WHAT IS THE POPPLETON RIVERFEST?

The Poppleton RiverFest is the brainchild of a motley crew of keen paddlers from Poppleton, who came up with the idea after one too many at the Lord Nelson. We realised that the River Ouse, with its calm waters and potential for paddling, remains largely overlooked by our village. Why had we missed this perfect chance to come together as a village and bask in summer vibes on the river? We were determined to find a way to unite the community around our shared passion, and make the most of our beautiful river. The Poppleton RiverFest was born.  

However, the Poppleton RiverFest is more than just an event. Our vision is to establish a permanent jetty in Poppleton, benefiting the community for generations to come. We aim to create a Poppleton Paddle Club, providing members with access to the jetty and promoting activities such as paddling lessons and water-based community events.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE POPPLETON RIVERFEST?

The Poppleton RiverFest is happening on Saturday 6th July 2024. We will paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or float from Linton Lock Marina downstream to Nether Poppleton.  

WHO CAN ATTEND?

The Poppleton RiverFest is open to everyone – whether you’re a solo adventurer, part of a group, or anyone in between, looking to enjoy a day on the river.

• Everyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by an appropriate adult, and unfortunately there is restricted entry and exit for anyone with additional mobility needs.
• We recommend that all under 18s are on a craft with an adult.

WHAT IS THE PLAN?

• 10:30am: Arrive at Linton Lock Marina
• 11:15am: Pre-paddle food and drink + safety briefing
• 12pm: Enter River Ouse at Linton Lock Marina
• 2pm – 3pm: Exit River Ouse at a private jetty in Poppleton marked with signs.
• 3pm onwards: Post-event gathering at The Lord Nelson in Poppleton

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

• Your own paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or any floating device (these will not be provided).
• Buoyancy aid is required – unless you are leashed to a standup paddleboard.
• Personal gear, appropriate to the weather conditions.
• Appropriate shoes for mud and slippy conditions.
• Snacks and drinks for the journey on the river.
• Portable speakers (optional)

WHERE IS THE ENTRY POINT?

Meet at Linton Lock Marina. Please note, there will be no shuttle buses provided, so you will need to make your own way to the start point. You will be able to park a car for £3, but we recommend being dropped off by someone, as it may be busy (Google Maps).

WHAT DO I DO ON ARRIVAL?

Upon arrival, a marshal in the car park will direct you where to park or drop off people and equipment. You will be guided to an area where you can inflate any paddle equipment. A group safety briefing will take place at approximately 11:15am before directing you to the water entry point. At Linton Lock Marina, there is a pub with toilets available for changing, though we recommend arriving ready to paddle for a smooth start.

WHAT IS THE ROUTE?

Starting at Linton Lock Marina, we will paddle downstream along the River Ouse for approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km). Along the way, we will pass Newton-on-Ouse, Beningbrough Hall, Nun Monkton, and Beningbrough Beach, where you can take a break. The route ends at Nether Poppleton, where we will exit the river. Depending on weather conditions and individual abilities, the route should take you between 2 to 3 hours to complete.

WHERE IS THE EXIT POINT?

The paddle route ends at a private jetty in Nether Poppleton, owned by a friend of the RiverFest organising committee (Google Maps). Please respect the owner’s private property when exiting the river, as you will need to make your way through their land and on to Poppleton Hall Gardens (see map below). A sign on the jetty will indicate where to exit. All exits are marked with signs.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS?

After reaching the end point, we will walk with our paddle gear to The Lord Nelson, for a BBQ, drinks and music. Paddle gear can be temporarily stored in The Lord Nelson garden area during the day (Google Maps).

WHAT SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE?

We have conducted a risk assessment in collaboration with Paddle UK. This assessment includes measures to address various hazards such as invasive species control, parking incidents, equipment handling, trips and falls, drowning, unsafe water conditions, and contact with other watercrafts. Our precautions involve selecting safe entry and exit points, conducting equipment checks, deploying dedicated onwater marshals, monitoring water levels, and providing a pre-event safety briefing. These actions aim to ensure your safety throughout the event. Please follow all safety guidelines and regulations provided on the river.

DO I NEED INSURNACE?

As this event is affiliated with Paddle UK, registration on the Paddle UK website is required. The registration fee is £5 per person, which includes insurance coverage for each individual during the event. This will only cover you for this event.  

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I EXIT THE RIVER EARLY?

If you need to exit the river before the designated exit points, please inform the organisers to ensure your safety. Upon exiting, send a message to the event WhatsApp group to notify us. The WhatsApp group will be opened for messaging closer to the event date.

WHO IS ORGANSING THE EVENT?

We are a group of six paddling enthusiasts (Tim, Anna, Angus, James, Jack, Ed). Look out for us during the event, we will be wearing branded t-shirts and luminous bibs.   

We look forward to seeing you at Poppleton RiverFest and making it a memorable community event! 

The cancellation policy for this event is the responsibility of the organiser. Please use the contacts for this to request details.

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