Canoe Trail — Attraction in Kempston

I joined Canoe Trails on their Yukon expedition this June as a Woodland Ways customer, and it was honestly one of the greatest experiences of my life. Ash and Rich were outstanding leaders, professional, approachable, and so dedicated to making sure we all had the best possible adventure.

The group was managed brilliantly, our safety was always a priority, and the teaching and guidance were delivered with real care and patience. Both Ash and Rich were fantastic at managing group energy knowing when to encourage us to push a little further, but also respecting people’s boundaries and supporting us when we needed it. That balance made a huge difference to the whole experience.

A special mention has to go to the food. Ash’s camp cooking was incredible and kept us fuelled and happy throughout the journey.

What really stood out was the ethos of the company. Spending time with Canoe Trails gave me a deeper appreciation of the work they do, not just on expeditions but also through projects like Planet Patrol. It’s clear they care deeply about both their students and the environment, and they put a huge amount of effort into everything they do. Their passion really shines through, and it was inspiring to see.

I came away not just with skills and confidence on the river, but with unforgettable memories and a real respect for the values this company holds. Canoe Trails are a phenomenal organisation, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a true...

Best holiday I have been on for years.

I went on the Spey River expedition - October 2025 - took the train from Manchester to Aviemore, stayed at the local Youth Hostel the night before and the night we came back (recommended - 5 mins walk from station).

Had a bad week leading up to the expedition, which I thought would cast a cloud over the expedition. Far from it.

The canoeing itself is not overly physically challenging. The hardest part was getting in and out of the canoe. Dodgy knees. You canoe for several hours per day, but I did not feel exhausted at any time. It does demand concentration and teamwork, but there was no drama, and you feel in the moment throughout.

Canoe Trail supplied all the equipment. A friend told me to buy Japanese fishing gloves and special forces-style satellite links for my phone, but Primark don't stock such items. I recommend gym type vests from the aforementioned. It ain't that cold when you are paddling. There's a Tesco and Aldi in Aviemore if you need to stock up on haribo.

I very much enjoyed the camping (I slept better than at home), the food and most of all the company and camaraderie.

I think it's the people that make it. Speaking as someone in their mid-50's, with type 2 diabetes, terrible finances, and a city dweller, I was genuinely taken aback about how my mental and physical health improved so quickly.

I thoroughly recommend Canoe Trails and am looking forward to more...

Really good experience kayaking, a nice river to go on and pretty standard prices. We were quite disappointed by the service. We waited outside the gate for a few minutes with staff passing and looking at us but we were there 10 mins early as the booking confirmation asked. Then the person showing us down had no clue what we were there for and didn't even say hello. Another more experienced staff member seemed a bit irritated by her lack of initiative too. The same person gave me a life jacket way too big that was lifting into my face while kayaking. There was no check on this. There was an explanation about releasing the back padel of the kayak to help go straight, but for the first half hour I was so uncomfortable and got cramp because there was no explanation about moving the pedals closer so I was holding on with my knees not realising there even was the foot rest bit. When we came back we were shouting out 'hello' for staff to help us get out the kayaks, got out ourselves with difficulty and when I mentioned this a staff member said "well you can't expect someone to be about all the time" - actually yes you can when you have customers on the river and expecting them back. We said bye to a staff member and then he rushed off but no one was there to let us out the locked gate so had to wait again to leave. Just seemed a bit all over the place. The place itself is cool, other activities...