Canoe Focus Autumn 2016 | Page 50

THE ACTIVE RAMSGATE INITIATIVE HAS LAUNCHED TWO NEW CANOE ROUTES One guided, one self-guided – giving paddlers the opportunity to explore some of the most impressive scenery in Kent. Watersports have an extensive knowledge of the area and can ensure paddlers have a responsible canoeing experience in this highly protected area. And once you’ve explored the coastline, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the town’s cobbled alleyways in this vibrant coastal resort, have a pub meal by the marina or perhaps stay the night. Ramsgate is home to a great collection of quality bed and breakfasts, hotels and inns all serving great food with a renowned Kentish welcome. The initiative, project managed by Explore Kent, is designed to support economic regeneration by promoting the Ramsgate area through its outdoor activities, and the launch of the canoe trails will take canoeists of all abilities right along the Kent coastline, as well as through one of the UK’s most important protected bird sites – Pegwell Bay. H S E R F E V I G S E T U O R E O NEW CAN E T A G S M A R F O E V I T C E P S PER The self-guided route is for more experienced canoeists and starts at Marina Esplanade in Ramsgate and follows the coast around to the seaside town of Broadstairs. The trail gives paddlers the opportunity to get close to nature and go wild exploring some of the most precious and dramatic landscapes in Kent. Exploring by canoe gives you access to areas inaccessible on foot, whilst maintaining the peacefulness of the area so as not to disturb the natural balance. The guided trails are run by Go Canoeing Provider Canoe Wild and Thanet Diving and Watersports and take two to three hours to complete.The route is a mixture of open sea and river, running right through Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve, providing a unique opportunity to spot rarer birdlife and seals in their natural habitat. Pegwell Bay is famous for sightings of Oystercatchers, Terns and Shelducks to name just a few of the rich array of wetland birds found there. Both Canoe Wild and Thanet Diving & 50 www.britishcanoeing.org.uk Canoe Focus Autumn 2016 To book your place on a small group guided Wildlife Canoe Safari, visit www.canoewild.co.uk and www.kentscubadiving. co.uk or call Canoe Wild on 07947 835688 and Thanet Diving & Watersports on 07981 551922. All equipment will be provided, or bring your own! The self-guided trail is free to download from the Active Ramsgate website – www.ramsgatetown.org/activeramsgate and includes the route directions, details on how to get in touch with the route organisers and also highlights various points of interests. In addition, the canoe route is also supported by Active Ramsgate ambassador, Olympic Gold Medal winner, skeleton athlete Lizzy Yarnold. Lizzy said of the canoe trails: “I love the idea of taking to the water and canoeing your way around the fantastic scenery in Ramsgate. You’ll get to see the wildlife from a completely new perspective and it is great that a scheme which will improve regeneration will also help to encourage people to get active.” For more information: visit www.ramsgatetown.org/activeramsgate. 51