REVIEW: Watersport Hire at Cotswold Canoe Hire, Lechlade

Trying to think of new and exciting activities to do in the summer with friends, colleagues or family can be difficult, but we think we’ve found something that everyone can enjoy!

Team Total took the short drive from Swindon to Lechlade to try the watersport facilities at Cotswold Canoe Hire, which is ideally located right by Halfpenny Bridge as you head into Lechlade and surrounded by great pubs, cafes and walks so you can make a day of it.

On arrival at Cotswold Canoe Hire, we were warmly greeted by Edith who talked us through all the different watersport activities they offer, and we decided to opt for the pedalo first. They have a whole fleet of pink flamingos and white swans, and after deciding on a flamingo we headed on to the water! Pedalo hire is just £16 for half an hour, or £30 for one hour. It’s important to note that you can travel quite far in a short amount of time, and take in the gorgeous sights of the Thames which is just so picturesque.

The pedalos are easy to manoeuvre, and they make a really relaxing experience. The pedalos each seat 4 people, with two lots of pedals at the front and just seats at the back. If you’re going on as a group of 3 or 4, the 2 in the back can just sit back and take in the views. There are also ducks bobbing around who just glide past you, and they make the relaxing countryside experience complete! It’s pure bliss! 

After heading back to dry land, we then decided to jump on a 3-person canoe and take to the waters. The canoes are £20 per hour, or £40 for 3 hours, which is great value for money considering it gives you a whole morning or afternoon of fun! After a wobbly start, we started to get into the rhythm of it and we’re happy to report that we only had one incident where we saw ourselves heading into the riverbank (whoops!). We had such a laugh on the canoes, trying to manoeuvre it in sync and it really put our teambuilding skills to the test, which makes this in particular a superb teambuilding activity. We felt really comfortable after a few minutes and headed quite far up the river, taking in the lovely sights which changes with every row!

On our return, we couldn’t help but trying out the paddleboards, which are just £15 per hour, and also proved to be a lot of fun and that little bit more daring than the other activities if you’re not experienced. It's really easy to get the hang of though and you can either stay kneeling or standing once you feel confident enough. They're also super safe as the paddleboard is attached to your ankle so you won't lose it if you fall off.

The Cotswold Canoe Hire crew were superb throughout our visit, being incredibly helpful in getting the equipment ready for us and helping us in and out of the water. They provide everything you need so they are great for spontaneous visits! As a teambuilding activity, we found that we learned more about ourselves on a personal level, and it’s clear to see that it would make an excellent activity for families, friends, couples or even solo too.

If you’re looking for something a little bit different to try this summer, which involves enjoying the great outdoors and testing your skills, we highly recommend coming along to Cotswold Canoe Hire and trying paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, rowing or the pedalos and soak up the sunshine in a fun and unique way.

You can find out more about Cotswold Canoe Hire here!