TheCanoeMan
TheCanoeMan
4.5
Eco ToursNature & Wildlife ToursSelf-Guided Tours & RentalsStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
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Wroxham, Norfolk, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
312 reviews
Excellent
249
Very good
32
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
13
HanaBog
West Sussex, UK21 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We booked the otter spotting trail, never done any canoeing before.
We were booked for Saturday; however due to bad weather forecast Mark called and asked if we were able to change to the next day, when weather was meant to be much better. We were free, so we did change.
After arriving to the launch point, Mark turned up on time. We were equipped with life jackets and paddles and dry bags, which were big enough to hold picnic for us. After 5-min instructional talk, we were off. We didn’t see any otters, however we didn’t expect it and we saw enough to satisfy us. The whole trip was very enjoyable and relaxing. Mark pointed out places of interest and kept chatting to everyone, keeping everyone feeling involved.
All in all this was an agreeable experience; the weather turned up exactly as predicted so we were glad Mark changed it. We would recommend the trip to anyone who wants a water experience.
We were booked for Saturday; however due to bad weather forecast Mark called and asked if we were able to change to the next day, when weather was meant to be much better. We were free, so we did change.
After arriving to the launch point, Mark turned up on time. We were equipped with life jackets and paddles and dry bags, which were big enough to hold picnic for us. After 5-min instructional talk, we were off. We didn’t see any otters, however we didn’t expect it and we saw enough to satisfy us. The whole trip was very enjoyable and relaxing. Mark pointed out places of interest and kept chatting to everyone, keeping everyone feeling involved.
All in all this was an agreeable experience; the weather turned up exactly as predicted so we were glad Mark changed it. We would recommend the trip to anyone who wants a water experience.
Written 1 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
@lemoflondon
13 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We booked last minute and Mark could not have been more helpful. He responded to our text quickly and while we couldn’t hire the kayaks we had planned, he suggested a canoe and promptly arranged great instructions for us. Everything was done online and the launching video, parking map and arrangements were easy to follow! We had a fantastic autumn afternoon paddling through the broads.
Written 7 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert C
8 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
Booked the paddle steamer package for my sons 30th birthday Mark had no qualms keeping our booking till after lock down and I am really happy that he did. The trip was amazing starting with a journey on the bure Valley railway then after a short briefing we launched our canoes into a quiet tributary and set off we soon got the hang of it and it became a really great day. Yes we got wet from a shower but dried out in the pub at Coltishall finally getting to Wroxham at 6. Yes it is a long day but great fun and we shall remember it for a long time.
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJeyes
Nottingham, UK2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
We were really looking forward to this experience having read good reviews. We booked online and had a confirmation email, drove for an hour to the lido (and our friends driving several hours to meet us!), to have a day out celebrating my 30th birthday.
On arrival at the lido we were warmly greeted by the lido staff only to be told that we shouldn’t have been able to book the boat as the boat wasn’t available until later in the spring.
The lido staff (nothing to do with the canoe man company) couldn’t have been more helpful, but we’re clearly very embarrassed about the situation.
We were refunded by the company, and were told that we would be sent a voucher to rebook by way of an apology. A month later, we still have no voucher, and have been chasing this with the company only to be told we would get a 15% voucher, pretty poor compensation considering the inconvenience faced. Add to that that we still haven’t actually received any voucher.
My opinion, go to the lido, staff are great. Avoid the canoe man if you don’t want extremely poor customer service.
On arrival at the lido we were warmly greeted by the lido staff only to be told that we shouldn’t have been able to book the boat as the boat wasn’t available until later in the spring.
The lido staff (nothing to do with the canoe man company) couldn’t have been more helpful, but we’re clearly very embarrassed about the situation.
We were refunded by the company, and were told that we would be sent a voucher to rebook by way of an apology. A month later, we still have no voucher, and have been chasing this with the company only to be told we would get a 15% voucher, pretty poor compensation considering the inconvenience faced. Add to that that we still haven’t actually received any voucher.
My opinion, go to the lido, staff are great. Avoid the canoe man if you don’t want extremely poor customer service.
