WHY DO I NEED A LICENCE?

This depends where you'll be paddling. If you paddle mostly on the coast, in tidal waters or on lakes, you may not need a waterways licence.

To paddle on waterways managed by the Canal & River Trust, Environmental Agency and other agencies, you must have a licence. 

For a full list of those waterways, click here, scroll down to the Waterways Lookup and click Show All. 

If you can't find the place you want to paddle on the list, it can mean a few things. You may not need a licence to paddle it or the licence doesn't cover that section.  

If you're unsure whether the place you want to paddle requires a licence, just contact us. 

Agencies such as the Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency request that those looking to paddle on their stretches of water have a licence. 

The money they collect from the licences helps them to maintain the waterways and improve them. This is a huge benefit to paddlers, as it keeps your favourite paddling spots clear and clean for years to come. 

As well as this, your waterways licence fee goes towards other things such as:

• Removal of debris (e.g. logs) from the rivers
• Flood damage repairs
• Removal of invasive non-native species, including floating penny-wort, which can be found on boats/kit and carried from waterway to waterway. This can block entire stretches of rivers and canals in days!
• Installing "Check, Clean, Dry" stations to prevent the spread of invasive species
• Managing the put-ins, take-outs and tow paths for you
• Looking after the water quality and level
• Protection against and repair of erosion of water banks

If you paddle mostly on the coast, in tidal waters or on lakes, you may not need a waterways licence.

However, if you're paddling on inland waterways that require a licence, you could face a hefty fine. 

The simplest, most cost-effective way to purchase a licence is to buy On the Water membership, which includes a waterways licence for Wales & England, covering over 4,500km of inland waterways managed by the Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency and other agencies.

Find Membership Options Here!

If you don't want to go down the membership route, you will have to check the waterway before you paddle. You can usually purchase day licences from places like the Canal & River Trust or the Broads Authority as well as yearly memberships. The most comprehensive licence for paddlers who live in Wales is the Canoe Wales membership. Not only does it give you a licence that covers over 4,500km of waterways, but it also includes third party insurance too. 

If you live in Wales, you'll need to buy a licence from Canoe Wales. If you live in England, you'll need to buy a licence from British Canoeing (even if you're planning to paddle in Wales). Whoever you buy the licence from, it will cover you paddling on managed waterways in both England and Wales. 

Simple answer: yes!

By joining Canoe Wales you are not only covered for waterways in Wales, but also in England as well. So you can nip over the border and go explore thousands of miles of waterways whenever you want!

See more details about membership here!

If you've purchased On the Water membership, we will send you your Canoe Wales membership card within 10 days - often much sooner. This card is your proof of holding a waterways licence. If you are asked for proof of a licence before your card arrives, please show your Membership Purchase Confirmation email to the authorities.

Yes. When paddling you may be asked for proof of a waterways licence. All you need to carry is your Canoe Wales membership card or - if you haven't yet received your card - have your purchase confirmation email ready! 

Your membership card is proof of your right to paddle under the British Canoeing block licence. It should be shown to authorised personnel on request.

Find out more about memberships here

The principle of the waterways licence is that it covers the craft that a member is paddling - the craft is then licensed on the water so long as the member is actually on board. The licensed member may take non-members on the craft as well (for example, two people in a canoe) - however the craft is not licensed if the member is not on board. 

NB: Passengers do not have third party insurance unless they are also On the Water members. 

Yes, the waterways licence covers any "portable, unpowered craft" - this could be a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, dinghy, or other inflatable craft.

The quick answer: no!

Scotland passed the Land Reform Act in 2003 giving people statutory access rights to most of Scotland's outdoors - meaning you don't need a licence to paddle! 

If you live in Scotland, you can join the Scottish Canoe Association and enjoy an array of benefits with SCA membership.