Tiverton Canal

Chairman	Dan Brown	106 Beechwood, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2NF
Vice Chairman	Roger Willoughby	Tess Cottages, Sandhills, Holwell, Dorset, DT9 5LE
Secretary	Andy Rossall	25 Marsh Lane, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 3BX

Great Western Canal – Saturday 22nd October 2011

The Grand Western Canal Country Park meanders through beautiful mid-Devon countryside and quiet villages between Tiverton and Lowdwells (near the Somerset border). Declared a Country Park in 1971 and a Local Nature Reserve in 2005. The towpath can be walked or cycled, so the whole family can join.

Venue: Great Western Canal

Meet at: Cartgate Roundabout Picnic Area Car Park at 09:00 to optimise lift shares 9:30 depart for Tiverton.

Time: 10:30 to be on the water by 11:00

Trip: A paddle from the canal basin at Tiverton to Sampford Peverell (6.5 miles). If anyone is struggling, we may stop earlier. The keen ones in fast boats can carry on to Westleigh. A spot of lunch, then gentle paddle back to Tiverton. Paddlers who want to go but are unsure whether it's suitable for them should consult the club coaches.

Grade: Green – flat water, suitable for paddlers of all ages working towards 1-star award or equivalent Paddle Power Passport. Spraydeck and helmet preferred (therefore you'll need to have completed a capsize drill to use a spraydeck).

Leaders: Tracey Bradley

What you need to take:

Kayak, paddle, buoyancy aid, spraydeck.
Suitable paddling clothing – different layers so that you can take some off if you get hot, including hat (helmets preferred but not compulsory). It’s October, so suntan lotion is probably not reqd.
Spare clothes in a waterproof bag (in case you fall in); double bin bags if you haven’t got a dry bag.
Hot/cold drink (at least 1 litre each). Packed lunch and snacks for journey. There is a pub at Westleigh but we don’t know whether they are wetsuit friendly.
Cash for anything you might want at the pub, café, ice-cream van etc.
Unaccompanied juniors MUST have a completed parental consent form; hand it to group leader.

Coaches will take:

First aid kit, survival bag, mobile phone, and tow line.

Note:

A permit must be bought in advance (£3/day per kayak/canoe). These are available from:

Ranger Service, Canal Basin, Tiverton (Tel. 01884 254072);

The Tiverton Canal Company’s gift shop and ticket office, Canal Basin, Tiverton (Easter to Oct, Tel. 01884 253345)

How to get there:

Google Maps: Driving directions to Tiverton, Devon EX16 4HX, UK.

When you get to Tiverton, follow brown signs with a boat and/or marked Great Western Canal. Car park on left at canal basin (shown on canal map above).

Further information:

www.devon.gov.uk/grand_western_canal.htm (to download a better version of the canal map)
www.tivertoncanal.co.uk
www.waterscape.com
www.middevonhireboats.co.uk/canal.html

	Start at Yeovil, Somerset, UK
1	Head west on A30/Reckleford toward Hospital Roundabout Continue to follow A30, Go through 1 roundabout	0.8mi
2	At Horsey Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A3088/Lysander Rd Continue to follow A3088, Go through 2 roundabouts	5.5mi
3	At Cartgate Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A303 heading to Exeter/A358/Ilminster/M5/Honiton/Taunton, Go through 1 roundabout	9.6mi
4	At Southfields Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto A358	8.8mi
5	At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the M5 ramp to Barnstaple/Exeter	0.2mi
6	Merge onto M5	14.5mi
7	At junction 27, take the A361 exit to Barnstaple/Tiverton	0.3mi
8	At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A361 heading to Halberton/Sampford Peverell/Barnstaple/Tiverton	5.1mi
9	Take the exit toward Tiverton/A396/Bickleigh	0.2mi
10	At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto B3391 , Go through 2 roundabouts	1.0mi
11	Turn left at Old Rd	102 ft
12	Turn right to stay on Old Rd	0.1mi
13	At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Canal Hill, Destination will be on the left