Individuals, Families & Clubs
Find out more about the various ways you can participate in our activities either as an individual, a couple or a family.
Sessions For Everyone
The Adventure Club
These sessions are open to everyone; individuals, couples, families and small groups; regardless, ability or background, aged over 5 years old. The programme is ongoing and activities will be added 2-3 weeks in advance. 1 hour sessions – the opportunity to try something new!
Kayak Hire (no instructor)
Hire one of our boats and paddle along the River Soar with the freedom to explore in your own time.
How Does It Work?
You can now Hire a Sit on Top Kayak at the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre for two hours, to paddle on the River Soar.
To avoid disappointment we recommend pre-booking beforehand, which you can do by clicking ‘Book Now’ below.
Please try to arrive 10 minutes early to avoid a delayed start.
Please report to reception on arrival, we will take you through the safety information, after which you will need to leave a security deposit for the craft, this can be either a driving license, car keys or a passport.
We will then issue you with a paddle, buoyancy aid and kayak, from then on you will be free to paddle.
Once you have finished report back to reception and we will check all kit back in to stores and return your security deposit.
Participants can also hire our Kata Kanus on request, these hold up to 6 people, two people must be adults, for two hours, phone us to make an enquiry.
This includes kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid. Please note kayaks can only be used by the person specified on the booking form in the allotted time.
Important Notes:
Children are NOT allowed to paddle unaccompanied by an adult, an adult may only be responsible for one child, unless the second child is aged 16 or above. An adult is not permitted to look after more than two designated under 18s.
Buoyancy Aids MUST be worn and securely fastened at all times when on the water., with a layer of clothing underneath.
Late returns will be charged at £5 per 15 minutes, or part of, for each craft.
Any damage to the equipment will incur additional charges, £50 for a buoyancy aid or paddle, up to £400 for a broken boat.
As there is no safety cover, participants will be responsible for themselves, so please ensure you are able to look after yourself.
Women's Outdoor Group
All women are welcome, you do not need to be active or familiar with paddling.
Join Hayley and the team on a variety of activities here at LOPC. Afterwards, we will have refreshments and a chance to socialise
Future sessions could be full day paddling adventures, roped activities (climbing or abseiling), stand up paddleboarding, archery or air rifle shooting.
If you have any questions or queries, please do email Hayley at holiday@lopc.co.uk
For specific activity requests please email holiday@lopc.co.uk
We will run two programmes – “adventure” and “alternative”. All are open to all – being active is not a requirement
Next adventure session:
EVERY Tuesday from 6pm – 8pm Water session – £15
Longer Paddling sessions:
(All finish times are approximate)
31st October 6pm-9pm – Hope & Anchor Halloween Paddle
18th Nov -9.30am-4pm Quorn/Borrow Loop (Children in Need)
21st Nov 5.45pm-8pm – Abbey Park to LOPC
9th Dec 10.30am-3pm Xmas meal pub paddle (White Horse)
12th May 2024 – Warwick Castle Loop
Land based sessions:
28th Nov 6pm – Ropes activity evening
2nd Dec 1.30pm – Wreath Making
5th Dec 6pm – Target sports (Archery & Air Rifles)
12th Dec 6pm – Bushcraft
16th Jan 6pm – Ropes activity evening
30th Jan 6pm – Target sports (Archery & Air Rifles)
13th Feb 6pm – Bushcraft
Next paddlesports course dates:
Feb/March 2024 – Start & Discover (6 week Course)
20th April 2024 – Explore ( 1 day Course)
Down River Tour information:
A lovely journey in Canoes or Kayaks, beginning at LOPC, and finishing around Cossington or Mountsorrel depending on time. The journey will take us around 5 hours of paddling. We may even stop at the Hope and Anchor for a refreshment along the way!
We will also run this as a SUP journey but the trip is more likely to finish at Cossington.
Some paddling experience would be best for this trip, as it involves a lengthy paddle and some moving of boats. Teamwork is essential on this one! 🙂
Bring: Lunch, Drinks, Snacks, money for pub stop. Toilets are very limited – please expect to use a bush or the pub if we stop there. There are no facilities at Cossington, and there is a pub at Mountsorrel.
