13Sep 2026 by Nigel Atkinson No Comments

River Wye Trip – Saturday 13th -Sunday 14th September

News, Recreational, Uncategorized
Rapids, rain, riverside lunches and a few unexpected swims On the weekend of 13–14 September, six Nomads headed to the beautiful River Wye at Symonds Yat, Herefordshire, for a weekend of kayaking, camping and, inevitably, a little adventure. The group was Nigel, Mark, Thomas, Britta, Bryony and Ankit, with Nigel leading the trip. For Bryony and Ankit, it was a great opportunity to build confidence on moving water, with the more experienced paddlers keeping a watchful eye and helping us through the trickier sections. The plan for Saturday was to paddle roughly nine miles from Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat, enjoying the Wye Valley scenery before taking on the Grade 1/2 rapids at Symonds Yat. Sunday would be decided depending on how everyone was feeling after day one. Day 1 – Saturday: Kerne Bridge…
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25Jul 2026 by Anton Zuccaro No Comments

River Tryweryn – 2026

News, Recreational, Uncategorized
Friday On a warm, sunny Friday four Nomads made their way to Bala in North Wales to paddle the National White Water Centre on the River Tryweryn. It was due to be five of us, but a last-minute work problem meant Simon couldn’t make it. The weekend was a joint trip run in conjunction with the Ipswich Canoe Club and, as has become tradition, started with a warm-up on the River Dee at Llangollen. By all accounts, Nigel and Nick had a great afternoon’s paddling at Mile End Mill before driving on to join the rest of the Nomad team at the Royal White Lion in Bala. After checking in, we whiled away the evening having dinner and a few pints before finishing with the customary mensa puzzle that is…
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31Mar 2026 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

Dart Loop & River Exe Weekend, 2026

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
Saturday – The Dart Loop A cosy Friday night was spent at the Dartbridge Inn and on Saturday morning Alex made heroic work of the full English breakfast plus continental buffet. We gathered our gear together to organise shuttles, ably orchestrated by Nigel, our trip leader, with the type of precision only granted through many years of previous experience. By 10:30, boats were on the water at Newbridge; spirits were high, even though the water level was not. The Dart’s sparkling waters greeted us with moss‑draped oaks, grey wagtails flitting along the banks and plenty of rocks just under the surface. We had some fun in the play wave just beyond the bridge, with the novices testing out their white water skills. The early rapids - the washing machine and…
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08Nov 2025 by Nigel Atkinson No Comments

River Tees 2025

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
Only two Nomads ventured to county Durham near the frozen North where the White Walkers rule for three days of paddling on the River Tees. We joined ICC on the water and all enjoyed a great weekend paddling. The weather was surprisingly warm for the time of year and the river levels relatively low, which I for one is was grateful for, as in flood the Tees looks particularly scary! On the Friday we paddled from Barnard Castle down to Eggleston Abbey rapids as a warmup. This feature being easily portaged but a fun bit of grade 3. On the Saturday We paddled the stretch from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Cotherston relaxing paddle (and a bit of a scrape) on grade 2 water. All the above was a warm up for the…
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13Sep 2025 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

River Wye Weekend 2025

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
A Saturday and Sunday visit to Symonds Yat saw 9 Nomads enjoy a weekend of paddling in sunshine, showers and bouts of heavy rain. Saturday saw a paddle from Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat with two Nomads on their first river trip, Stanley and Ankit. Well done to both who enjoyed the day and were smiling throughout, even when running through Nigel’s warm up routine - open the door, shut the door - with stretching actions to mimic. After some Health and Safety pointers we were off - paddling 5k lazily down the river to a lunch stop of sandwiches and fruit midway. Arriving at the rapids there was some trepidation amongst the new guys but all tackled the rapids well with some of the more experienced paddlers keeping an…
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23Mar 2025 by Nigel Atkinson No Comments

Nomad River Clean-Up Sunday 23/3/2025

News, Recreational
Thanks to the awesome six (Graham, Dan, Anton, Martin, Hannah & Rachael) who joined up with Ian to help collect loads of rubbish up today . We cleaned the Canal up to Tesco's, Upper river Colne Loop down & Hannah & Rachael scoured the Canal & river banks and filled 3 big bags full. The paddlers collected another 5 big bags bin bags full. So 8 bags in total. The plan was to paddle & clean the whole river loop, but this was shortened to just cleaning the top Colne loop for three reasons: We found lot more waste than I expected 😒 Anton had a small incident at the 2nd weir: he played in stopper went in and then did well to roll up, but then went over again…
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09Mar 2025 by Nigel Atkinson 1 Comment

River Dart Weekend 7-9th March

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Seven intrepid Nomads paddled the Dart over the weekend. We met up on Friday evening at the Dartbridge Inn to plan Saturday’s paddling and to wine and dine. We decided to paddle the Loop from New Bridge to Holne Weir and then continue down to Buckfastleigh water permitting. After all these years of paddling and with so many experienced paddlers you would not have thought it so difficult to organise the shuttles, but, with some cars without roof racks, someone’s wife taking a car, some without spare straps, wanting to leave a car half way ((Holne Weir) in case of emergencies or conditions not being conducive to paddling all the way) and a certain amount of taking the Michael the normal fun a games was had deciding who should go…
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04Jun 2024 by Michael Quinn No Comments

The Big Paddle Clean Up 2024

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
Where: Rickmansworth - River Colne/Grand Union Canal & Bury Lake When: Sunday 2nd June 2024 Volunteers: 14 Bags Filled: 9 Distance cleaned: 4.9km As part of British Canoeing’s Clear Access Clear Waters, ‘Big Paddle Clean-up’ Campaign. Nomad Kayak Club members paddled the River Colne & Grand Union Canal in Rickmansworth on Sunday 2nd June 2024. The event was lead by our Clear Access Clear Water Champion Ian Walker Ian and Nigel paddled the large red canoe which acted as the refuse (and rescue) vehicle. A further 10 kayakers (Dan, Darrell, Anton, Robert, Philip, Sue, Annette) , Hannah & Rachael cleaning the River & Canal banks by foot. This main group set off from the club house along the Grand Union Canal. A sub group led by Graham Summers assisted by…
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14Apr 2024 by Nigel Atkinson 2 Comments

River Dart – Friday 12th – Sunday 14th April

News, Recreational, Reports, Trip, Trip Reports
On Friday 12th April evening seven intrepid Nomads met at the Dartbridge Inn in Buckfastleigh to plan the weekend’s activity over a meal and an enjoyable glass of wine, beer or mineral water. With a driver prepared to do the shuttle run (thanks to my wife Sue) the  logistics were simple and we arranged to meet the following morning at 9:30 after breakfast in the hotel car park in kayak kit ready to depart for Newbridge, our put in for both days and then shuttle the cars and dry kit to the takeout at Strawberry Fields Farm Shop and Café in Buckfastleigh The weather was being kind and the safety briefing, warm up and launch were all done  in beautiful sunshine. The river was at an ideal hight (just touching…
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