the Lakes for some paddling for a week starting 3rd Feb 12.

We (15 or so) will be staying at a farmhouse between Kendal and Windermere, so looking at paddling South east Lakes rivers and maybe other areas too including some flat stuff on the lakes themselves for open boating.

A mix of paddlers from intermediate to creek boaters and a few open boaters and mountain bikers too hope to come along.
We will be looking for some good grades 2&3 for the inermed's also some creeking too, if any one can recomend must do rivers and must miss rivers please let us know.

I have the Lakes WW guidebook but little experience of paddling in the area.

Cheers
Pete

[Jim_MWX]

Well Im sure some will have a different set of rivers to recommend but here's my 2 pence:

Leven (Grade 3) - classic short whitewater run
Kent (Grade 4) great gorge section and some classic drops
Lune (2/3 with some 4) great river and some awesome rapid sections.

I don't really paddle anything above this level, or creek boat, so not sure whats good in that respect.

[lou]

I'd also recommend the Leven and the Crake as grade 2/3 rivers. The Lune is grade 3 but the strid (4) can be portaged. The Lune is a longer trip than the Leven and Crake, and if you catch it at a good level is a lovely paddle.

Kent is great. Also try the Duddon, the Rawthey and the Clough for more experienced paddlers.

Lou

[psm outdoors]

Thanks guys,

I am looking forward to exploring some of the rivers, only a few weeks away now cant wait.

Cheers
Pete

[Rdscott]

If the waterlevelsstay as they are the crake and the leven make a great day out,start on the crake and then the leven and you'vedone around trip and on your way home.

[psm outdoors]

Just got back from a great few days in the Lakes. Despite the lack of rainfall we managed to paddle the Leven in the snow! on Saturday. Snowed in on Sunday so some snow boating and mountaineering and then a lovely paddle on Conniston water leading down the pretty River Crake to Sparks Bridge.
Tuesday was to open boat from Grassmere through Rydal Water to Windermere but Rydal was frozen!!
Plan B, paddle on Windermere was a lovely alternative in the morning sunshine with snow on the mountains.
Sadly I had to get back to work today but other CC members were hoping to seek out the Kent before the end of the week.

Thanks
We will return.

[snuggle_bunny]

The river derwent from Rosthwaite youth hostel in borrowdale and derwentwater/ bassenthwaite is a must( grade 3 max, novices beware of edies at the stonethwaite beck/ river derwent confluence. see access agreement for bassenthwaite. Also - Grassmere to Lake windermere via Rydal water but be prepared for a bit of hassle on the river from Rydal to Ambleside. ALSO - beware of the parking wardens in all pay and display car parks. The pay and display at waterhead, Ambleside, has a hidden webcam and photographs all cars. A m8 of mine got a ticket for 90 quid after not paying as he couldnt find a ticket machine