THIS TRIP WITH LET'S GET LOST WAS FREE OF CHARGE IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
There's no better place to spend a sunny weekend than down by the river. Leicestershire has some truly beautiful waterways to choose from, in particular the picturesque River Soar. Recently, I was invited along to explore the Soar and its surrounding backwaters on a four-hour kayaking trip with outdoor adventure company Let's Get Lost. My husband and I joined one of their four-hour Paddle to the Pub experiences. The premise of these trips is simple: enjoy a paddle downstream, stop for refreshments at a local pub, and hop back into your kayak to head home. We had an absolutely fantastic time on our riverside adventure and today's post is all about why I would highly recommend it!
Getting started
Our kayaking adventure began at the Waterside Inn on Sileby Road. Happily, the venue was really easy to find using my sat nav and there was lots of parking available on the grass. The Let's Get Lost team, Bruce and Sophie, had set up big signs in the car park so we knew exactly where to go to find our group. There were twelve of us on the Paddle to the Pub adventure, and when we were ready to begin, we were kitted out with buoyancy aids, kayaks, and paddles. Single and double kayaks were available for us to use, according to our preference.
Before we set off, we were given a full safety briefing, which included going over river etiquette to ensure that we wouldn't get in the way of any narrowboats or other canal users. We also had the chance to go for a test paddle to check that we were happy with how to wield our paddles and work together to get our kayak going in the right direction. Paddling the kayak was quite straightforward once we got the hang of it. We just had to remember the trick for steering, which can seem a bit counterintuitive at first. To turn left, paddle at the right hand side of your kayak and to turn right, paddle at the left hand side!
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Our Paddle to the Pub
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The Navigation Pub
Why we loved it
1) A different view of the countrysideSince international holidays are likely to be tricky this summer, there is no better option for those with itchy feet than looking at your local area through fresh eyes. Getting down into the river was a real pleasure as it gave us such a different take of the familiar river and canal landscape that's usually only viewed from the bank! 3) So much nature!Mother Nature definitely came to say hello during our trip. We spotted some beautiful blue dragonflies flitting among the reeds, a pair of preening swans who luckily didn't mind too much as we glided past them, and a couple of noisy ducks who were also enjoying a paddle! | 2) The peace and quietAlthough our river route took us very close to a main road in some places (we actually paddled under the A6 a couple of times!), most of the route was really tranquil and you escaped any road noise entirely. It was a really relaxing experience despite the workout! 4) A highly memorable day outIn a few short weeks, I'll saying goodbye to Leicester for good. To be able to explore the surrounding county in such an amazing way before I leave has given me some memories to treasure. I've got a major relocation coming very soon, but I'll definitely miss this lovely part of the world! |
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An unexpected end...
My tips for a successful kayaking experience:
1) Purchase a dry bag for your belongingsAny waterborne activity is guaranteed to result in you getting a little damp, so buying a dry bag to store your phone, keys, and camera safely in your kayak is essential. I purchased a very inexpensive dry-bag from Decathlon and it served us very well. You can, of course, simply opt for a carrier bag or other plastic alternative, but nothing beats the security of a dry bag. 3) Wear sport appropriate clothing and shoesKayaking is quite the upper-body workout! You'll definitely be most comfortable on your Paddle to the Pub if you come dressed for exercise. Trainers are the most suitable form of footwear too as you do have to clamber in and out of the kayak - flip flops are too likely come off your feet if you slip! | 2) Don't forget your SPF!As you can probably tell from the beautiful sunshine in the pictures, our kayaking trip took place on a very warm day. I completely blanked on packing sun cream and thankfully I wasn't too burned, but I'd definitely encourage others not to make the same mistake, just in case. Nobody wants to end their fun afternoon on the water looking like a freshly boiled lobster! 4) Take a change of clothes for afterwardsUnless you really fancy driving home in sodden clothes, I'd highly recommend taking some comfy clothing to change into once you've finished your kayaking adventure. I was very grateful to past Abbey for even remembering to pack a spare set of underwear - I was soaked to the skin! |
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