Try the Blueway 10K on Lough Derg
Waterways Ireland, Canoeing Ireland and the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland have joined forces with outdoor centres and canoeing clubs across the island to create the Blueway 10k ‘learn to paddle’ programme for people seeking a new adventure in the outdoors.
Blueways are multi-activity trails running on and alongside water, with cycling and walking complementing the paddling trails. By the end of 2016 there will be over 200km of trails on the Shannon and Shannon-Erne waterways managed by Waterways Ireland.
A 12 week canoe training programme is available in 30 centres nationwide starting on 28th May culminating in a 10k paddle in 7 key locations across the inland waterways. This no nonsense workout that will allow people to turn up in regular workout clothes, put on a buoyancy aid, grab a boat and paddle, and go for short intensive work out.
Although the programme is written for kayaks, the Blueway 10K can be completed in any paddlesports craft including sit on tops, open canoes and stand up paddle boards.
Around Lough Derg & the Shannon the providers include My Next Adventure, The Kayaking Company, Get West and Lough Derg Water Sports. Details on the training programme, the training videos, the list of providers participating and the registration form can be found on www.bluewaysireland.org/events.
The training partners delivering the programme are clubs, outdoor recreational centres all run by experienced paddlers, check them out online or follow the links on the website to get more information.
Canoeing is an aerobic sport which can be practised either in a club outdoor recreation centres to develop a range of skills which can be used for fitness or competition with sprints, white water, marathon & canoe polo activity or for recreation, short and long-distance self-guided or guided touring and adventure. With a range of options this wide there are loads of ways to find the paddling experience that matches a person’s fitness and recreational needs.
