COVID 19 - Please ensure you comply with current government guidance. You will be in the fresh air all day and we have taken measures to reduce risks of infection, but please note we cannot guarantee you will be able to maintain a 1.5 - 2m distance from other member of the crew at all times. Please make sure all your crew are aware of this and are happy to participate.
Our standard adventures last 4.5 to 5 hours. Times vary daily according to the tide and prior booking is essential.
Most adventures start and finish at the excellent Maltsters Arms, Tuckenhay (TQ9 7EQ), lying halfway between Totnes and Dartmouth. Parking is nearby.
We also start from Stoke Gabriel, which is on the other side of the estuary between Totnes and Paignton, and occassionally from Totnes, Dittisham and Dartmouth.
Our charges are as follows:
** NB 13 people will need 2 boats @ £220, therefore cost is £440
We have a fleet of 6 canoes with a capacity to get 60 adults out on the water at any one time, up to 69 if you have very small children:
Additional optional costs for private groups:
Coach access is possible from Totnes and Dartmouth only.
We normally have to charge extra to start and / or end at ports other than Tuckenhay and Stoke Gabriel, to cover the costs of towing and additional logistics.
'The perfect day out' we have been running for over 21 years. Remembered as 'the best day of the holidays' by children up and down the country, many of whom are now grown up.
Paddling, ice cream, firebuilding, catching crabs, tea, biscuits and laughter, all rolled into one great adventure. Proper, timeless, healthy fun for friends and family to enjoy together on the water and on the shore.
Think of your Canoe Adventure as a whole day out. Adventures last for 4.5 to 5 hours and we're not paddling all the time. In fact we spend as much time on the shore as we do on the water. We break the paddling up into 20-50 minute sections, with two decent breaks on the shore in between.
One 'civilised' stop to visit the River Shack Cafe at Stoke Gabriel, with toilets and ice creams.
One longer, ‘wild’ stop where we stop on the shore somewhere only accessible by boat. Here we have a picnic (bring your own), chill out, build a fire, have a brew (we provide), maybe play some games, catch some crabs, chat, whatever is appropriate to the age and interests of the group. We watch the tide turn and once it is running in our favour we paddle back.
And most adventures start and end at The Maltsters Arms pub so allow some time for a drink or meal there afterwards (booking essential if you want to eat there).
You’ll find some of Devon’s finest pubs on the shores of the River Dart estuary. What better way to visit them than in a giant canoe, taking in all the amazing scenery along the way?
We normally set out in the early evening/late afternoon, paddling to the pub for dinner. On the way back from the pub, we stop on the shore, build a fire and have a brew as the sun goes down. Then we paddle home under the stars. Magical.
Join a scheduled trip which you can book 'by-the-seat'. Up and coming trips will be scheduled below. Or book your own private adventure for groups of six or more.
Please note child and family tickets are not valid on our late evening adventures.
Camp wild on the shores of the River Dart estuary with your mates, colleagues or family. Paddle to your campsite, build your own shelter to sleep under and a fire to cook on. A paddle to the excellent Ferry Boat Inn for pizza and a pint is very often on the itinerary. As are various activities back at camp, such as some basic bushcraft skills, fishing, swimming or paddling in small craft such as traditional canoes and paddleboards. Stay up into the night chatting round the fire and wake with the dawn to the birdsong and a beautiful view. Our crew will take good care of you in the morning as they cook you up a hearty breakfast over the fire before we break camp and paddle home.
Ideal for stags, hens, birthdays, reunions, team building and generally just getting away from it all.
We normally start and end at the Maltsters Arms, Tuckenhay, or at the Quay in Stoke Gabrie, between 1000-1200, and are back on shore 1000-1100 the folllowing morning. Shorter overnight options and longer 'residential' camps are available. Please see bottom of page for options and practicalities.
Our birthday parties are so good even our own kids still ask for them for their birthdays!
