ShePaddles 2025

Welcome back to Plas y Brenin for our 2025 ShePaddles event, in collaboration with Canoe Wales! 

We look forward to hosting you here at the National Outdoor Centre for a social weekend of paddle sports for all abilities. Whether you're just starting out and looking to try something new, or already a regular paddler, we'll have a workshop for you! Check out our options below for more information: 

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Introductory/Beginner sessions:

Whether you're seeking a serene escape on a calm lake, the sea or a thrilling challenge navigating whitewater rapids, our introductory sessions could be just the taster you need to open you up to a new world of paddling. These sessions are also perfect for those who may have done a little bit before but would love a refresher to help build confidence getting back out there.

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There will be 5 different sessions available at an introductory level on the SATURDAY and these will be as follows:

1. Introduction to Canoeing Learn to paddle in an open boat on flat water. Develop techniques for controlling and steering your boat, ready to take on future journeys and adventures.
2. Introduction to Kayaking Learn to kayak a white water boat on flat water. Develop the skills you'll need to feel comfortable with closed-cockpit kayaks and get yourself adventure-ready.
3. Introduction to Stand Up Paddle Boarding Whether you're new to paddling altogether, or a regular kayaker looking for something different, Paddle Boarding offers a calming yet adventurous experience and is a great way to connect with the beautiful surroundings in Eryri. 
4. Introduction to Sea Kayaking Perfect for those who want to prepare for exploring in coastal areas. Get comfortable in sea kayaks on flat water. Great for those who have done a fair bit of paddling with other types of boat, such as sit-on-tops, but also suitable for those with no paddling experience who just feel the call of the ocean!
5. Introduction to Kayak Rolling Spend time onsite in our purpose-built pool looking at skills and techniques to begin or progress your roll in either a sea kayak or white water kayak. You will need to be confident in the use of a kayak and either at the start of your rolling journey or want some guidance on a roll that isn’t quite working. We can’t guarantee you’ll leave with a roll however you’ll leave knowing the parts of a roll, and with exercises which will help you on the journey to achieving it!

These 3-hour sessions will introduce you to the basics of paddling that specific craft. You will learn the fundamental skills required to confidently move around on the water, how to keep yourself safe when out and about and all about any specific kit you may need, all in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

No experience is needed for these sessions, they are perfect for those completely new to the sport or if you would like a refresher on the basics. We recommend choosing two different sessions for the morning and afternoon.

Once you have practised the skills in your chosen craft(s), you can apply this to an adventure on the second day of your weekend...

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There will be 4 sessions available at an introductory level on the SUNDAY.

Please note: You must have participated in at least one of the introductory sessions on Saturday to join a Sunday trip IN THE SAME CRAFT.

The sessions will be as follows:

1. Mixed Craft Flat Water Journey A full day out on the water in a craft of your choice (SUP/Canoe/Kayak) This will be a flat-water journey with little to no flow and be about further developing the skills you have learnt the previous day. 
2. Introduction to Sea Kayaking Journey A journey on the sea (weather permitting). Take in the stunning North Wales coastline, maybe see some wildlife, and develop your skills and confidence on open water. 
3. Introduction to White Water Kayaking A river journey with small rapids with a focus on applying the skills learnt on Saturday, learning how to keep yourself safe on a river, read rapids and navigate yourself through them successfully.
4. Stand Up Paddle Board Journey Take your SUP skills on a flatwater journey exploring the beautiful countryside of North Wales. Travel with your guide through peaceful scenery and enjoy a relaxing day in nature.

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Improver sessions:

If you have done a fair bit of paddling before and want to build on your current skill set, then our improver sessions are for you. There are 4 different sessions available across a range of craft. You will be expected to have a good level of understanding and control in the boat already but be looking to further your knowledge or confidence. These 4 sessions will run on both the Saturday and Sunday and are likely to take place off site. You are welcome to choose the same session for two days, or mix and match with something different each day!