Christmas Party Paddle:
Come and join the group for a lovely Christmas Party – we’ll paddle from LOPC to a local pub (and eventually back again!), with plenty of time to stop for some lunch. The lunch and drinks aren’t included in the cost, so please factor this in on top!
This years date: 9th December 2023.
Urban Paddling Tour information:
An excellent journey for people wanting to explore a bit of Leicester from the water. Our minibus will take you to the start of the Tour towards Aylestone Meadows. From there we will pass a variety of city landmarks including Leicester City Football Stadium! The trip involves some moving around – “portaging” around weirs and locks. We will paddle back to LOPC through Frog Island and Abbey Park, with the potential for a stop at the Café depending on time.
Some paddling experience would be best for this trip as it would involve a lengthy paddle (approx. 4-5 hours), and some moving of boats.
You would need to bring lunch, plenty of snacks and drinks plus spare clothing for afterwards. Bring some money if you would like to try the shop at Abbey Park, but it does often have short opening times so please don’t rely on this!
Wellbeing Walks
Join us on a series of wellbeing walks – focusing engaging people with moving outdoors.
These walks will be in a variety of locations and terrains, throughout the year. We will explain the level of activity expected, so you can make an informed decision about joining us. Most walks will have a theme, such as: reflection, the natural environment, or mindfulness.
We hope this series will encourage conversation and connection amongst those that attend!
Open to all, journeys will cater to a variety of fitness levels and access needs – please check the specific walk description for details.
Logistics:
Closer to your walk date, we will email you with the start location. You will need to make your own way to the start unless specified – we will also provide details of the closest public transport.
Expect to be outdoors in any weather, alongside the description of your walk. Please bring lunch, snacks and a drink. You will need comfortable shoes with ankle support. A “what to bring” will be sent to you closer to your walk.
Booking:
All walk places must be booked in advance by contacting the Centre on 0116 268 1426
The Walks:
Date tbc – Resilience – Full Day. Meeting @ Newtown Linford Car Park. Walk includes climbing uphill for short distances, and down hill for a short distances. No stile’s to climb. A variety of Leicestershire Landmarks. Not suitable from prams, or a typical wheelchair. Approx. 8miles long. Minimal facilities, including limited toilets, please bring lunch and snacks.
Date tbc– Reflection – Half Day. Meeting @ Billesdon. Walk includes a few gentle inclines, with the occasional stile to cross. A walk through the Leicestershire Countryside. Not suitable for prams, or a typical wheelchair. Approx. 4 miles long. No man-made facilities – nearest toilet driving distance away, no cafe – please bring lunch and snacks, and you may have to go to the loo outdoors!
Date tbc Access – Half Day Suitable for prams, and a typical wheelchair. Distance TBD
Climbing Club LOPC
Come and have a go!
If you would like to come down and see what the club is all about please click the members only area. You will be able to see where the club is meeting and what time. If you are not already a member please call the centre on 0116 2681426 or email dofe@lopc.co.uk
If you are a member you must book in online.
We are a club that promotes getting people into climbing, whatever their current ability we welcome everyone.
WE ARE OPEN FOR NEW MEMBERS – Please email us on Dofe@lopc.co.uk or call us 0116 2681426 to book your first session
Membership information:
To become a member it costs £15.00 annually. You must be a member to attend any of the trips we run.
You must also be a member if you have attended 3 club night sessions.
There is a charge of £8 per evening for club nights at LOPC.
For the Tower Climbing Centre and Social Climbing you pay them the entry fee directly and will not need to pay anything to LOPC, unless we are running a coaching session for you.
We welcome anyone from the age of 8 to attend. Benefits of membership include:
Regular trips throughout the UK.
Access to a network of climbing partners.
Climbing coaching and workshops.
Help with obtaining Climbing Wall Instructor (CWI) & Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) qualifications.
Discounted sessions at LOPC Adventure Club.
Climbing Trips
Peak District
The exhilaration of climbing a natural structure rather than an artificial construction can’t be beaten! In a stunning environment you will be challenged regardless of your skill level and experience what it feels like to climb real rock in the great outdoors if you haven’t done so already.
