End of canoeing

The end of the canoe run on the Wye is one of those places you only really appreciate once you've actually paddled the river. It's where the water calms after hours of negotiating bends, minor rapids and the occasional tree debris, and where you finally haul your boat out, arms aching and grin plastered across your face. The exact takeout point depends on which stretch you've tackled - some people finish at Symonds Yat, others push on further toward Ross-on-Wye, but the real reward is simply getting off the water and onto solid ground after a proper morning's work.

This isn't an attraction in the traditional sense. You won't find a gift shop or a visitor centre. What you will find is a genuine sense of accomplishment if you've actually done the paddle, and if you haven't, watching the canoeists emerge is oddly entertaining - watching experienced paddlers stagger up the bank with cramped shoulders is somehow very British.

The Wye is best tackled between April and October when water levels are decent and the weather's predictable. Allow a full day including the shuttle arrangements, though the paddle itself runs anything from three to six hours depending on fitness and how often you stop. If you're based at Trippenkennett Farm, five miles away, or Broadmeadow Caravan Park, you're well positioned to either do the canoe run yourself or at least witness the glorious chaos of other people's river trips. It's less about sightseeing and more about doing something properly outdoors.