Chris Brain

Chris Brain has worked in the outdoors for over 20 years coaching and guiding and delivering professional development courses. Chris specialises in paddlesport and is able to deliver a range of personal skills, leadership, safety and rescue courses.

Chris seamlessly integrates his knowledge and experience of the outdoors into these courses, giving his clients fun, engaging and useful experiences from which they will grow and develop.

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Discover Waterways in this Area

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

One of the most successful canals of its time, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was very much used as a cargo carrying canal right up until its last haul in 1972. Because of this, the canal is in pretty good nick when it comes to paddling along it. It stretches…

Rochdale Canal

Restored and reopened by volunteers in 2002, the Rochdale canal links Manchester to Sowerby Bridge on a cross-Pennine route. The canal stretches 32 miles in total, with a whopping 91 locks on the stretch… but the steep climb of the canal is worth it for the views, so we’re told!…

River Ribble

Grade: 1-5 There's a real range of paddling available on the River Ribble. Take note of the section from Helwith Bridge to Settle. This is the most changeable stretch, with levels ranging from Grade 3 to Grade 5+ in high waters. The rest of the River Ribble is generally Grade…

Bridgewater Canal

People often call the Bridgewater Canal the first true canal in Britain. And, just to be clear, it is nowhere near the town of Bridgewater in Somerset. This North-West canal links Runcorn to Leigh along a 39-mile stretch. It provides a brilliant day out for walkers to cyclists, anglers, paddlers…

Ashton Canal

Travelling right to the heart of Manchester, this stretch of the Ashton Canal climbs 18 locks along it’s 6.8 miles from Ashton-under-Lyne to the city centre. A largely industrial stretch, it’s a wonder you can paddle along it at all. In fact, if a group of volunteers hadn’t clubbed together…

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

A paddle through the pennines! The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is one of those places you HAVE to paddle if you’re into dramatic scenery. Cutting through the rugged hills of the pennies, and weaving through wooded countryside and past historic mills. The canal is a ‘must’ for canal boaters and should…

Manchester Ship Canal

Small crafts are not usually permitted on the Manchester Ship Canal. It is still used as a busy shipping canal and large commercial barges and small cruise ships are common along the route. A licence is required to paddle here but it is not included in British Canoeing membership. Please…

Calder and Hebble Navigation

Once a key cog in the industrial revolution wheel, the now rural, peaceful Calder & Hebble Navigation is a real northern treat. The navigation connects the towns of Sowerby Bridge and Brighouse with the city of Wakefield. No longer commercial, this mainly rural canal is open to everyone to enjoy…

Peak Forest Canal

Described as one of the most scenic canals in the country, the Peak Forest canal is 15 miles of paddle-heaven. It flows past mill workers cottages, lush woodland and open meadows. The canal is a route popular with nature lovers for its variety of flora and fauna along the route.…

River Mersey

We all know you can get a ferry across the River Mersey, thanks to the 1965 classic, but you can also paddle it. The Mersey is an iconic river in the North West, and one of Liverpool's pride and joys. It is 70 miles long, rising in West Yorkshire and…

Lancaster Canal

Opening in 1819 the Lancaster canal is a 41 mile stretch of canal in the North West of England. If you’re looking for a place to paddle which requires no portages and pretty scenery, the Lancaster Canal is your best friend, as over the whole of the 41 miles, there…

River Aire

The River Aire is a major river in Yorkshire. Further past Leeds it actually becomes the Aire & Calder Navigation, another lovely spot to paddle. From start to finish the river measures 92 miles in length. Due to its meandering nature, it creates quite a fun paddle as you weave…

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