Canoeing Day Loch Lomond
18th July 2023
Come try a new sport in a stunning location
We love our little tours to bring accessible Canoeing to Scotland and there is no better place than Loch Lomond. So whether you are a veteran or are brand new to the sport come down and have a play
The UK’s Largest body of water
Loch Lomond should be the sea if it wasn't for a few geological occurrences - just look at it on the map you can literally walk to the sea at Tarbet (which translates as a place to portage boats).
No need to be a canoe guru
We’re here to teach and with support from our powerboat “Freedom,’ there probably cannot be a more accessible and achievable way to get canoeing.
Canoeing is super inclusive
We pioneered canoe outriggers as an excellent example of how with some thought canoeing can be super low-tech, go anywhere and be inclusive of people with a huge range of needs.
We can use any beach, do land transfers and even pull the canoe inside the powerboat to make on-water adjustments.
Canoeing is great for
Amputees
Autism
Down's Syndrome
Visual impairment (coming alone)
Visual impairment and your own guide
Speech Impairments
Space and calm needs
Older people
Walking sticks or aids
Sports Chair users
Manual Chair users
Use an electric wheelchair
Tourettes syndrome
Hearing needs
Amputees
Older people
Those with an assistance dog
Normally have full time support
Speak to us if you:
Need to make arrangements for an assistance dog
Normally have full time support
Use an electric wheelchair
Are an essential chair user
Need head support
Primarily communicate using sign language
Use a hoist to transfer
Pick up a paddle and glide below the Scottish mountains
Slow adventure for the soul
Canoeing is an ancient transport mode. When you get into a canoe life changes gear to canoe speed.
Now don't go thinking that padding is not adventurous it's just canoes, don't artificially magnify anything, the pressure from your wooden stick transfers directly into the water and drives the boat and directs the boat.
Canoeing is as closely connected to the lapping water and whistling winds as it's possible to be.
Come spend the day trying canoeing and see how we can make it super accessible.
Making Canoeing Inclusive
How we adapt canoeing to your needs
We can't list everything here but below is a summary of our top enablement tools.
Outriggers and Rafting
We can stabilise your canoe by either adding outriggers to each side or by joining two canoes together.
Stable Canoes
We imported our canoes all the way from Canada to get the best most stable craft available
Seating Options
We have a huge range of seating options from just a comfy cushion or backrest to a full support seat with support straps if needed. We use these big seats alongside the canoe stabilisation systems to ensure that you stay upright.
Land Boarding
We can send another climber alongside to help with positioning or understanding transitions. We can use our portable gantry hoist to board people (you will require a manual chair as the beach is challenging at Balloch)
Radio headsets
We can talk you through the position of holds and get in the right position straight to headphones or via bluetooth to your hearing aid. This is great for enabling visually impaired people, those who need to focus on a single voice as well as those who would struggle to hear instructions
Freedom the Powerboat
Freedom is like our superpower - by having an accessible powerboat we don't have to fight or hide from the weather - we know we can always get home and she makes rescues a doddle
Loos
Those who can't just pop to a bush rest assured we have a collapsible, portable rails and privacy tent. The departure point has a standard accessible toilet.
Transport
This trip is centred around an accessible train station. Balloch
Important Canoe Loch Lomond Info
Dates and Costs
1 Days Adventure on the Lake
Meet: Balloch Train Station 9 AM 18th July 2023
or
Depart: 10 AM on 18th July 2023 at Duncan Mills Memorial SlipwayDepart : 4pm Duncan Mills Slipway
£96 per person
What is included?
We supply all your equipment, launch fees, waterproofs and lunch
Lunch Included
All technical equipment
British qualified Canoe Instructor
What do we actually do
Brush up your Canoeing skills
Paddle the most sung about Loch in Scotland
Glyde around the beutiful islands and remote inlets
Have a laugh as a friendly welcoming group of like-minded people
Canoe Lomond Accessibility
Vision
Suitable for people with no effective vision
Enablers
Organise an Anyone Can volunteer sight guide
or
Bring a friend
Enablers
We are well staffed for this trip, a lot of help is available for support both on and off activity time
Because you typically paddle doubles a sighted guide can patner a visually impared paddler
If you want to solo paddle we can add tracking aids to help prevent the boat rotating
Audio compass app to get audio feedback about tracking straight
Group is controlled primarily by radio communications
Cognition
Suitable for those able to self manage without dedicated support or with a dedicated carer
Participants should be capable of understanding and acting appropriately around at the water's edge without constant supervision
Or
Come with an adventure buddy
Enablers
We will help with meals, reminding about medications etc
Supportive experienced team
Time out space on the powerboat
Mobility
The trip is possible for walking aid users.
On land transfer between chair and a canoe
Or
Hoist access the canoes (you will be rafted in most cases)
Enablers
Supportive seating
Wheel on access powerboat
Low impact recoveries from the water with the powerboat
Transfer aids
Steer with just one hand with the rudder attachement
Auditory
Suitable for people with most auditory impairments that do not require signing to communicate
Or
Come with an adventure buddy
Or
Arrange an Anyone Can volunteer guide
Enablers
A BSL assistant instructor is occasionally available
We have radios and Tloop transmission units to aid hearing when seperated in differing boats
Questions?
The how do I get there?From London by rail
Hop on the Caladonian Sleeper and snuggle up. You will wake up in Glasgow on the morning - 1 stop on the Glasgow underground and hop on Balloch train
TOP TIP look at buying a Glasgow return ticket separately which are often much cheaper and then buy singles onwards
Or
Travel up during the day before, stay overnight in Glasgow and get the Balloch train the next day.
Other places by rail
Any rail route that arrives in Glasgow is easy. Glasgow is the Northern terminal of the West Coast main line and Edinburgh (50mins from Glasgow) is similarly the head of the East Coast mainline. This means that most of the UK is in easy reach of a train going the right way.
By Air
Fly into Glasgow City (Belfast, Bristol, London, Birmingham, Manchester) one train to Centre then another to Balloch
Sounds great - let's do it
Send me a booking formI’ve got more questions
Ask a question or call usWe love questions, please pop anything you would like to know here and we will get back to you asap
or give us a call on 01539 310041
or drop us an email on info@anyoncan.uk
Not quite right, need different dates, want control of the itinerary or want to save money by filling your own trip?
We love commissions, requests for alternate dates and requests to make specific adaptions - in fact, we would not exist without them.
So please, if you like what you read but it's not quite there or you want something different, do get in touch and we look forward to hearing from you.
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European Start up Funded
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Europe investing in rural areas
Anyone Can: Connecting Transport Hubs to Lake Shores - Accessible Canoeing
Purchase of an accessible powered support and rescue vessel, and a mobile fleet of canoes with trailer
It is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Supported by the Cumbria Fells and Dales Local Action Group
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