Guide to: Waterways Licences
Hey yawl – Thought it was time to update the post about licences as we have a lot of new members and some of the prices and links have changed. This is me trying to pull it all together into one place!
I understand some people don't agree with licensing and paying to access the water, but lets not have this debate here please ..... remember our mantra ... Be Kind, Be Careful, Stay Safe.
Firstly most Tidal Water is free to paddle on but there are exceptions to this ... for example .. The whole of the Crouch estuary (Including Foulness and the creeks) is within the jurisdiction of the Crouch Harbour Authority who require that all unpowered craft (canoes, kayaks, SUPs, inflatables, windsurfers, kitesurfers) are registered with them annually.
The cost is £5.25 for a single craft and £10.50 for two to four and £26.25 for five or more.
https://crouchharbour.uk/harbour-dues-canoe-kayak-paddle.../
British Canoeing (and yes it covers SUP etc) I would say in the most widely used and covers probably covers the most water. It's £47 per year for an Adult ( £85 for a couple and family deals between £68 and £129). It includes Public Liability insurance and all income generated by membership fees is reinvested back into paddlesports, supporting the development of resources and projects that benefit members and the paddling community. This covers the person and any craft they paddle, it also offers discounts and other benefits.
If you only want to paddle on the River Stour at Dedham the River Stour Trust do a licence. Its £5.40 per day, £11.30 for a week, £21.40 for a month or £47.70 for the year. This is for the craft, not the person. Remember this is for 1 River which is covered within the British Canoeing license.
Some rivers, like The Chelmer, have separate licensing. These are £5 for a day or £35 for the year and can be purchased below. Licence fees apply to all non-powered craft including dinghies and inflatables and this Licence is not covered within other types of Membership or Licence. This licence applies to the craft, not the person and if you paddle a Canoe/Kayak and a Paddleboard they are different licences. Its £5 for a day or £38.50 for a year for each licence.
The non tidal section of the River Colne through Colchester is one of those unusual rivers (like the Chelmer) which are private and not covered by the British Canoeing Licence. Colchester Borough Council own “riparian” rights to the river and its banks through this section and do not offer a public licence or general access, all patrolled by the Park Rangers. Colchester Canoe Club have for many years been working with the Council to improve facilities and access for all forms of water sport and as such have been granted exclusive rights to use the River by their members and guests. Adult Membership of the Club is £20 per year and includes a locked private carpark and of course river access.
There is also the Canal and River Trust who license access to 96 Canals and Navigable Rivers. I have to say their Website is not easy to use in my opinion and the Licence page points you towards British Canoeing anyway. To only use CRT water it takes you to a very complicated registration and log in where it’s not clear on prices or how to License. The good news is a British Canoeing License covers all the CRT waterways as does Water Skills Academy membership as above.
The Broads National Park (or the Norfolk Broads as I call them) are controlled by the Broads Authority. The license to paddle is available from them for £9.60 for a week, £19.20 for 2 weeks or £42.69 for the year but is for the craft, not the person. Again if you have British Canoeing Membership you are covered to paddle here.
Each of these links have areas where you can check to see which one covers where you are paddling. They all put money back into the sport, activity and upkeep of the areas they cover. Some areas like the River Cam through Cambridge City Centre require your license number to be displayed and visible from the River bank, so please investigate these oddities.
Feel free to let us know about anything I have missed.
Big love from Andy Large, Oli Jordan, Jessica Ashley and Matt Payne
Be Kind, Be Careful, Stay Safe.