Next Trips
- Saturday 6th May 8.30am – 5pm
- Saturday 1st July 8.30am – 5pm
- Sunday 16th July 8.30am – 5pm
- Sunday 30th July 8.30am – 5pm
- Saturday 12th August 8.30am – 5pm
- Saturday 26th August 8.30am – 5pm
Lake District
A mountainous region in North West England which is famous for its lakes, forests and mountains. We have rented out a whole bunk house situated in Newlands Valley which is regarded as one of the most picturesque and quiet valleys in the national park. An ideal location that is close to Helvellyn, a mountain that we will be climbing on one of the days.It holds one of the most famous ridges called Striding Edge that hosts some of the most spectacular views in England.
Shepherds Crag is where we will be climbing for one of the days. Situated in Borrowdale which isn’t too far from the bunkhouse and is a very popular climbing venue that has lots of routes that are suitable for all abilities.
Next Trip
Friday 1st September – Sunday 3rd September
Go Paddling Starter Sessions
What are they?
Our Go Paddling Starter Sessions are ideal for people who have never been canoeing or kayaking before and want to try it.
We run paddlesports every Saturday morning – 9.30am until 10:30-11am . on the River Soar in Leicester. Sometimes we paddle north towards Birstall and sometimes south towards Leicester City Centre. This is an Instructor lead activity.
You can choose the style of boat, our kayaks are either Sit-on-tops or ‘Closed Cockpit’ kayaks which typically take one or two people or we have a choice of ‘Open’ canoes which can hold one or two or three people. For stand-up paddle-boarding you will need to book into one of our SUP sessions.
Following from our paddlesport beginner sessions, participants can also participate in Go Canoeing Tours, which are longer trips along the River Soar. You can choose to use either canoe or kayak.
In the warmer months we also offer paddleboarding.
To book online click here, select click the blue BOOK NOW button, then select one of the Saturday morning paddlesport beginner activities.
Membership is £15 and lasts 12 months. (Membership currently has to be paid for over the phone or in person.)
Extra Information
Canoes, paddles, buoyancy aids are all provided, and waterproofs are available without cost if required – we have a variety of sizes.
You are more than welcome to use any of your own kit as you wish – if the coach deems it suitable and safe to do so.
In the Winter Months we recommend you bring warm clothes including Hats and Gloves.
Free car parking is available on site and is without height restriction.
Changing, shower and toilet facilities are available on site.
Terms & Conditions
Full payment is required at the time of booking. Bookings are non-refundable and are transferable only at the discretion of LOPC management, with at least 48 hours’ notice. All participants must fill in a consent form, for children this must be signed by their legal parent or guardian.
If rain levels have cause the River Soar to be unsafe to paddle we will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible and will either rearrange your booking on to another Tour or issue a refund in full.
Data Protection: By accepting the Terms and Conditions of Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre you are consenting to your name, date of birth, postcode, gender and email address being passed on to British Canoeing, the governing body for canoeing in the UK.
This will be used for statistical reporting on Go Canoeing to support with monitoring participation. Personal data will be used only in accordance with BC’s notification under the Data Protection Act 1998 in line with GDPR guidelines and in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your contact details will not be passed to third parties without your consent.
By signing the consent form you are consenting to this information being passed on to British Canoeing
Your information will not be passed on to any other parties.
Go Canoeing Tours
See some of Leicestershire from a different perspective by travelling along the rivers and canals paddling your own boat. We have several different Tours to choose from, each with a different theme and suited for different skills levels.
You will be given a qualified leader who will supply you with any kit you need and teach you any skills that will help you in your journey. The leader will also be able to talk to you about the river and the sites as you paddle along.
We offer various different Tours, visiting different sections of the River Soar and using different craft. Select from the Tour menu below for more information about each Tour.
Ducklings for Kids: Canoe, Kayak and SUP
Have fun learning all the skills for starting out in paddlesport!
Ducklings: Progressive lessons, ideal for beginners, aged 8 to 12
Beginners THURSDAYS – (Ducklings) – Sign in at 3:45 pm – Session: 16:00 – 17:30
Participants will begin by following the Paddle Award scheme, specially adapted for younger learners. Children can track their development with a log sheet as they work their way through the activities to achieve the Start & Discover awards in the Duckling (beginner) sessions.
Five week block -£55
Booking and Payment:
Click *Book Now* on the calendar below.
