Border Kayak and Canoe Club (BKCC) organises coaching and trips for both beginners and those of intermediate skills. We encourage and support members to gain formal qualifications. All coaches and trip leaders hold qualifications recognised by Paddle Scotland and Paddle UK, and conduct activities following guidelines from those bodies.
Sea Kayak
BKCC has a base at Berwick-upon-Tweed, where we keep the club sea kayaks. The club has half a dozen sea kayaks for members to use in coaching and club led trips. We have several sizes of kayak and paddles. For beginners we have some club clothing (cagoule etc.), buoyancy aids and helmets, though we do encourage people to get their own clothing once they are certain they wish to continue paddling.
We use the facilities of Berwick Sailing Club, which has showers and changing rooms. From there we offer coaching and led trips. Beginners usually start within Berwick harbour and the tidal part of the river Tweed. This offers sheltered and calm water to develop skills before heading out to sea. Sea trips can be from Berwick with voyages both north and south along the coast, or from other local launching sites.
We also run coaching sessions at the Whitadder Reservoir, this being a good clean-water place to practise rescue techniques, without being concerned about the tide, offshore wind, and waves.
River Kayak
In contrast with a Sea Kayak, a river Kayak is quite short, and very manoeuvrable. Our River Kayaks are kept at Kelso, where we use the Tweed for introductory coaching, before venturing onto the local rivers. The Teviot from Kalemouth to Kelso is a common first trip for our members.
As with the Sea Kayaks, the club has a collection of boats, paddles, plus some clothing, buoyancy aids and helmets for members to borrow, before they move on to owning their own clothing and equipment.
Open Canoe
The club can also offer coaching in open canoes. These are either solo or twin-occupant crafts, typically used for longer river journeys. Coaching is usually at Kelso, but may be in other locations depending on water conditions.
Swimming Pool
In the winter, BKCC holds indoor coaching sessions at Kelso Swimming pool. These are to practise rescue and rolling technique in a safe and warm pool. The club keeps a number of boats near the pool for use in these sessions.
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