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Latest News

04/05/19 - More used folding kayaks added
Includes Kleppers, a Pouch RZ85, and a rare LFB Stern WZ60 complete with original sail rig

04/05/19 - More vintage paddles added. Original two piece wooden vintage paddles in various conditions here

20/03/19 - Incredible find! A rare UNUSED 1960's Klepper Aerius II for sale !
Found during a recent house clearance sale - in mint condition. See here - SOLD


19/11/17 - new 'kid on the block' - Neris SMART Series of kayaks. Unique hybrids that can either be paddled as a canoe with bench seats or as a kayak with inflatable floor seats. A cross between a folding kayak and an inflatable kayak. Starting with SMART-2 here

17/11/17 - new range of Greenland paddles added - Gram Kajak paddles. In 2-3 piece in both wood and carbon versions. Appearing on the 'New Paddles' page here

02/03/17 - Product Videos page added. Videos of some of the listed folding kayaks ... see here



Exclusive UK dealer for the following brands:-

We are a specialist team that previously was an exclusive folding kayak brand dealer in the UK with several years experience. We now have added a multi-brand on line store to better serve a growing UK market with a wider range of foldable small craft - from "Klepper" type of kayaks, to lightweight canoes plus related accessories.

Gram Paddles - wood and carbon Greenland paddles

NERIS - foldable alu framed kayaks

WaveDesign - carbon paddles including Greenlands

Wayland Folding Kayaks - traditional foldable wood framed kayaks

ZelGear - inflatable kayaks and catarafts (catamaran rafts)


We also specialise in Klepper spares and rebuilds as well as other brands

 




Can we paddle anywhere?
In the UK, you need a license to paddle in most of the waterways, rivers, lakes, etc.
BCU membership (Canoe England, Canoe Wales, Scotland Canoe Association and the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland) includes a license to paddle on 5000km of Britain's waterways and canals.

Not all inland water is open to canoeists, some are privately owned or is bounded by land which is private, so do check beforehand. See Useful Websites page.

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Useful Websites

To get the best out of your folding kayak or to learn more about them, we have listed a few key websites here.... It is by no means complete - if there are any sites that is very relevant that is not listed, do let us know.

British Canoe Union

The BCU is the national governing body of canoeing and kayaking in the UK. It is concerned with all paddle sports in the UK, recreational as well as competitive, in open and closed craft, paddled with single and double-bladed paddles, on inland and coastal waters as well as open ocean. An important aspect is that you be licensed, be suitably coached and know where you can paddle, etc.
http://www.bcu.org.uk

Canoe-Camping Club

The Canoe Camping Club is a national club for touring canoeists (and kayakers) and for those who like to combine canoeing/kayaking and camping. The Club caters for everyone, with a variety of meets round the country. Some are ideal for beginners whilst others challenge the more experienced paddler. Members are always glad to offer help and friendly advice to newcomers.

This club is an active section of the Camping and Caravanning Club, and is affiliated to the British Canoe Union.

www.canoecampingclub.co.uk/
 
Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race

The official site for the world's renowned kayak marathon - one of the longest at 125 miles (201km). The good news here is that after a long absence of the official folding kayaks class, this class had been re-instated for the DW2013 race. More details about this Folding kayak Class - see the 'Devizes to Westminster 2013' page on this site.
www.dwrace.org.uk
 
Environment Agency

A very useful resource about UK's rivers. For the paddler, there is information about temporary paddling licences at reduced rates for short periods, to river levels and condition, location of campsites at locks, and many more. One very useful service is that you can subscribe to for free, the River Conditions Update for the Thames, from Lechlade to Teddington. This service provides up-to-date information about river conditions.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/129900.aspx
 
Folding Kayaks.org

A very useful American based site dedicated to folding kayaks. The forum is also active with members from worldwide.
http://www.foldingkayaks.org/
 
Kayarchy

A very useful tutorial site on everything about sea kayaking.
http://kayarchy.co.uk/
 
Open Canoe Sailing Group

The Open Canoe Sailing Group is a UK wide club for those interested in sailing small, lightweight craft including kayaks. An excellent resource for those thinking about purchasing or already have folding kayaks complete with sail rigs - very helpful members await you!
http://www.ocsg.org.uk/
 
Paddle Points

Paddle Points provides a central online information center where canoeists and kayakers can go to find where they can launch. The idea is simple. You search for the place in the search box on the page, and the paddle points in that area will show on a map. Clicking the various markers representing launch spots, weirs, rapids, slalom, car parking, clubs, campsites will provide more handy information. There are now over 4000 information markers covering the UK useful to paddlers on this site.
http://www.paddlepoints.net/
 
Song of the Paddle

Song of the Paddle the online home for those with a love of, or an interest in, open canoes and canoeing. Combined with an active forum, this site is a very useful resource as to locations as to where you can do flat water touring, camping ideas, etc.
http://www.songofthepaddle.co.uk

 
The Historic Canoe and Kayak Association

A UK based group interested in the heritage of canoeing in all its aspects - Types of boat and how they were used around the world, notable canoeists and their exploits, past competition under paddle and sail, manufacturers, construction and restoration, museums and literature. They also organise occasional meetings for paddling (chatting) and camping and produce a quarterly journal which is a mine of information on world canoeing heritage. Members can also advise on aspects of boat renovation.
http://www.hcka.org.uk
 

The Rivers Access Campaign

The purpose of the Rivers Access Campaign is not only to raise awareness of the access issue on inland waterways in England (and Wales) but to bring about a change. The campaign is being undertaken by Canoe England on behalf all members of the public.

In England and Wales, unlike elsewhere in the world, the public do not have an automatic right to have access to rivers. Scotland already enjoys that right. Access to the UK’s waterways is highly restricted (EG - Owners of river banks have legal right to stop people paddling), and maintenance of the waterways is dramatically under-funded. With over 90% of the population living within two miles of a waterway, many more people would take up water sports if accessibility and facilities were improved.

"... there should be a public right of access along our inland waters.. so we can all enjoy our natural heritage...rights with responsibilities...."
http://www.riversaccess.org

UK Paddle Sports 

A small friendly UK based forum site with members who have all kinds of paddle craft including coracles!
http://www.ukpaddlesports.com

 
UK Rivers Guidebook

The UK Rivers Guidebook website covers the many paddlable rivers in the UK. There is a very active discussion forum. It is a predominately white-water site but there is some useful information for those intent on relaxing river touring.
http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk

 
UK Sea Kayak Guidebook

Sister site to the UK Rivers Guidebook, this site offers information on sea kayaking trips around the UK and also has an active discussion forum discussing many sea kayaking topics.
http://www.ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk

 



Partner suppliers - Neris UK Wayland Folding Kayaks UK ZelGear
Folding Kayaks UK trading as Folding Concepts
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Photos on this site may not be used in any way on other websites, publications etc, without express written permission from this web site owner - Folding Kayaks UK
Page last updated 30-Jun-2019