When children pass a level (Start, Discover, Explore) they can register to get a certificate. Start certificates are free, but Discover is £6.40 and Explore is £8.65 each. These are optional but can be paid for when you receive the email from British Canoeing to say your child has passed.
Cygnets for Kids: Canoe, Kayak and SUP
6 week course
Wednesdays 4pm – 6pm
Can your child control their own Kayak and Canoe? Then the Cygnets club is perfect for them!
Running year round, we run a slightly longer session than our beginner club so that the group can go away from the centre and have adventures out on the river further afield.
There is always something fun for the Cygnets to do and we usually plan the following week before they go home.
Minimum age: 8
Maximum group size: 8
Instructor ratio: 1:8
Previous experience
No experience is needed for ducklings, just an enthusiasm to try something new!
Cygnets need to have some basic boat handling skills in both canoe and kayak – we recommend coming to a ducklings session first!
Typical session structure
Cygnets will also be having lots of fun, building on their already acquired skills to get even better and have adventures. 2 hour sessions to enable the group to move away from the centre on journeys.
What to wear
Dress for the weather, include shoes you can get wet. Don’t forget a full change of clothes for afterwards
River Litter Pick - by Canoe or on Land
River Clean Up Team
This is a great opportunity to get out canoeing, meet new people and feel good about having a positive impact on our environment.
Upcoming Litter Picks
- Saturday 18th November 2023, 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Saturday 16th December 2023, 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Saturday 20th January 2024, 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Saturday 24th February 2024, 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Sunday 24th March 2024, 12:30pm – 3:30pm
- Thursday 18th April 2024, 9:30am – 12:30pm
- Wednesday 22nd May 2024, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
- Saturday 22nd June 2024, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
There is a £3 charge to cover our costs and purchase litter picking equipment.
The problem
Every year tonnes of rubbish is thrown, dumped or finds its way into the River Soar. As well as being a hazard to our wildlife it also completely ruins the place spoiling what should be a pleasant place for people to come and enjoy, whether it’s a canal boat trip, going canoeing or kayaking, or even a walk along the river side.
Our aim
We meet up once every month and spend half a day paddling along the river and picking up as much rubbish as we can in that time.
We try to keep the river as clean as we can and also collect litter from the banks and tow paths too. We welcome people who want to walk along side of the river collecting litter, whilst others are able to reach litter from boats.
What’s in it for you?
As you contribute to improving the environment for all users, we find our litter pick team enjoy a great sense of satisfaction when from the positive impact made on the environment. At times we have literally collected a full truck of rubbish from the river in a single session, which really makes you feel like you’re making a difference to the river environment.
It is also a good chance to go canoeing and meeting new people / making new friends who share a common interest in helping to improve the environment.
It may interest you to know that over the past 5 years we have collected more than 17 skips worth of litter from the river and river-bank. A fact that is equally disgusting and heart-warming to know how much of a difference all of our supporters have made.
How to get involved
To book on click on the “Book Now” button. “Individuals, Families and Clubs”, then click on “Activities for All”. From there you should be able to find your way.
You can get updates on our Facebook page
You can sign up to our monthly email updates by clicking here.
If you have any further questions about how you can help clean our river feel free to contact us on 0116 2681426.
Queer Outdoors Club
Thursdays 6pm-8pm
Looking for an inclusive LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy outdoor adventures? Look no further!
We aim to create a friendly, welcoming and safe space ran by members of the community. QOC is a chance to socialise and try exciting new experiences.
Each week, we offer a diverse range of activities that promise adventure and fun. Past activities have included paddle boarding, archery, foraging, firelighting, craft skills, climbing, and so much more! Over the colder months we’ll make sure to have hot drinks available so make sure to bring your mug along.
Have a particular activity in mind that you’d love to see us run? Other questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Georgie at marketingexec@lopc.co.uk.
Accessibility is a priority for us, and we’re more than willing to accommodate any specific requirements you may have. There’s no fitness criteria to join our adventures, making them accessible to everyone.
The minimum age for participation is 16, so whether you’re a seasoned outdoor enthusiast or just looking to try something new, come down and check out our club.
Be sure to follow our dedicated Instagram page for the Queer Outdoor Club (QOC), where we share photos and provide updates on our sessions. Follow us at @LOPC_QOC.
