Adventures | Canoe Adventures

Adventures

Adventures and Prices

Prices and logistics

  • £35 per person
  • £25 per child (<16 years old)
  • Under 3 years: FREE!
  • Family ticket £105 (2 adults, 2 children). Saves £15!   NB. Only applies to our 'All Aboard' Adventures.  Does not apply on private boat bookings or Pub to Pub adventures.
  • 10 + paddlers (>16years old): £30 per person. **
  • Private boat bookings: minimum charge £240 per boat. **                         ** NB 13-16 people will need 2 boats @ £240, therefore cost is £480
  • 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 for which there is an additional towing charge. 

 

Groups - book your own canoe, or fleet of canoes!

  • We need a minimum crew size of 5 adults or paddling teens to be sure to have enough weight and power to operate our canoes safely.
  • Contact us and we'll find a date and time to suit your availabilty over the tides available. 
  • We will need to know your preferred dates, any specal requests, approximate numbers, ages and numbers of any under 18s, and a mobile number. 

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:

  • Three x 8 metre canoes; take up to 5-8 paddlers each.  Maximum licensed capacity is 11 people, if including small children.
  • Three x 9 metre Longbow canoes; take up to 12 paddlers each.  Maximum licensed capacity is 12 people of any age.

Optional extras for private groups:

  • To add a BBQ option - £15. We provide the equipment to cook and help you get the right fire going, you provide the food and chefs. 
  • Extra hours in addition to the standard 4.5 to 5 hour adventure - £25 per hour per boat.  For example, time to dine on a pub lunch stop, extra time on the shore to run additional activities, paddling Totnes to Dartmouth and back.
  • Towage to ports other than Tuckenhay or Stoke Gabriel - price on asking. 

Coach access is possible from Totnes and Dartmouth, and smaller buses can get to Stoke Gabriel within a five minute walk to the quay.

Private Parties and Big Groups

Adult:£35.00 Child:£25.00
Suitable for:Custom trips for groups of 5 to 60+ paddlers. All ages. Family Reunions. Charity Fundraisers. Challenge Events.

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.

  • Multi-boat Adventures available!
  • Canoe Expedition
  • Camp Fire Building
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Pub Stop
  • BBQ on an open fire
  • Camping
  • Coach access possible (Totnes and Dartmouth only)
  • Dogs welcome (so long as they can handle being in a boat!)
  • Bushcraft options
  • Fishing options
  • Wild swimming options
Friends & Family trip with Canoe Adventures

All Aboard Classic Adventures

Adult:£35.00 Child:£25.00
(Family Ticket: 2 Adult + 2 Child - Save £10)
Suitable for:All Ages

'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 and bringing their own children!

Paddling, ice cream, firebuilding, catching crabs, tea, hot chocolate 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 3.5 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).

Tuesday 20th August we will start at Stoke Gabriel and hope to get as far as Dartmouth on a big tide.

 

  • Camp Fire Building
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Stoke Gabriel ice cream stop
  • Family discounts
  • Start and end at the pub!
  • Book by the seat - no minimum group size

RIVERSCHOOL

Suitable for:Holiday Clubs. School Groups. Youth Camps. 7-14 years

Its crazy how much kids love Riverschool!   Each day we paddle by giant canoe to our woodland basecamp for activities, free-play, fun, friendship and adventure, or we journey out to explore the Dart estuary. 

We normally gather at The Quay, Stoke Gabriel, but sometimes it is Tuckenhay or Totnes depending on the tides (so check your booking details carefully).

There are three types of Riverschool programmes.

1. HAF-Funded Holiday Club.   None scheduled at the moment.  We hope to run again in summer 2025, pending funding.

Places are free to young people from within Devon County Council and with a valid Free School Meals eligibilty code.   Bookings are for one five-day block (individual day bookings are not available), 10.30am – 3.30pm.   Please appy via the application form by clicking here.   Please don't complete the form without a Free School Meals or Extended Criteria eligiblity code.  For more infomation about this funded programme and the eligibility criteria, please click here.

