Kayaking
@
Condurro

Get out on the water kayaking!

Kayaks and all the equipment you need, including instructors, can be hired from Girlguiding Cornwall.

Condurro campsite is right next to the creek of the Tresillian River, which provides a safe and secluded spot for kayaking!

There are 24 spaces available for kayaking, spread over 2 sessions of 12, in two back-to-back 45 minute sessions, either side of the high tide.

There are 10 Palm Islander sit-on-top kayaks, that are blue, and 2 Aqua Leo sit-on-top kayaks that are orange.

The blue kayaks have a paddle, backrest and there are Ruk Trolleys to help you transport the kayak down the lane to the creek.

The paddle boards and kayaks can be taken out at the same time or your session can be divided up into one session of kayaking and one session of paddle boarding. More information about hiring the Stand-Up Paddle boards can be found here.

A full list of equipment can be viewed here:

Kayak inventory

Pricing

Kayak hire
£5 for Girlguiding Members
£7 Non members

You will be invoiced for kayaking once you have been out on the water.

Who is able to join in?

The rules from Girlguiding on being able to swim 50m have recently changed. This will also apply for non-member groups. For many activities around or on water, confidence in the water is more important than the ability to swim a particular distance. If anyone is needed to be assisted back onto a craft by the instructor, they should have the confidence to remain in the water until rescued.

Please check the swimming ability and confidence in water, and highlight those with weak swimming abilities or low water confidence to the instructor. Where weak swimmers or those with low water confidence are taking part, this should be risk assessed and ratios may need to be amended. You can get good swimmers who have low water confidence if the environment in which they are swimming is different from usual. The Health and Safety Risk Assessment can be downloaded to read here:

Anyone from aged 7+ can kayak.

The ratio for kayaking is 1:8. and at least 2 adults are needed. There will be 2 instructors in the water. Adults can go out with the group; just make sure they are included in the numbers and that there are the right number of adults supervising anyone on land waiting their turn.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment

Instructor

An instructor will be arranged for you by the Booking Adviser. There will be 2 instructors out on the water with you. Under no circumstances are the kayaks to be on the water without our qualified instructors.

Please be prepared to brief the instructors on any health issues before entering the water.

On the day

The creek is deep enough to use for an hour either side of high tide. So session times will be fixed to accommodate this.

You will need to open the Kayak Store. The key for this is in the Condo room. You will need to know the door code to enter, which should have been provided (Kayak Adviser has a spare key if in doubt!)

All participants must be ready in appropriate clothing and have a buoyancy aid (found in the Kayak Store) fitted at the agreed start time. A swimsuit, wetsuit, spray top and wet shoes are ideal. Alternatively, tracksuit bottoms, a synthetic fleece top and an old cagoule are very suitable. Shoes should be old and capable of being well secured to the foot and will get muddy. Clothes which are made from natural materials are heavy when wet e.g. wool and should be avoided. A plastic bag for wet and muddy clothes afterwards is recommended!

There are glasses retainers, and waterproof phone cases available to borrow. Ensure the cases are fully closed, as no responsibility for damage to phones can be taken. Likewise, ensure glasses are retained securely, as no responsibility can be taken for lost glasses.

The code to the kayak padlock will be emailed to you. Please make sure you have this to hand so you can unlock the kayaks when you arrive on site, and lock the kayaks when you have finished!

All participants must be able to get the kayaks from the campsite, down the lane, to the water and back. The Ruk Trolleys fit onto the blue kayaks. The instructor will meet the girls and leaders at the campsite, check the kit over and help to adjust buoyancy aids.

When you have finished kayaking

All kayaks and equipment must be taken back to the campsite by the participants and rinsed well with fresh water, using the hose to remove all the mud and salt water.

Once rinsed, please return the blue and orange kayaks to where you found them and secure them with the padlock.

Buoyancy aids are to be rinsed and left free from mud. Please zip and clip these, then place them back onto the hangers and hang on the rope provided in the Kayaking Store to dry. Paddles are also to be rinsed and returned to the Kayak Store.

Happy and safe paddling!

You can print out this hire guide below.

Hire guide

How to make a booking

First check the tide times by clicking on the button below. Then return to this page. **Remember the creek is only deep enough to use an hour either side of high tide.** Scroll down to the bottom of the calendar to change the month you want to view.

If you are unsure on the times for the high tide, please don't hesitate to contact the kayak booking secretary for advice. She can be contacted on kayak-bookings@girlguidingcornwall.org.uk

Secondly check the calendar below to see if the date you require is free.
Click "Book now" and complete the booking form.
Once your booking form has been received the kayak booking adviser will be in touch and you will be invoiced for your booking after you have used the kayaks.
Before you book, please read our booking terms and conditions.

Tide times