Join the Black Girls Hike team for an unforgettable weekend of canoeing!

Fancy getting outside and discovering the beauty of the outdoors from a canoe? This Learn To Canoe weekend is designed to help you build the skills, confidence, and experience to enjoy your own canoeing adventures, all under the expert guidance of professional instructors and our supportive BGH team.

We’ve done the hard work for you. We've arranged the canoes, the expert guides, the location, and the meals, so all you need to do is show up ready to learn and to ignite your sense of adventure.

The trip will be limited to 16 people (15 attendees + 1 BGH leader). Once the places are booked, a waiting list will be available.

What to Expect:

Over two days, you’ll enjoy a canoe adventure, stunning riverside views, and the unique experience of camping overnight at a woodland site in rural Bedfordshire.

This trip is designed as a straightforward route, and the perfect opportunity for a true digital detox to disconnect and just take in the beauty of the outdoors.

The journey covers approximately 6 miles each way, including 2 portages, where you’ll lift the boats out and carry them over a short distance of land to bypass locks or weirs. You’ll receive canoeing tips and guidance before hitting the water, and our expert guides will be there to support you every step of the way.

Who's It For

This retreat is open to Black/Mixed Race cis & trans women, and non-binary people of Black African and/or Caribbean descent.

Difficulty Rating: Easy to Moderate

Based on the planned activities, the weekend is rated as easy to moderate.

While this is a beginner-friendly trip on flat water, it is an active outdoor experience.

• Fitness: Participants should have a baseline level of fitness and be comfortable with the moderate physical exertion of canoeing for several hours each day.

• Water Confidence: You don't need to be a swimmer to attend, as you will be wearing a buoyancy aid at all times. However, you should feel comfortable sitting in a boat on the water for extended periods.

You will be asked to state your level of fitness and water confidence shortly after registering. Please ensure all significant or recurring injuries, illnesses, or disabilities are declared when asked.

Accommodation, Facilities, and Luggage

You will spend the night with the group at a secluded, riverside woodland site for a rural camping experience. You’ll pitch your own tent (help will be on hand if you get stuck) before coming together to enjoy a freshly prepared dinner, a campfire, and a night under the stars.

The campsite has compost toilets but no showers. You are welcome to enjoy an evening swim in the river to freshen up.

Luggage service is available as part of the trip which means that rather than transport your luggage in the canoe with you, you can have your luggage picked up from the meeting point and dropped off at the campsite ready for you when you arrive, and transported from the campsite to the meeting spot the next day. This helps to keep the canoe light which makes it easier to steer.

No camping equipment? No problem. You can rent a tent for yourself (£20), and a sleeping bag and mat (£10), when booking.

Getting To The Meeting Spot

We'll meet at a location in Bedford along the River Great Ouse.

Nearest train station: Bedford, which is 1.4 miles from the meeting point (a 30-minute walk or 10-minute taxi)

Taxis: Several taxi companies are located in Bedford for rides to the meeting point.

Parking: Limited parking is available in the area about a 10 min walk from the meeting point - more information will be provided after registration.

Meals

The canoe instructors will prepare a simple evening meal and breakfast, and drinking water will be provided. Make sure you include details of any dietary restrictions when you register. Although we aim to cater for most dietary requirements, please note that on occasion this is not possible and you may need to consider bringing your own additional supplies.

Lunch is not included on either day. You’re welcome to bring your own, or you can buy food from the café next to the meeting point if you prefer.

Cost

The total cost for the Learn to Canoe Weekender is £349 per person, plus booking fees.

Refund Policy

A non-refundable deposit of £150 plus booking fees is required at the time of booking.

The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip and is refundable up until 30 days before the trip, provided your spot can be filled. Within 30 days of the trip, all payments are non-refundable.

Questions

If you have a question about the weekend, please email Camara at camara@bghuk.com.

Is the trip guided?

Yes, there will be two guides on each trip to teach you how to become comfortable canoeing and to lead the way. A BGH team member will also be on-site for the duration of the trip.

What if it rains?

Unless you hear otherwise from us, the trip will proceed as planned. Our providers operate year-round, and the river is enjoyed in all seasons. In the rare event of freak weather (such as high river flows or heavy storms), we may need to reschedule your booking.

What should I pack?

A packing list will be sent to you ahead of the trip. However, typical items to pack include a tent, roll mat, sleeping bag, pillow/pillow case you can stuff your jumper into to make a pillow, ear plugs, eye mask, head torch, water bottle, cup, plate, bowl, cutlery, PJ’s, bed socks, toiletries, trainers, crocs/flipflops to change into once in camp, spare set of clothes, warm jumper, lunch, medication.

Note though that you are only camping for one night! Our advice is to pack as light as possible. The luggage service that is available is only for up to 2 securely packed items per person and will be delivered directly to our designated campsite.

Arrive in Bedford at the meeting spot by 10:30am where you'll be greeted by the Black Girls Hike team member for introductions to the group. We'll then meet our canoe guides, get into pairs, and prepare for your departure.

After bank-side tuition, we hit the water, navigating the River Great Ouse and its locks, before arriving at our woodland campsite for a hot evening meal.

Enjoy breakfast at the campsite before packing and getting back on the water. We will paddle back along the River Great Ouse, enjoying the nature reserves and wildlife before arriving back in Bedford by approximately 2:30pm.