The best way to start is with someone who is qualified & experienced - someone who can show you what to do and explain how to stay safe. Look for the British Canoeing Delivery Partner logo: these are providers of paddling courses, excursions & equipment who have agreed to the Delivery Partner Charter's high standards of safety, value for money and customer service.

This 2-hour practical course teaches you how to be safe on the water. You will be taught how to choose appropriate equipment and what environmental factors affect your paddling. The course is suitable for all ages and is great for families. You don’t need any previous experience to take part and can use any craft, including kayaks, canoes, SUPs, sit on tops and inflatables.

Paddling clubs can teach you new skills & are a great way of learning about new places to explore and meeting like-minded paddlers. Only affiliated clubs are listed on our finder, meaning they have to meet certain standards for club members. 90% of people in Scotland live within 10 miles of an SCA Affiliated Club. 

The Go Paddling website is the place to go for advice on starting your paddling journey. You can find regular blog posts on what boat to choose, what to wear and how to be safe on the water. There is also information on the network of UK rivers to paddle on, including routes, launch spots and wildlife.

The SCA has a network of well over a hundred course providers who are licensed to deliver a full range of British Canoeing training and qualification courses. 

The 'Introduction to Paddlesport' eLearning is a FREE resource provided by British Canoeing. We recommend completing this before heading out on the water.