Outdoor adventure courses for women, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and walking on Dartmoor, Devon and Cornwall, UK

Courses For Women

Outline

Our Courses for Women are a fantastic way for women to get physical, to face challenges, learn new skills. On these courses you are free to do all this on your own terms in a supportive and encouraging environment with other women. Our experience is that women often feel less inhibited in an all women group, leaving them free to push themselves, encourage each other and create a culture to achieve their best.

The programme for each of the courses Climbing Week, Canoeing/Kayaking Week and Adventure Week is exactly the same as the general course, just without the guys around and with an all female instructor team. Please see dates below.

These courses are a week of escapism in the great outdoors, a break from the demands of your life. By getting involved in outdoor adventure you will gain greater determination and confidence through facing new kinds of challenges; you will feel healthier and fitter by being active and by filling your lungs with lots of clean fresh air; you will be giving your self the time to try new experiences which may kick start your life.

Outline
Canoeing and Kayaking Week
Climbing Week
Adventure Week
Accommodation
Price, duration and dates

Course Details

Group numbers are deliberately kept small and the programme flexible so that where possible we can tailor the week to suit participants. The week is ideal for absolute beginners and for people with some experience who want to build their confidence.

Canoeing and Kayaking Week

Get away from the office and spend your week messing about on the river and sea. A week of canoeing and kayaking will be exciting and demanding leaving you feeling invigorated and, we hope, inspired to carry on developing your new skills back home.

Each day we will be out on local tidal estuaries, rivers and the sea and will involve the following:

Canoeing

Learn the basic paddle stokes including the 'J' stroke to move silently through river valleys and watch wildlife. Explore the far reaches of beautiful and secluded rivers. Pack in the camping gear, stoves and some food for an overnight expedition and learn how to Bivvy under your canoe.

Canoes are stable, easy and fun for 2 people to paddle. You may wish to move onto the next level by learning to paddle 'solo' which requires much greater skill and technique.

Kayaking

Begin by experiencing how manoeuvrable a river kayak is, learn how to control it, to turn and paddle efficiently. You will be taken safely though the capsize drill so you feel confident, more importantly you will learn how to use your torso to balance yourself and use your whole body to control the boat.

Progress onto Surf Kayaking, feel the thrill and power of being in the surf, how to catch waves and ride them in.

Sea Kayaking; explore the stunning Cornish coastline by kayak, watch sea life, paddle under sea cliffs and have lunch on a secluded sandy beach.

Climbing Week

Spend a week learning to climb on Dartmoor and the stunning Cornish sea cliffs. It will be a physically and mentally challenging experience that will not only develop your climbing skills but your confidence and sense of achievement too.

We have a rich variety of climbing venues across Dartmoor and along the Cornish coast and will be outside everyday.

Your climbing will progress from learning basic techniques in movement and holds to testing yourself on more challenging routes. Power and strength can get you to the top of a climb but it is balance, flexibility and focus that will advance your climbing.

We will introduce the fundamentals in belaying, rope work and safety. By the end of the week you will have been introduced to the principles of setting anchors, route finding, single and multi-pitch climbing. You will also be guided on choosing your own equipment and how to move forward with climbing back home.

Adventure Week

Develop new skills and break free from the treadmill. Boost your health and fitness with this invigorating week of adventure sports in the stunning setting of Dartmoor and the Cornish coast. The Adventure Week gives you a taste of all our activities in a fantastic full-on package.

Each day will involve a different activity from:

Climbing and Abseiling

Learn to climb and pit yourself against our hard Dartmoor granite. Climbing can be about sheer power and strength to get to the top, but more often its about balance, delicate moves and technique that will see you succeed.

Canoeing
Explore the far reaches of beautiful and secluded rivers, maybe pack in the camping gear for an overnight expedition.

Kayaking
Experience the manoeuvrability of a river kayak, learn to control it, have a go at an eskimo roll.

Surf Kayaking
Once you've had a go on flat water feel the thrill and power of the surf, one of the most exciting places to be in a kayak.

Dartmoor Navigation
Learn map and compass skills to navigate yourself across the remote and hostile landscape of Dartmoor.

Overnight Expedition
You have the option of an overnight expedition which may be either walking across Dartmoor or as part of a longer canoe journey.

Accommodation at Tamar Valley Lodge

Each evening you will return to the peaceful Tamar Valley to an alpine style lodge based within a quiet holiday village. There are a wide range of facilities on the site, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centre and on site restaurant and bar. Here you can relax and recharge your batteries and review the days challenges. The accommodation comprises of 3 twin rooms with 2 bathrooms, sitting room and kitchen area plus sundeck to enjoy the views from.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be freshly prepared by our cook, using locally sourced food for simple hearty and plentiful meals.