Having missed out on a few adventures this year, Dr C and I were delighted to be undertaking some Kayaking with Let’s Get Lost, on the River Soar in Leicestershire. A perfect way to see nature and the beauty of our county, we were set for a four hour paddle meandering through the River Soar and its backwaters.
Disclosure: This experience was offered in exchange for media coverage. All opinions, views and photography are my own and remain a copyright of Be-lavie.
Let’s Get Lost
Let’s Get Lost are an outdoor adventure company specialising on creating adventures including kayaking, paddle boarding and even overnight camps and were established by founder Anthony Ball. Based on wellbeing and the ability of nature to work wonders on your mind, body and soul.
The idea of Let’s Get Lost, in Anthony’s home county of Leicestershire, is to allow outdoor experiences to be accessible to everyone with very little prior skill or experience. Activities and benefits that can be enjoyed by everyone in a fun and supportive environment.
There are a number of activities and options available from a basic kayak adventure to a romantic picnic with bubbly or a twilight kayaking session and even paddle-boarding, but Dr C and I opted for the Paddle to the Pub option, which was perfect for a Sunny October afternoon!
Paddle To The Pub
Location: Waterside Inn, Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire
Duration of Time: four hours
Pub Stop off: Navigation Inn, there are a number of pubs en route, you will be advised of this information upon receiving your booking confirmation.
The experience starts with completing some paperwork regarding the activity and safety precautions after which the very knowledgeable kayak- extraordinaire and outdoor pursuits expert Bruce, hands you your buoyancy aids and takes you through the basics of kayaking and paddling.
You are then let loose in the kayaks for a little time to get used to the water and getting your bearings and confidence. Worry not you’ll be provided with a map to follow, so you can locate the pubs and how to steer/paddle your way around the river and back waters. Then its time to start your adventure.
It’s a pretty simple paddle and you can go along at your own pace so no pressure. You can choose to have the experience guided or unguided. Ours was unguided, which we quite liked so we could stop and take in the surroundings as we pleased.
The canal is a hot spot for wildlife lovers and especially gliding through the backwaters you’ll spot cattle, heron, ducks and swans to name but a few. It’s a completely peaceful setting connecting you with the real outdoors and the rural beauty the county offers from a different perspective.
About an hour and a half into our paddle, we stopped off at The Navigation Inn in Barrow for a drink, a bright fresh Autumn afternoon and plenty of rowing calls for a hot chocolate, but you can easily book in for lunch independently.
Post hot chocolate stop we spent time discovering a little more of the waterways and made our way back on the route in the map, stopping off for wildlife stops. Bruce met us at the end point to help us back to base with the kayak and paddles after our very own adventure not a million miles away from home.
Be-lavie’s Top Tips For Fun Kayaking
Perfect Experience For…
Families, stag and hen parties, solo connect with nature, team bonding days, fantastic date idea especially if you take the picnic and bubbly option!
Booking & Available Dates
Let’s Get Lost experiences will be ending for 2020 at the end of October but you still have time to book for Halloween or half-term for the two hour explorer paddle for two adults and two children for the great value price of £60.
The four hours paddle to the pub and the picnic and bubbly is also available to do during the same dates!
For further information and booking visit Let’s Get Lost’s Website.
Overall Thoughts on Kayaking
I have to say, kayaking with Lets Get Lost has very much been one of my highlight experiences. It’s great fun, not as hard to get the hang of it even if you’ve never done it, I have to admit I have kayaked before, but was surprised how easily you can get the hang of it again, brilliant way to connect with your surrounds, completely relaxing and calm and a little slice of adventure on your doorstep. Take a leaf out of my book of philosophy and do something that takes you a little out of your comfort zone and discover another side of yourself!
Fancy reading about more activities and thing to do in Leicester? Click on the pin!
Go on, go and have a go and let me know how you got on? Are you a mild-adventure lover? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below…
À bientôt
