Canoeing and SUPing in The Outdoor City

Sheffield is the perfect city from which to go canoeing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) or kayaking.

With a confluence of five rivers flowing through the city, along with canals and lakes there's a whole range of different opportunities to get out on the water.

If you have no previous paddling experience and would like to give it a try, help is at hand in the form of a number canoe clubs, centres and activity providers, who offer sessions with fully qualified coaches. They'll also be able to provide you with all the specialist kit you need to get you on the water safely.

As well as their main outdoor venues, most clubs will also have access to swimming pool sessions as well, allowing you to practice your skills when it might be a bit too cold to do so outdoors.

Sheffield Canoe Club
Based on the River Don at Oughtibridge and Hillsborough Leisure Centre.

Sheffield City Kayak Club
Based on River Don at Kelham Island and Upperthorpe Healthy Living Centre.

Sheffield University Canoe Club 
Based at Crookes Valley Park Lake and Goodwin Sports Centre.

Hallam University Canoe Club 
Based on the River Don at Oughtibridge (Wednesdays) and King Edward's, Clarkehouse Rd. 

Centres and hire:

Rother Valley Watersports Centre 
With water sorbing and a whole outdoor activity centre too.

Peak Pursuits – Underbank 
Family events, abseiling and school holiday activities are also offered.

DC Outdoors
SUP, canoe and kayak hire in the heart of the city centre, as well as climbing and other Peak District adventures.

If you already have your own equipment, you have a whole world of opportunities available to you. You can easily do circular canoe trails through the city centre on the River Don and Sheffield Tinsley Canal, or a mammoth route from where the Don meets the Ouse.

There are also opportunities to try different competitive disciplines of the sport in Sheffield. Sheffield Canoe Club have a canoe slalom course set up at their base on the River Don at Oughtibridge where as well as training regularly they even host regional and national competitions.

Both university canoe clubs are extremely strong in the fast and exciting team sport of canoe polo and there is a proud history of this sport in the city as the first ever Canoe Polo World Championships were held at Ponds Forge in 1994.

So what are you waiting for? Explore The Outdoor City's waterways.