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia S
Bexley, UK3 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We hired x2 canoes with space for the dog. We did the trip from Beccles, which is a beautiful town, paddled up the river to the pub, where we had a drink and a swim.
It was such a wonderful experience. A mix of good fun, laughter and peacefulness.
Highly recommend The Canoe Man, as the booking was easy, collecting the kit was swift and straightforward and the chap assisting us was really helpful.
Thank you The Canoe Man
It was such a wonderful experience. A mix of good fun, laughter and peacefulness.
Highly recommend The Canoe Man, as the booking was easy, collecting the kit was swift and straightforward and the chap assisting us was really helpful.
Thank you The Canoe Man
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi T4266PMjulias - thank you so much! It sounds like you had a great day out in Beccles! We would welcome you back at any time.
Written 31 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loo C
2 contributions
Jun 2022
My mum and i did the paddle steamer trip.
You catch the Bure valley steam train (a small but perfectly formed beautiful steam train) from Wroxham to Buxton. We then walked the short distance down the track (cross over the track and walk so the houses are on your right) and along the main street to the canoe man. This is just past the public footpath sign on the right where you can see others launching into the water. There is a white 3 barred metal "fence" .
We were met by the loveliest man who was extremely kind and considerate especially as my mum is 82! He helped her into the canoe after giving really clear and full instructions about everything you could need from safety to comfort to best way to paddle if only i paddled! He really was amazing (feeling guilty that we cant remember his name) He had the right amount of professionalism and friendliness.
and we were off. We knew there is a portage point just over an hour away at Horstead so had arranged to meet my husband for a picnic at that point. He and daughter then helped pull canoe out and into the river over the other side (short distance)
We set off again. absolutely blissful. The river is very quiet until Horstead but after this we met a few paddle boarders and the nearer to wroxham we also met boats. This was a Sunday but not school holidays.
our trip was extremely relaxing , we saw 2 kingfishers, numerous herons and other birds. the scenery was gorgeous and we very quickly unwound and felt at peace with the world. Be warned swans with signets are not happy if you stay and watch! I knew this but motivating mum to paddle past helping us to move quicker was a little tricky. the dad flapped and growled to push her on a bit!
You catch the Bure valley steam train (a small but perfectly formed beautiful steam train) from Wroxham to Buxton. We then walked the short distance down the track (cross over the track and walk so the houses are on your right) and along the main street to the canoe man. This is just past the public footpath sign on the right where you can see others launching into the water. There is a white 3 barred metal "fence" .
We were met by the loveliest man who was extremely kind and considerate especially as my mum is 82! He helped her into the canoe after giving really clear and full instructions about everything you could need from safety to comfort to best way to paddle if only i paddled! He really was amazing (feeling guilty that we cant remember his name) He had the right amount of professionalism and friendliness.
and we were off. We knew there is a portage point just over an hour away at Horstead so had arranged to meet my husband for a picnic at that point. He and daughter then helped pull canoe out and into the river over the other side (short distance)
We set off again. absolutely blissful. The river is very quiet until Horstead but after this we met a few paddle boarders and the nearer to wroxham we also met boats. This was a Sunday but not school holidays.
our trip was extremely relaxing , we saw 2 kingfishers, numerous herons and other birds. the scenery was gorgeous and we very quickly unwound and felt at peace with the world. Be warned swans with signets are not happy if you stay and watch! I knew this but motivating mum to paddle past helping us to move quicker was a little tricky. the dad flapped and growled to push her on a bit!
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your amazing words, looc609, we're glad you had such a lovely experience and you've managed to sum up our Paddle Steamer trip so perfectly! And sounds like you got to meet some amazing wildlife on the way down as well. We hope to see you again soon for some more adventures!
