Canoe all of Windermere
Paddle, Bushcraft & Camping weekend.
8/9 June 2024
(or Anytime as a private booking)
also consider Loch Lomond Canoe Buscraft Weekend
Canoeing is about journeying
Canoes are not designed to go round and round on a pond. They are about journeying, about travelling to the horizon and carrying enough home comforts to be out exploring for weeks.
But first perhaps, let us start with just one overnight? Join us on the beautiful Lake Windermere with a stunning wild camp spot, cooking over an open fire and a bed gazing out onto the lake and stars.
Open your eyes at dawn and gaze across to the reflected mountains in the mirror that is early morning Windermere
We love canoeing, camping, campfire cooking and spending time outdoors.
We hate being cold, eating boring food or being uncomfortable. Fortunately we are very good at teaching you how to be warm, well fed and comfy.
If you are looking for a hard-core experience this is not the trip you are looking for. If you want to slow your mind down, learn some skills, be there at sunset and again at sunrise, and have a great little adventure this is the ticket.
Canoeing is great for
Autism
Down's Syndrome
Have a visual impairment and want to come alone
Speech Impairments
Visual impairment and your own guide
Space and calm needs
Amputees
Older people
Walking sticks or aids
Sports Chair users
Manual Chair users
Tourettes syndrome
Hearing needs
Amputees
Older people
Walking sticks or aids
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
What do we actually do?
We journey on the lake to a secluded woodland via canoe. The first part is getting there under the guidance of our canoe coach. In true adventure style and in tune with the weather we have lots of options, from solo paddling all the way to building a pirate ship-looking thing with sails. What we decide to do is down to the weather and the abilities of the group. Nevertheless, you are going a long way by canoe - this is an adventure journey after all.
Our campsite is nearly halfway down Windermere and we expect to arrive in time to get the fires lit for our evening meal - fuelled until then with snacks and packed lunch (we do great packed lunches).
Dinner relies on some traditional bushcraft skills don't worry we can teach you everything you need to know. Well, be lighting fires, making bread dough, baking and making soup. For a three-course woodfired extravaganza. Well also be pitching our tipi tents or tarps for overnighting.
After our evening cook-up and social time around the fire, it is time to retire (hopefully) lit by the stars and moon, to our chosen shelter for a regenerating night's sleep.
In the morning after soaking up the sunrise from the warmth of your sleeping bag - seeing the sunrise from inside your warm snuggly bed is one of the best reasons for sleeping in a tarp shelter - it is time for a hearty breakfast.
Where we go next depends on the weather. Plan A is to finish paddling the length of the lake with the wind behind us. If so there is often time to grab a celebratory ice cream before heading back using “Freedom" the powerboat. If the weather is not favouring us we have lots of other options depending on how everyone is feeling - that is the beauty of having “Freedom", we can get home from anywhere on the lake. .
What do we eat?
Rule 1 of Anyone Can Bushcraft is: ensuring everyone is comfortable, well fed and feeling secure.
The food we eat - we bring. It will be tasty, familiar and filling. Nothing gets its neck wrung and everything we have is too yummy to make it to ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’.
Soups, pizzas, crumbles, breakfast bacon sandwiches and plenty of brews are the order of the day with Anyone Can.
What about facilities?
If you really want to wee behind a tree you can.
Though most use the toilet in the toilet tent.
For those who need more stability, we bring out our portable loo and build a screen corral so there are no doors or thresholds.
Privacy is achieved by creating a 90-degree walkway to get in.
The loo is cubic in shape so is super stable and has corners to push down on - we also have a set of handrails with huge screws to secure it to the ground.
It's private, clean and safe. The toileting is covered. During the day freedom can be converted to a floating loo with the same screens and rails thanks to its flat deck and front ramp.
How do I stay comfy overnight
We have high quality camping equipment including hammocks, 3/4 season sleeping bags, camp beds, tarps and insulation mats.
We will teach you how to set up your camp to stay warm and dry.
As the air cools with the sun drifting below the horizon there is nothing more cosy than being tucked up in a warm sleeping bag.
Making Canoing Inclusive
How we adapt canoing 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
Transport
This trip is centred around an accessible train station. Balloch
Making Camping Inclusive
How we adapt camp to your needs
We can't list everything here but below is a summary of our top enablement tools.
Loos
Those who can't just pop to a bush rest assured we have a collapsible, portable rails and privacy tent. The departure point and arrival point has a standard accessible toilet.
Tipi tents
We have big lightweight tipi tents they allow chair users to wheel inside and have loads of head room and manoeuvring space to get positioned right
Raised beds or floor sleeping
We can sleep on a raised bed facilitating easy transfers or floor sleeping. For floor sleeping, we have tiered transfer stools to aid the changing of heights. Inflatable mats and an extra large inflatable mat for people with back problems.
Raised cooking and fires
We have raised fires and tables for the stoves to enable people to reach and take part in the cooking and fire lighting. The fires are special wood gas stoves that direct most heat upwards protecting low-sensation legs and wheelchairs.
The stoves also help prevent accidents as its hard to actually touch the really hot stuff
Important Canoe Bushcraft Overnight
Dates and Costs
2 days canoe adventure with overnight bushcraft
Meet: National Trust Fell Foot
Saturday 8th June 2024 10:00Drive away: Sunday 9th June 17:00
£301 per person
What is included?
All technical equipment
All camping equipment
From lunch Saturday to Lunch Sunday
British qualified sailing instructors
Use of showers, locker and toileting facilities
What do we actually do
Two days canoeing on the water
An overnight in secluded waterside woodland
Cook meals over a campfire
Laugh and chat in the firelight
Live Simply
Paddle Windermere Accessibility Statement
Vision
Suitable for all people able to manage own travel to the pickup point.
We can access volunteer guides given enough notice.
The camp ground is uneven.
Suitable for all those who do not need a dedicated guide or bring their own.
Or
Bring a friend
Or
Ask about a volunteer guide
Enablers
We can set out guide strings from bed to toilet facilities etc.
Suitable for water happy assiastance dogs
Cognition
Suitable for those able to self manage without dedicated support or with a dedicated carer (who could drive between sites).
Participants should be capable of understanding and acting appropriately around fires, sharp objects and at the water's edge without constant supervision (or bring a supporter).
Or
Bring a buddy
Enablers
We will help with meals, reminding about medications etc.
We can arrange quiet spaces, well-paced briefings, etc
We have some basic Makaton
Mobility
The camp spot has a rough surface but with some help is accessible to manual chair users.
Transfers are needed between canoes and your mobility aid.
The trip is possible for walking aid users.
Enablers
We can assist with transfers with a helping hand, extra boost or using a manual transfer sling (may require additional staffing).
We can pull aboard single and stabilised canoes inside our powerboat for safer on water transfers.
When tired you can ride in the powerboat or have a tow.
Access back to a full changing place can be made possible during daylight hours (needs notice and some changes).
We can arrange a loan of a mountain trike off-road wheelchair.
We have a wide range of supportive seating.
Auditory
Suitable for people with most auditory impairments that do not require signing to communicate or please bring an interpreter.
Or
Bring a friend
Enablers
A BSL assistant instructor is occasionally available.
We have radios and Tloop transmission units to aid hearing when separated in different boats.
Sounds great - let's do it
Open 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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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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