The questions people most often ask about kayaking, canoeing and DCKC.

Want to go kayaking, explore amazing places, and make new friends?

You’ve come to the right place!

Whether you’re completely new to kayaking or already have some experience, our club has something for you.

If you’ve kayaked a bit before

Take a look at our club calendar and email our membership secretary – membership@dckc.co.uk – to find the right event to join.

We suggest not starting at the very top of your level — it’s best to get a feel for the club first and see how our trips and sessions run.

🌊 If you’re new (or newish) to kayaking and want to get out on rivers

Join one of our regular sessions:

  • Tuesday nights at the loch (summer) or pool (winter)
  • Thursday nights at Pinkston (spring to autumn)

You can also look out for river trips on our calendar once you’re feeling ready.

🌊 If you’re new (or newish) to kayaking and want to get out on lochs or the sea

Come along to one of our:

  • Tuesday night sessions on Loch Lomond (summer)
  • Clydebank Swimming Pool sessions (winter)

And keep an eye out for our All Away Trips or monthly Second Saturday Paddles — perfect for friendly, social paddles and introductory adventures!

All trips are booked through trip leaders — you are always welcome to reach out to them to see if it’s the right kind of level for you.

What 'type' of kayaking and Canoeing does DCKC do?

Many kinds! We have members who paddle on Sea, River and Lochs on Sea Kayaks, Whitewater Kayaks, Open Canoes and SUPs. Some like adrenaline, others a nice, peaceful time. Some just come along to regular weekly events and others multi-day expeditions. It is worth saying generally we don’t use sit-on-top kayaks.

Do I need my own boat?

The club has boats and other equipment to hire at very reasonable prices. Check out costs on this page

Do you teach beginners?

DCKC is run by people who volunteer their time to the club. One of the ways in which members volunteer is to run introductory sessions for beginners. Generally though, the club supports people on their kayaking or canoeing development irrespective of their level.

Can children come along?

Children under 10 can come along if they can swim 25 meters and are accompanied by an adult. Young people under 18 is at the discretion of the coach/trip/event leader.

Does it cost much to start kayaking?

DCKC was started to offer access to people who might not otherwise be able to start kayaking or canoeing. Our membership fees and trip costs are deliberately low to make it welcoming and accessible. Check out costs on this page

How come it is so affordable?

We have built up a pool of equipment over time. We spend wisely on very functional, but not flashy equipment, and with maintenance and care it can last a long time. Furthermore, our members contribute to the club voluntarily, meaning we can keep the club accessible.

Do I need a car to attend DCKC events?

We have members who do not have a vehicle and share transport / petrol cost with other members. If you get in touch with the membership secretary [ membership@dckc.co.uk ] they may be able to put you in touch with someone else in your area who you can travel with. Of course having a car is a bonus, but it is not a necessity.

Should I get a roof-rack for my vehicle ?

If you have a vehicle, one of the wisest/first investments you can make, even before a kayak, paddle or buoyancy aid …is a roof-rack. Unfortunately the club cannot hold a stock of roof-racks to fit every vehicle, and without one it is awkward to carry kayaks/canoes and to take advantage of having a vehicle that you can use for kayaking/canoeing.

As people change vehicles it is possible to pick up secondhand roof-racks if you are on a budget. It can even be worth posting a message to one of the member’s Whatsapp groups. In any case, we’d recommend a roof-rack with straight cross-bars which overhang the side of the vehicle slightly, rather than the fancier profiled ‘aero’ bars. ‘J bars’ (favoured by sea-kayakers generally) or uprights (favoured by river kayakers) can also be useful, and a few ‘cam buckle’ style roof-rack straps. With a basic set-up you can start making use of club boats.

Roof-rack and uprights

Folding J-bars

What should I bring along?

For introductory sessions please see the new members page. For touring and Sea kayak trips see the published equipment lists. It is also possible to ask trip leaders.

Why should I get into kayaking and/or Canoeing?

The places you will go and the people you will meet 🙂

Do you do multiday trips?

Yes, we often load boats up and go for multiday trips on the Sea. On the river we might paddle multiple rivers in one weekend.

Do you offer boat storage for club members?

Unfortunately we do not currently offer boat storage for club members, as space in our containers is already very tight and there are limited opportunities locally for the club to obtain additional affordable storage. However, club members are welcome to put a notice in the newsletter asking other club members if they have storage they would be willing to share or hire out.

Do you hire boats?

For members of the club with sufficient experience, we are able to loan club boats – club members can access the boat hire policy under ‘club documents’.

We do not hire or loan club boats to non-members.

Do we have DCKC social events?

We have events that combine paddling and socialising and others that just involve socialising! Highlights of the calendar in recent years have included the festive Mince Pie Paddle, and the calamitous Pinkston Rubber Duck Race.

How do I learn about what trips are on?

Trips are generally added on the club calendar. For trips and events contact the trip leader or event co-ordinator.

If you are coming along for the first time then we generally suggest attending our introductory or regular sessions initially and contacting our membership secretary. If you are an experienced paddler you are also very welcome to come along. We can introduce you to members and deal with any formalities so you can join in with club trips and events.

How do I sign up?

We’ve compiled all information for signing up on this page.