We’re a friendly club run by volunteers and affiliated with British Canoeing. Our members consist of white water & sea kayakers, tourers, canoeists and the occasional Sit-On-Top & SUPer. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned paddler, we hope you’ll find a place in our club.
Read on for all you should need to know to get the most out of your membership: what we do, where we meet, and how to go about hiring kit and accessing our sessions, plus lots more useful information…
How to join us
For details on how to join, including membership fees, simply complete our membership form:
Club trips
ECC runs trips all year round – check the ECC website & calendar, Facebook and your inbox for details of what’s going on. Recent highlights include many sea and river trips catering to a range of abilities, including overnight trips to the Great Glen, the (Dorset) Salty Weekend and the Lake District.
An email will go out to all members about any club trips being offered. If people sign up to the trip – either by emailing the club or contacting the coach – they will usually get added to a WhatsApp group for that trip, with a summary of the trip details.
Summer Lake Sessions
Our summer lake sessions at Wimbleball usually start on the first Wednesday in May (check the calendar for details) and run every Wednesday evening through the summer. We have a coach lead session for juniors, followed by a session for adults. The adult sessions are usually informal paddles and are a lovely way to spend a sunny Wednesday evening. We do also offer the occasional focussed / coached session for adults and are happy to offer skills training, as requested (such as rolling or self-rescue etc).
Wimbleball Lake Time Trials
For the slightly more competitive amongst us, or for those that would like a goal to aim towards – our club coach, John Harcombe, has created a time trial route on the lake. We need more entries, so feel free to get involved – all crafts considered…
Membership cards
To show you’re a current ECC member whilst visiting Wimbleball Lake outside of club sessions, please display your membership card on your dashboard. Your card will be available for collection at a pool or lake session – ask to speak to one of the committee when you arrive.
Lake access
Your ECC Membership (and card) gives you access to Wimbleball Lake outside of our normal club activities, but during normal Lake opening hours.
Autumn Play Wave
Through the Autumn, we meet on Wednesday evenings on the small play wave on the River Exe (parking at Mason Kings in Exebridge). With adult and junior sessions, this is a great opportunity to build confidence on moving water, or practice skills on the wave.
Winter Pool Sessions
Through the winter, we try to meet on Wednesday evenings at the Butlins swimming pool in Minehead, to practice our paddle skills in the warm, with fellow ECC paddlers on hand to offer advice.
Kit Hire
Club equipment (including kayaks, canoes, kayaks, SUPs and associated kit – paddles, spray deck, buoyancy aid etc), is available for members to use on organised club trips and to hire for personal use.
Peer Paddles
…are usually posted by individuals on FB. When these are organised they are separate to the club calendar and as such are not covered by our BC Insurance.
Coaches and Trip Leaders:
We’re always enormously grateful to any coaches and qualified leaders willing to offer any club trips, or help out with club sessions.
We’re a social bunch, so there will usually be a pub visit at the end of any trip or session, and if you haven’t already done so, please come along and introduce yourself on a club night.
We look forward to seeing you on the water!
From all of us at Exmoor Canoe Club
