New Date
Friday 27th June to Sunday 29th June 2025 (Not May Bank holiday weekend as previously advertised)
Venue
Sleningford Watermill Caravan and Camping Park
North Stainley, Ripon HG4 3HQ
https://www.sleningfordwatermill.co.uk/
We have used this site many times over the years. It is located on the banks of the River Ure, which can offer good beginners moving water, whitewater and flat water environments.
There are electric and non-electric caravan and camping pitches. If you don’t camp or caravan there is one studio flat that sleeps 4 and 2 dogs (with kitchenette and shower). Martin usually knabs this, but not this year! as he and Janet are having an extended stay in the Bull Inn, just 20 minute walk up the river bank from the site. This is an excellent pub and some of us usually dine there at least one over the weekend. Rooms are still available, more details further down this email.
The flat is the upstairs of the old watermill
Last years tarif was £28 per night non electric and £36 electric for two people and one car, plus the usual extras cost for extra people and gazebos etc. The flat last year was only available for a 3 night stay Friday to Monday, at £85 per night so £255. We don’t have 2025 prices yet.
Booking
Bookings for pitches and the flat do not open until 1st March 2025. GSCC will make a block booking on the 1st March, Except for the flat, so that we are all together. You will then have 3 days to go online with the campsite and make your own confirmed booking and to pay.
We are therefore already taking names, so please let us know you want to go before the end of February which is only four weeks away.
If you want to try and get the flat, please book that directly yourself, promptly as soon as they open on 1st March. They used to take telephone bookings (01765 635201) but I don’t know if it’s all online now. I’d try both methods.
The Bull Inn
If you can’t get the flat and don’t camp then the Bull Inn is a great option. However, I’d book now as they only have 5 rooms and Martin has already booked one of them!
https://www.thebullwesttanfield.co.uk/
Rooms are £80 per night for the one single room, and from £95 to £110 per night for double or twin. Breakfast is included and the food was good, and I’m sure still is!
The prices are the same on Bookings.com and they offer free cancellation up to the day before travel.
Itinerary
The River Ure starts in the Yorkshire Dales and so can vary considerably in flow and level, so we can’t really guarantee any itinerary. Usually in summer levels tend to be low but they can rise quickly after heavy rain. If really low there is always the pool at the bottom of the rapids. and a “river walk” up the rapids can be fun!. If in spate and the pool disappears we can go to the Ripon Canal.
The pool at the bottom of the rapids
River walking to the top of the site
Hopefully we’ll get good levels allowing some paddling in the pool towards the moving water, and if coach availability allows we hope to be able to run the gentler rapid.
looking upstream from the pool to the gentler rapid
There is a more difficult rapid upstream. We’ll see…. (photo is Izzy Parker in 2017)
There are loads of photos in the club gallery. Go to https://photos.google.com/u/1/albums and search for “Tanfield” or “Sleningford”
What we can guarantee is food and drink! We usually have a club BBQ one night and the pub another night (if you are travelling Friday). We will be paddling all day Saturday. Because we have to break camp by 11:00am Sunday we don’t usually offer club Sunday paddling. Late check-out is sometimes available so individuals with all their own kit can paddle on Sunday outside of the club environment (and insurance!). You can of course stay as many nights as you want at the site and enjoy the walks the area has to offer.
Travelling
The campsite is about 90 minutes from Brigg. (The time below is allowing for current congestion on the M180)
And the Bull Inn is about a 20 minute walk from the campsite. The map below shows walking on the roads, but you can walk along the river bank in about the same time.
Are you coming?!
So please let us know you are coming for what should be a great weekend away! You can let our Trips officers know (Mike and Hazel), or Publicity (Martin), or any coach really. You can reply to this email or comment on this post on our Facebook page.