Thames and South East
Information
last updated 21/06/2025 by Martin Dunn
Please select from the following or scroll down:
1. NEXT TRIP INFORMATION/JOINING INSTRUCTIONS
2. CCC SAFETY POLICY (SUMMARY)
1. NEXT TRIP INFORMATION/JOINING INSTRUCTIONS
Please note that you MUST contact the Organiser to let them know you will be attending any of these events/paddles.
Wednesday evening 25 June to Fri evening 27 June 2025 - River Wey (2-day Canoe-Camping trip)
Organiser: Bob Jack This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 020 8883 2835
Meet & camp at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford, GU1 4RR, which is accessed via Wharf Rd at GR SU 993 501 on Wednesday evening. Car shuttle to Chertsey Thurs morning & after if required. Thursday: paddle 7.3 miles (going through 3 locks) from Guildford to overnight camp at Papercourt Lock. Friday: paddle 9.7 miles (through 7 Wey & Thames locks) to Chertsey. Waterway licence or Paddle UK membership required. There will be a £10 /head donation to the National Trust as camping is free.
Limited numbers due to space at Papercourt Lock. Suitable for Canadians or kayaks. Please apply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 020 8883 2835 before Sun 22 June.
This trip could be combined with paddles from Chertsey on Sat and the TSE paddle from the Lower Mole to Hurst Park on Sun 29th. Some of us have already booked the Chertsey campsite for Fri and Sat nights.
Sunday, 29th June 2025 River Mole & Thames - West End Lane, Esher to Hurst Park, East Molesey
An 8-mile paddle from West End Lane, Esher, on the River Mole, Lower Mole Flood Alleviation Scheme and River Thames to Hurst Park open space. Four portages, including Molesey Lock. A trolley is advised.
Run organiser: Please advise if attending. Tim Twitchen Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. tel 07833995289
Programme and Notes: This trip will require a car shuttle with the plan to have as many cars at the finish as possible. Please let the organiser know if you are attending so we can best plan this. We will finish at Finish at Hurst Park open space car park, Molesey, KT8 1TW (free, height restriction and some unrestricted height parking).
The paddle starts from the recreation ground car park (free, height restrictor) West End Lane, Esher KT10 8LA (w3w:crust.useful.strike lat/long51.366308, -0.37813, OS: TQ13004 64275) opposite the Princess Alice Hospice. If the car park is full, park in West End Lane just beyond the recreation ground entrance.
Boats and equipment to be left at the start location West End Lane by 9:00am with a minder, with drivers leaving by 9:15 latest to move cars to Hurst Park, arriving approximately 9:30 to then be driven back to West End Lane by 9:45. If practical one or two cars could initially go straight to Hurst Green to ferry back drivers but this needs to be agreed in advance with the organiser. Kevin East may be available to help take drivers back from Hurst Park to the paddle start.
Launch at the recreation ground by 10.30am to paddle down the Lower Mole and portage at:
- Viaduct Sluice land at slipway river left, then 200m along the footpath under the railway and line boats down the inclined bank beyond the boom. A 10metre line will be available and handy if others also have one.
- Island Barn Sluice, land river right before the boom, 100m to the lower landing stage. A possible lunch stop.
- Mole-Ember Sluice, river right, and keep away from the draw of the sluice that is close to the tunnel entrance for portaging via the rollers under the bridge.
Please note that a Paddle UK or EA licence is required. In normal conditions the river is suitable for all kayak and open canoe paddlers.
Friday 11th p.m. to Sunday 13th July – Chichester Harbour Weekend
This is our popular base camp and paddle in Chichester Harbour. Please contact the organiser if interested in joining. Camping details will be emailed by the organiser once campsite pricing has been confirmed. The campsite has been booked in advance for this event. This is best suited to touring craft and experienced paddlers.
Organiser: Martin Dunn email (preferred): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. tel: 07714 329271
Please note the safety policy (see elsewhere in article) and the following information:
You must inform the organiser in advance if you are planning to attend a paddle or event.
Remember to bring your Club membership cards to all club paddles or events, since we are required to check and record memberships are current. We also need to record Paddle UK numbers for those who have them. These are needed to ensure that we are covered by the Club's and Paddle UK's insurance.
All participants in club trips or meets do so at their own risk, and neither the Club nor its officers can accept any liability for loss or injury of any kind sustained whilst on a Club trip, meet or other activity.
As a section of the Camping and Caravanning Club, our camping events are restricted to Camping and Caravanning Club members only (including Canoe Camping Club members), anyone participating must be a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club before attending a camping meet. We do allow guest paddlers on most day trips.
2. CCC SAFETY POLICY (SUMMARY)
The Safety Policy can be viewed using the main menu of this website. Key points of the Safety Policy are summarised below.
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Please ensure you and your watercraft, are appropriate for the trip and properly equipped.
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A briefing will normally precede the trip/event.
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A competent adult must accompany young people aged between 8 and 18 years who must have the parents signed permission to paddle (a form is supplied).
Paddlesports are ‘assumed risk’ ‘water contact’ activities, however serious accidents are very rare. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement.
3. ACCESSING THE CHERTSEY CLUB SITE AND CANOE SHED
Chertsey campsite and the Canoe Shed
The campsite site is open for CCC members to boat from the site and access the canoe shed if also a key holder.
Site office opening hours/times to arrive: 9am to 10.30am, 1pm to 5pm. The office can be busy booking in arrivals for camping between 1-2pm
Please inform the site office on arrival, purpose of visit and have your membership card available.
Out of hours times for canoe shed key holders to collect and return items may be possible by advance notice and agreement with site management. Contact the camp site:
Tel. 01932 562405, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Vehicles can be taken round to the canoe shed to off load canoes and park if space is available by the caravan storage compound. You may be required to return to the front car park for parking.
Site facilities. Day visitors may use the toilets and not the showers.
Advise any camp site, canoe shed and equipment issues to Kevin East (1) as below.
Canoe rack allocation - Fran Faulkner (2) as below.
Bio-Security
Before departing follow the Check Clean Dry procedure for canoes and equipment used on site, being taken away or placed back in the canoe shed for storage.
Access to the canoe shed by Key Holders
Please Note:
Sign the canoe shed register to record times and purpose of your visit.
Ensure the doors are shut and locked when the canoe shed is left unattended on your visit.
Use of other members canoes and equipment must be by agreement with the owner.
Hygiene/Covid precautions. Hand sanitiser and paper towelling is available. A waste bin is provided.
Before leaving and locking up the entry door:
Check all the other doors are shut and secured by every top and bottom shoot bolt.
Switch off lights and disconnect any electrical appliances from the power sockets.
Notes:
(1) Kevin East, Mob 07941 501224, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(2) Fran Faulkner, email via contact form here
Please comply with these arrangements for good relations with the campsite, and the security/safe use of the canoe shed.
