Paddleboarding, kayaking and canoe trips with DC Outdoors
DC Outdoors is a Sheffield-based outdoor activity provider with over 20 years' experience and no fixed centre, so each session runs at the venue that suits it. Learn to stand-up paddleboard on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal at Victoria Quays in the city centre, take your first steps into whitewater kayaking near Swinton, or join a multi-day canoeing and bushcraft journey in Scotland. Sessions are designed for beginners and are easy to reach from across South Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Beginner sessions available
Canoe camping trips in Scotland
Gift vouchers available
Canoe and bushcraft journeys in Scotland
Paddle to a wild camp on a multi-day canoeing and bushcraft course. Intro to Canoeing and Bushcraft is a three-day journey on Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway, where red kites, ospreys and deer are regularly seen, and Castles, Canoeing and Camping is a four-day trip in the Western Highlands. No canoe or bushcraft experience is needed, and evening meals are provided.
DC Outdoors
4 Upper Hoyland Road,
Hoyland,
South Yorkshire,
S74 9NJ
DC Outdoors is based in Sheffield and runs paddleboarding and kayaking around South Yorkshire, plus canoe and bushcraft trips in Dumfries and Galloway and the Western Highlands.
FAQs
Where is DC Outdoors based?
DC Outdoors is based in Sheffield but has no fixed centre, so each activity runs at a venue that suits it. Paddleboarding sessions meet at the stilted warehouse at Victoria Quays, Wharf Street, Sheffield S2 5SY, the kayaking course starts on Wharf Road in Swinton, and the canoe and bushcraft courses run in Scotland.
Where can I go paddleboarding in Sheffield?
DC Outdoors runs stand-up paddleboarding at Victoria Quays in Sheffield city centre, on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal. Tasters cover the basics and a short journey along the canal, and day courses go further into technique and self-rescue.
Where can I go paddleboarding near Rotherham or Barnsley?
Victoria Quays in Sheffield is about 5 miles from Rotherham and about 10 miles from Barnsley, and DC Outdoors runs beginner paddleboarding sessions there. For more spots, see our guide to paddleboarding in Yorkshire.
Where can I learn to kayak near Rotherham or Doncaster?
DC Outdoors runs a one-day whitewater kayaking course for complete beginners from Wharf Road in Swinton, about 4 miles from Rotherham and about 8 miles from Doncaster. You start with turning and paddling in a straight line on the canal, then move to the river after lunch for your first taste of whitewater. All kit is provided.
Do I need any experience?
No. The paddleboarding tasters and the whitewater kayaking course start from scratch, and the canoe and bushcraft courses are tailored to your experience. If you can already stand on a paddleboard, the follow-on sessions at Victoria Quays work on stroke technique and self-rescue.
Are there age limits?
The paddleboarding sessions at Victoria Quays have a minimum age of 13.
Can I get a paddleboarding qualification?
Yes. The paddleboarding day course at Victoria Quays gives you the option of gaining the British Canoeing Discover award.
Where can I go canoe camping in Scotland?
DC Outdoors runs Intro to Canoeing and Bushcraft, a three-day trip on Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway, and Castles, Canoeing and Camping, a four-day journey in the Western Highlands. Groups are small and you camp in a tent or hammock. For more ideas, see our guide to learning bushcraft in the UK.
What do I need for a canoe and bushcraft course?
You'll get a full kit list and advice on packing to keep your kit dry, and some kit may be available to hire. Canoes, buoyancy aids and paddles are supplied on Intro to Canoeing and Bushcraft. Evening meals are provided, so you just need to bring breakfast, lunch and snacks. Some camping or outdoor experience helps.
What should I wear for paddleboarding?
Dress for getting wet, and bring:
- Quick-drying sports clothes in layers (avoid cotton)
- Old trainers or water shoes
- A towel and a change of clothes
- A water bottle, plus suncream on bright days
Is there parking at Victoria Quays?
If you're driving to a paddleboarding session, park in the car park next to the quays. It has a shuttered entrance that lifts when you take a ticket.
Can I buy a gift voucher?
Yes. DC Outdoors gift vouchers can be bought online and used for paddleboarding, kayaking or canoe and bushcraft courses.