We offer the Paddle UK Discover Award to our new members. During this course you’ll develop your paddling skills to help make sure you have a fun and safe time on the water.
Our brilliant club coaches will give you confidence on our home waters. By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to join our club sessions.
Our 2026 courses are running on:
- 9/10 May 2026
- 4/5 July 2026
- 1/2 August 2026
- 5/6 September 2026
The course includes membership for the rest of the year. The course costs are:
- Adults: £109.75
- Under 18 and over 65: £89.05
- Family: £82.80 plus £58 per person
Course content
The course covers both practical and theoretical aspects of paddlesport, predominately in a kayak, and follows the Paddle UK Discover Award syllabus. It will teach you all the skills you need to be able to begin paddling with the club.
Successful candidates will be issued with a Paddle UK Certificate to say that they have completed the course.
Clubhouse location
As of July 2025, our clubhouse is temporarily located at Marlow Sports Club (Pound Lane) round the back of the hockey pitches. This is while bridge works continue above our usual base. Follow signs for additional parking, and head through the gate by the Petanque pitch to get to our containers.
Below is a detailed map of the temporary site:
Parking
You can usually park in the Sports Club. See the map below to find parking and the Canoe Club location on the site.
If the parking is completely full you may be able to find some on-street parking but check whether there are time limits in force. There are several public car parks in Marlow. The easiest for the club is Higginson Park, in Pound Lane. You can pay by card or via the RingGo app, which has the advantage of allowing you to extend your stay. You will need to ensure you have paid enough to cover you until 17:30, the local traffic wardens do not take prisoners.
Timings
The course will start at 09:00 each day and will finish by 17:00. It may finish earlier depending on how people feel, a full day on the water can be surprisingly tiring.
Lunch
You will need a packed lunch as there is no easy way to get to the local shops and back quickly.
Getting wet
Kayaking is a water sport and participants should expect to get wet. During the weekend we will look at capsizing and safe exit from the boat as well as simple rescue techniques.
The capsize and rescue drills are done close to the club so that you can get changed into dry clothes and minimise the potential of getting cold.
Changing rooms
There are changing rooms for males and females. This is generally the best place to leave the clothes you want to wear when you go home and anything else you don’t want to get wet (car keys, phone…).
When the club is unoccupied it will be locked so your stuff should be safe, however we cannot accept responsibility for loss of valuables so please carefully consider what you bring with you.
Toilets and showers
We do not have any water supply in the clubhouse. The nearest public toilets are a couple of hundred yards away in Higginson Park. Depending on what is happening at the club the toilets in the Marlow Sports Club may be open. We recommend that you shower when you get home after any paddle, the river water is not as clean as you might hope.
Equipment
We will provide you with a kayak / canoe, paddle, buoyancy aid, and spray deck (for use after you have demonstrated a confident capsize) though you are very welcome to use your own suitable gear if you have it.
We do have a limited number of waterproof paddling jackets (“cags”) that can be used if the weather is not kind. However, these are generally items that members have donated when they replace them, so describing them as waterproof may be optimistic.
Things you need to bring
We would recommend you bring at least the following:
- Shoes that you don’t mind getting soaked (they will!) Sandals or flip-flops are not suitable as they do not fully enclose the foot and could get caught up in the boats.
- Synthetic clothing suitable for the temperature (natural fibres hold too much water and take much more heat out of you to dry, leaving you cold). Please avoid jeans and, if possible, cotton.
- A change of on water clothing for each day for afternoon wet work as well as a warm dry set of clothes to go home in.
- A hat with a peak or brim (not essential but drips in the eyes or down the neck are not pleasant).
- If you wear glasses or sunglasses, a retainer is wise. A floating one is good, but any secure attachment will do.
- If you are going to take any pictures a waterproof phone case and lanyard are essential.
- Snacks and a bottle to drink from make life far more pleasant. (A small bottle of hand sanitiser will allow you to clean your hands before eating – there is usually a supply in the club).
- Sunscreen (we may be lucky enough to need it and glare off water is far greater than you might expect).
- Most important of all – a sense of humour. Fun is, after all, the whole point of the exercise.
We recommend all the above every time you paddle.
Marlow Canoe Club 
