Paddle Boarding from Thatcham to Theale: Kennet & Avon Canal SUP Adventure
Living next to the river comes with so many benefits, but winter time can be a challenge, especially when the Riverside Paddle site is flooded for weeks on end. Every now and then James and I will pootle about in the flood waters on a canoe, dreaming of dryer times. At the start of March, Ailsa, a life-long friend from school, came to stay. “Let’s go on a paddle adventure together when I visit Louise!”. Ah, I thought… the Thames and Thame are in flood and I really fancy paddling somewhere different. Is this an opportunity to try out a new route?
A perfect paddle for a winter’s day!
As any Paddle Leader will know, planning is central to this role: anticipating hazards, assessing risks, checking out water conditions, knowing your group. I’ve always wanted to paddle the Kennet and Avon Canal (and river) between Newbury and Reading as it is handily serviced with a train line running parallel to the water course, a ready made solution to the one-way journey. With river conditions so high and fast, the canal offers a great alternative option. The Thatcham to Theale route includes some stretches of river, which are potentially a hazard at this time of year, but both Ailsa and I are experienced paddlers and instead the fast flow offered some extra fun! It helped that James was able to do a recce a couple of days before whilst visiting the area for a fishing trip.
Logistics
I am a rural girl at heart and the idea of starting or finishing in a city didn’t appeal. I was also mindful of how much chit chat was going to take place when two old friends get together, I didn’t want to be over ambitious in terms of distance to cover. We settled on Thatcham to start our day, with the railway station carpark conveniently located between the train line and the canal, minimising faff at the start and end of the journey. We were aiming for Theale, but the joy of this journey is that there are additional train stations dotted along the route (and beyond) if you want to do less or more. Parking charges are also reasonable (£4.40 for the day), and the return fair back to the car from Theale at the end of the day, only cost £6.30 each. I took my leader bag with its usual kit, plus two McConks SUP bags to transport the boards back on the train at the end of the day. We didn’t start paddling until about midday and caught the train from Theale at about 6pm.
All the gear, no idea??
Normally I am a light packer, but last summer I learnt my lesson after an unfortunate dip in the Thames. I was out with a couple of clients and demonstrating some standing positions and literally, as I explained how unstable one position can be for beginners… splash, I was in. Only then did I realise I didn’t have sufficient warm clothes for the bitter wind and drizzle that had replaced the warm sunshine of earlier. On that occasion my land support came to my rescue (thanks James) but on this trip, that wasn’t going to be an option. Given I have it, I decided to paddle in my dry suit (reserved normally for icy conditions). It didn’t last long. It ended up being the mostly glorious sunny day, almost spring like, with golden light into sunset. The dry suit was packed away pretty early, replaced with leggins, a t-shirt and bare feet! Portage is a consideration on this tip. There are lots of locks to navigate around, so having light equipment is helpful and a routine for getting off and on the water with ease.
Quiet waterways and low bridges
The Kennet and Avon canal was wonderfully peaceful; I suspect that might be the time of year. We saw a couple of walkers on the towpath, some fishermen, but nobody was on the water. One of the most entertaining parts of this paddle route is navigating the low bridges. Initially a bit worried about clearance, Ailsa soon joined in and skimmed under the first bridge in ‘child’s pose’... it wouldn’t be long before that was fully prone, as the bridges just got lower!
Picnic and pubs
Part of the joy of paddleboarding is being able to stop whenever you find a beautiful spot. We had packed some snacks - boiled eggs from the wonderful Riverside chucks, cereal bars and fruit - and paused at one of the many locks to enjoy some sunshine with our picnic. Having left the thermos behind (deliberately?) It was essential to source a drink from the Rowbarge pub (Woolhampton), on the bank of the canal, and one of many possible pub or cafe stops along the way.
Golden light and a rising moon
The final stretch towards Theale turned into something truly special. As the afternoon faded, the light shifted into that magical golden evening glow that reflects across the water and through the trees. Ahead of us in the sky an almost full moon slowly rose above the trees, guiding the final part of our paddle. Moments like this are exactly why we love exploring waterways by paddleboard.
Would you like to plan your own mini adventure, or join a group tour?
Get in touch with Louise or James at Riverside Paddle for ideas on paddling the Thame and Thames, canoe and SUP rental, or a paddle leader to accompany you.