1. Improver White Water Kayaking For those who have spent time on white water in the past and are confident grade 1 and simple grade 2, but are looking in increase their confidence in grade 2/3 rapids. Expect to learn more about reading rapids, how best to navigate them and feel more confident in your ability in a white-water boat.
2. Improver Sea Kayaking For anyone who has spent some time sea kayaking before but would like to increase their knowledge and skill level on open water. Expect to learn more about handling a sea kayak, the tides and their effect on you and how to navigate yourself around a coastline safely.
3. Improver Coastal SUP For anyone who has spent some time on their SUP in moving water whether that be faster flowing rivers or the sea, but would like to improve their knowledge and confidence to allow them to take on rougher water and build understanding of planning a journey on the sea.
4. Improver Canoe For anyone who has spent time in an open boat previously but would like to learn more advanced techniques and build their confidence further. Expect to learn more about handling yourself in conditions whether that be wind or flow and planning journeys.

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Bonus Sessions

Friday Evening: Water Confidence

If you are feeling a bit unsure about being in a boat or potentially going upside down in one, then join us for an hour in our heated pool to learn techniques for staying calm and how to get out of your boat underwater if you should ever need to. This session will focus on using kayaks. Please note, this is not a rolling session.

Saturday and Sunday Morning: Pilates

Local fitness instructor and Physiotherapist Isi Booker will help you get your body moving and prepare physically for the day ahead. She will cover trunk, back and upper body mobility and whole body warmups, as well as getting your core switched on. All of this is key for getting the most out if each paddle stroke and preventing injury. Pilates is also a great way of improving the mind-body connection and helping you to focus when learning a new skill.

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We will also have a variety of games and engaging evening talks throughout the weekend!

On Friday, Katie Simmonds will deliver a talk- more details to follow!

On Saturday evening, Emily Williams will show us a screening of her film "Capsized" followed by a talk and Q&A. The film, produced in collaboration with Coldhouse Media, showcases Emily's Canoe Journey navigating the lochs on the Isle of Lewis. Emily is a representative of Every Body Outdoors, a community advocating for inclusion in outdoor sports.

Your base ticket includes all of your meals for the duration of the weekend and your 2025 Plas y Brenin ShePaddles T-shirt, as well as free kit hire and access to our on-site showers and drying rooms. Residential guests can choose between a private single room, a bed in an en-suite twin, or a bed in one of our newly-refurbished bunk rooms. Then, add-on your choice of engaging weekend workshops from the second page at checkout. 

If you have any questions about ShePaddles, please email info@pyb.co.uk or call us at 01690 720214 .

We expect tickets to book out fast, especially for our more popular workshops, so book fast to avoid disappointment! 

We look forward to hosting you at Plas y Brenin!

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FAQs

Who is ShePaddles for?

ShePaddles is an event for women ranging from complete beginners through to those that are advanced. We welcome everyone who identifies as female or non-binary to take part.

Can we swap the workshops that we are booked onto? 

We have a range of courses from beginners to advanced which you can choose from when booking, please choose carefully to ensure you are happy with the course choice. Once booked we are unable to offer any swaps, if you are unsure of which course is right for you please give us a call or email.

What is included in the food package? 

Both residential and non-residential tickets include:

Friday: Evening Meal
Saturday: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Tea+Cake, Evening Meal
Sunday: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Tea+Cake

Am I able to use kit from Plas y Brenin's stores? 

If you have your own wetsuit and paddling equipment please do bring it along. For those without their own kit, we can provide it from our stores free of charge. Any kit you bring will need to be inspected by instructors.

Am I allowed to bring my own boat?

You may bring your own boat to all outdoor sessions. Unfortunately, we cannot offer storage for personal boats, so you will be storing this at your own risk. For our pool sessions, we use specially cleaned boats, so you will not be able to bring your own boat to our water confidence or rolling sessions.

What accommodation options are there? 

At Plas y Brenin we have a range of onsite accommodation made up of a mixture of single rooms, twin rooms, and bunk-bed dormitory rooms. Most of our rooms are in our Main House, while some are in separate cottages and farmhouses across our site. Please notify us if you have any mobility issues or other special requests regarding bedrooms, and we will try our best to accommodate these. If your preferred accommodation option is sold out, please get in touch with us at info@pyb.co.uk and we'll see what we can do.

What happens if there are poor weather conditions during the event? 

Our experienced instructors will adapt the program depending on weather conditions to make sure all attendees stay safe.

Will my instructor be female?

Where we can, we will endeavour to provide female instructors for our women-only courses. Sometimes this is not possible, and some instructors for the ShePaddles weekend will be male. The vast majority of our instructors for ShePaddles will be women, but there will be some exceptions to this.

What happens if I can no longer attend the event? 

Terms and Conditions apply, please see our website for further details: https://pyb.co.uk/terms-conditions/