Written 18 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cortina S
Leigh-on Sea, UK6 contributions
Aug 2020
We booked a kayak for 6 hours costing £65.00 and when we arrived to collect this, it had been raining all morning and the kayak was the right way up so the seats were soaking wet even before we started. We got in the kayak and found the back rests had no support, this the man told us was normal - I don't think so. We went down the river only to find our kayak wanted to go round in circles. After 2 hours we had had enough of this and came back. We said we thought the rudder was stuck to be told no there was no rudder on these. We took it out of the water and turned it over and low and behold there was a rudder and it was stuck!!!! My paddle did not have drip rings on and by now I was drenched. I did not want to carry on and my husband was exhausted in trying to keep the kayak going straight. We were with friends for a weekend away and they went off in their own kayaks for the day. This experience really spoilt our day and we had no apology what so ever from the man. I did ask for a part refund and I got no reply from him. If you could go elsewhere I would and check to see if your kayak has a rudder or not.
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith E
Bourne End, UK27 contributions
Aug 2021
Great day out on the water. Booked online and everything was as expected on arrival.
Left Wroxham upstream to Coltishall - a good 2 hour paddle with loads of wildlife and peaceful nature. Quick stop for lunch at one of the pubs and then a more leisurely paddle with the flow back.
Hired 1 canoe and 2 kayaks - would recommend the canoes as this is the water they are designed for. Would return but might start further up stream to get even more wild
Left Wroxham upstream to Coltishall - a good 2 hour paddle with loads of wildlife and peaceful nature. Quick stop for lunch at one of the pubs and then a more leisurely paddle with the flow back.
Hired 1 canoe and 2 kayaks - would recommend the canoes as this is the water they are designed for. Would return but might start further up stream to get even more wild
Written 6 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hawkeye184
United Kingdom3 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
This was booked as a surprise for my husband, we had literally arrived in the car park and seen the sign before he figured out what we were doing. I was expecting the lock-up to be unmanned but there was a very helpful young lad to assist us with the paddles, boards and life jackets. We managed to make our way down river with only one spadloosh, it was fairly straightforward and nice and calm. The weather was on our side. Although I had booked us 6 hours from 9 til 3, we met friends for lunch at 1pm and basically stopped paddling at around 1230 in order to get a table at the Rising Sun, it was a hot sunny Sunday and the river was fairly busy by the time we stopped. I thought it was a fabulous experience. The only thing that would have suited us better is a bigger choice of number of hours of hire. 6 hours was probably too long (for us as beginners) but I didn’t feel that the others weren’t long enough to find your feet and get about. I certainly recommend that if it is windy give yourself plenty of time to paddle against it. Another downside is that we’ve probably found ourselves a new hobby and we don’t have time for the ones we’ve already got
Written 13 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there Hawkeye184, thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We're so glad to see that you had a great time paddling from our Coltishall base and you've found yourself a new hobby (you don't need to tell us the downsides of having too many hobbies!!). The way we offer our sessions is to essentially make it cheaper per hour for the longer you go out. We have multiple duration options for our hires (more than all other hire companies in the area), and there's also nothing stopping you booking multiple sessions and linking them together (e.g. booking 2x2 hour sessions), or just booking for the 6 hours and returning slightly earlier.
We also have the options of our one way trips which range from (approx.) 3, 4.5 and 5.5 hours to complete which would fill in the duration that you were looking for.
We appreciate your feedback and will endeavour to make the website more user-friendly to make these different options clear.
Written 18 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
iamtweeky
Milton Keynes, UK2 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
After paying £230 for this experience it turned out to be a disaster, we was forced to book on line and when we arrived at the train station it hadn’t been booked at all, (loverly lady at the station sorted this for us nothing to do with the canoe man) when we arrived at the departure point the man said it was going to be interesting as our party did not really suit their canoes but was put in them and sent in our way being told by the man you probabably won’t get all the way any way. We stopped at the first pub the Rising sun for a drink and lunch where there was a canoe man launch site to find once we had eaten our lunch the staff member had re-rented our canoes out to someone else so we then had to get a taxi, dogs and all back to our vehicles. After only completing half the journey. Well done Mr Canoe Man yes you was quite right we didn’t get to finish. And yes we feel totally ripped off !!!
Written 13 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheCanoeMan007
Norfolk, United Kingdom
Yes well behaved dogs are very welcome but must be kept under control particularly at our new woodland Campsite.
Mr.Godfrey's comments are slightly biased as he organises group trips but keeps any discounts / free places for himself without telling or passing it on to the group!!
Regards
Mark TheCanoeMan
Written 21 June 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.