2. Open-to-All Holiday Club.  Open to anyone age 7-14

Dates coming up:  No dates scheduled for 2025 yet.  We intend to run in Easter holidays, Summer half-term, Summer holidays and October half-term.  Please watch this space or email us to ask to go on our maillist.  hello@riverschool.org.uk

Costs:

  • £45 per child per day
  • £40 for multiple days and siblings
  • £40 per child for those on Universal Credit or eligible for Free School Meals
  • £100 per child if booking a place for three consecutive days in the same week

You will receive a payment request once we have checked and confirmed your booking.

To book:  Please 'Book Now' on the relevant 'Scheduled Trips' below. And complete this form.  (You will be prompted to complete this form again on submission of your booking. You only need to do it once!)   If you are booking for more than one day at the same time, you only need to book the first date of your booking below, so long as you have completed the form and ticked the correct days.  We should pick it up OK.   

Our aim is to be fully inclusive and open to everyone.  However, given the nature of our activities, please note we may need to limit numbers of very small children so that we have enough paddlers to operate our canoes safely, and also some SEN children if we can't satisfy the staffing levels that maybe needed to ensure a safe environment.  It is important you declare any SENs, ADHD etc.  

3. School trips, Youth groups, overnight camps and private birthday parties, please contact: hello@canoeadventures.co.uk or 07706 343744; schools/youth groups click here.

RIVERSCHOOL is an Ofsted registered childcare provider (Registration / Reference number 27317450) 

Our aim is to be fully inclusive and open to everyone but, given the nature of our activities, please note we may need to limit numbers of very small children so that we have enough paddlers to operate our canoes safely, or some SEN children if we can't satisfy the staffing levels that maybe needed to ensure a safe environment.  

  • Canoes, kayaks & paddleboards
  • Bushcraft
  • Raft building
  • Fishing
  • Nature art and craft
  • Archery
  • Swimming
  • Storytelling
  • Wood-fired pottery
  • Wildlife and river care
  • Campfire cooking
  • Expeditions and overnight camps

Hen and Stag Parties

Adult:£35.00
Suitable for:Groups of 5 to 60+ paddlers. Day trips and Overnight Wild Bushcraft Camps. Fancy dress optional!

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.

  • Canoe Expedition
  • Pub to Pub
  • Camp Fire Building
  • BBQ on open fire
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Overnight Wild Camps
  • Bushcraft and Archery

Paddle to the Pub Adventures

Adult:£35.00 Child:£35.00
Suitable for:Book seats on our scheduled trips. All Ages welcome (Please note late finish)

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.

- Wednesday 14th August, 1700 Stoke Gabriel to Dittisham for the Ferry Boat Inn.  

- Wednesday 21st August, 1800 Stoke Gabriel to Tuckenhay for the Maltsters Arms

- Friday 13th September, 1800 Stoke Gabriel to Dittisham for the Ferry Boat Inn.  

  • Canoe Paddling
  • Camp Fire Building
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Pub Stop
  • Paddling after nightfall, under moonlight (usually)

Overnight Wild Camp Adventures

Adult:£120.00 Child:£75.00
Suitable for:24 hour adventure with exclusive camp on the shore. All Ages

Experience the full magic of the River Dart estuary over nightfall and daybreak.

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 following morning.  Shorter overnight options and longer 'residential' camps are available.  Please see bottom of page for options and practicalities.

  • Canoe Expedition
  • Camping - build your own basha
  • Camp Fire Building
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Pub to Pub
  • Bushcraft and Archery
  • Evening paddle
  • Small Paddlecraft Activities
  • Cooking over open fire
  • Wild swimming
  • Fishing

Team Building and Company Adventures

Adult:£35.00
Suitable for:Groups of 5 to 60+ paddlers. Team building & Away-Days.

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.  

  • Pub to pub
  • Multi-boat trips
  • Evening paddles and overnight expeditons
  • Racing & challenge journeys
  • Bushcraft & archery

Totnes to Dartmouth

Adult:£45.00 Child:£35.00
Suitable for:All ages

Totnes to Dartmouth

Please call or email to arrange your trip. We'll work with you to plan the best and most cost effective adventure for your group.

This route is an option for private groups and we don't have any Totnes to Dartmouth trips available as scheduled trips this year but Tuesday 20th August we will start at Stoke Gabriel and hope to get as far as Dartmouth on a big tide.  You can book this on our All Aboard Adventures

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. 

  • Challenge Events
  • Team buidling
  • Stag parties
  • Study tours and School trips
  • Coach Parties