We do birthdays for all ages. And when we say all ages, we mean all ages. From under 7 years to over 75s we'll make sure you have a great day out.
Make that special day one they'll remember for ever. We'll get you to a bit of shore you can only get to by boat. Like being marooned on your own desert island for your birthday. Bring a cake and some refreshments appropriate to the occassion to have round the fire that you have built yourselves using ancient firelighting skills. We can inlcude an ice-cream or pub stop en-route as well.
As well as our canoe expeditions, we can now also arrange extra shore based activities such as bushcraft or archery.
Give us a call and we'll help you plan that special day.
We do great stag and hen parties! Oh yes.
Give your best mates and lifelong buddies an adventure and a send-off they'll remember for the rest of their lives! We can make it as civilised or adventurous as you like.
We'll get you safely to and from the pub with time to build a fire to cook on and brew a great cuppa on the way home.
Starting from £35 per person, £220 minimum charge. For group rates see our prices here.
Why not make it an overnight adventure? Camp out in the wild under your own 'basha' and add a few bushcraft activities. See our 'Overnight Wild Camp Adventures' for details.
Take your party out onto the water! With our fleet of 6 canoes we can get up to 60 adults out in one go, 69 if you have little children!
Parties. Reunions. Charity Fundraisers. Corporate Events. Fun and adventurous days out for groups of all ages and abilties. If you're organising an event for a mixed bag of people, we'll help you get all of them out on the water and have a great time.
We know you are organising a lot to bring many people together on one day. We can help you plan your logistics and we will take care of all of you once you're here.
Give us a call or send us an email to discuss your requirements and we'll be happy to create a unique adventure just for you and your group.
We provide fun and rewarding outdoor education activities for children on the River Dart estuary. As well as our BIG canoes, we have kayaks, Canadian canoes, rafts and a basecamp on the shore where we deliver unforgettable learning experiences.
Holiday clubs coming up which can be booked by parents and legal guardians will be detailed below.
For further enquires please email: hello@riverschool.org.uk or phone 07518 580 472
Programme options for schools and youth groups can be found on this seperate page.
To see what we have been up to recently, please check our Facebook Page: @riverschool.org
Get your crew out on the river in our BIG canoes where we have lots of fun both on the water and on the shore. New skills, team work, great banter, a perfect balance of full-on canoe racing and relaxing, chill-out time drifting on the river. Stop on the shore to brew or cook on the fire you've just built yoursleves using your ancient firelighting skills, sit back and enjoy the view, maybe spot some seals as we wait for the tide to turn. And perhaps a pub or two en-route?
Our staff have experience of team and group work in a range of settings and will make this a special experience for you and your staff.
We can get 6-60 people out on the water at the same time. Give us a call or send us a message to discuss your requirements and we'll be happy to create a unique trip just for your company or team.
£35 per person, starting from £220. For group rates see our prices here.
Explore the full length of the estuary for a proper expedition. Experience how the environment changes and the stunning scenery opens up as we paddle with the tide downriver, from a freshwater river to a deep marine harbour with stunning views out to sea. The historic towns of Totnes and Dartmouth with their prominent castles stand at either end, and the journey is punctuated with history, such as the Sharpham, Sandridge and Greenway estates. This could be the 12 most beautiful miles in England!
This may sound like a long way for those of us who are not regular paddlers, but we take it easy. There are pubs and ice creams en route and we always make one stop for a fire and a brew and maybe even a swim.
Alternatively you can explore sections of the estuary, with one-way adventures starting or ending in Totnes, Sharpham Campsite, Tuckenhay, Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham, Greenway or Dartmouth.
This is mainly an option for private groups. Please see bottom of this page for information on plannning the costs and logistics which we will talk through with you.
We occassionally offer Totnes to Dartmouth to book 'By-the-Seat' and any up and coming trips will be listed here.
Call us or email and we'll work with you to plan the best and most cost effective adventure for your group.
