Biblins Camping Weekend 2026

What’s the weekend all about?

It’s a relaxed weekend of recreational paddling and camping shared with North Avon Canoe Club. Saturday is a skills coaching day, mostly based on the rapids at Symonds Yat, while Sunday is a journey down the River Wye, putting it all together and enjoying some social boating.

The weekend is based around the campsite at Biblins and the Burrow bunkhouse. On Saturday evening, everyone gathers around the campfire for marshmallow toasting, good food and plenty of laughs. It’s all very relaxed, the food is fantastic, and the post-paddling cake is always a highlight! If camping isn't your thing, you can also join for the day from Cardiff, as it's only around 45 minutes away.

Who’s the weekend aimed at?

Really, anyone from beginners upwards. It's especially good for families and newer paddlers looking to build confidence in a relaxed environment.

This year there were three groups. The kids' group, made up of beginner and intermediate paddlers, spent the weekend having fun on the water, swimming, practising rescues and trying different boats. The adults' group focused on developing whitewater skills while simply enjoying time on the river. Then there were the "Free Spirits" - mainly teenagers making the most of flatwater freestyle, seal launching, rock splats on the rapids and building an enormous raft from kayaks, canoes and SUPs.

Seren Dŵr had paddlers taking part in all three groups.

So what’s it like sharing the weekend with another canoe club?

As both a club admin and coach, it's one of the most relaxing weekends in the calendar! The event is organised by North Avon Canoe Club, so the admin is largely taken care of - thank you! While everyone helps with washing up and keeping the campsite running smoothly, Steph and Paul take care of all the cooking, which is such an amazing bonus.

Seren Dŵr coaches are there to help everyone feel welcome and supported, but everyone who came along commented on just how friendly and welcoming North Avon Canoe Club was. It's always lovely meeting new paddlers, and as a coach it's a great opportunity to work alongside different coaches, share ideas and learn from each other. Having two clubs together also means there's always someone able to lend a hand or help out with equipment if needed.

What were the highlights this year?

Emily (12), one of our Free Spirits, loved the excitement of seal launching, perfecting her hand roll on both sides, and simply being part of such a fun group.

Summer (12), who is relatively new to paddling, said:

"At the weekend, I went on a kayaking trip. We kayaked upstream, played games, and practised surfing on the slow rapids. Then we had lunch on an island before going down the rapids. It was exciting and a bit scary! We also practised ferry gliding and jumped into the river on purpose so we could be rescued with a rescue line. The coaches were really nice and explained things well. At the end, we paddled back and had lots of cake. I had a great day and really enjoyed it."

Jamie (10) and Harry (7), from the kids' group, especially enjoyed the friendly coaches, meeting lots of lovely people, surfing, ferry gliding on the rapids and even being rescued by a canoe!

For Violet (8), the highlight was paddling the rapids and swimming into the eddies. It was her first time on moving water, and she felt really proud of herself for only capsizing once. She's already excited to come back next year!

Ralph, who came along with his family, said:

"All the family had an awesome time. We were all a little nervous and excited about taking on white water for the first time and the leaders did a fantastic job at setting us at ease and making sure it was fun and relaxing."

Whether you're completely new to white water, looking to build your confidence, or simply fancy a fun weekend paddling with great company, Biblins really does have something for everyone. It's one of those weekends that people come away from smiling, with new skills, new friends and plenty of great memories. If you'd like to join us next year, keep an eye on our Facebook page and club emails for details, or have a chat with one of the coaches or committee members. We'd love to see you there!