12th & 13th November 2011 on the Upper Wye, staying at the Castle Inn bunkhouse near Talgarth.  The cost includes accommodation (with breakfast) for Friday night and Saturday and all tuition.  You’ll have to buy your own beer, packed lunch and evening meals.     You should hold ‘new’ WW 3 star in the appropriate discipline, or an old 3 star award and be confident on grade 2 water.  Your canoe or kayak must be equipped with additional buoyancy (airbags) and you will need to have the appropriate personal equipment for a winter’s day paddle on grade 2/3.   Both river trips are fairly long (10-12 miles) with sections of grade 2  and a grade 3 section at the end of each day.  

The Castle Inn bunkhouse is very comfortable and warm with a drying room for clothes (not paddling kit!) You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag. The pub is welcoming with good beer and food. You can check out the syllabus on http://www.canoe-england.co.uk    Assessment follows later after you have logged a dozen or so relevant trips on different rivers and waters. 

There are six places available on the course and there are also a further 4 bed spaces (accommodation & breakfast) available in the bunkhouse for the two nights at cost price including breakfasts for anyone who wants to come along to paddle or walk in the area.   If you take up one of these you will need to be self sufficient on the river as each training course is limited to six candidates.