🌳 Outdoor8–1212–16Water playSeasonal openingBooking required
What’s there
- Free parking
Free Iken Cliff Car Park, about 2 minutes' walk to the boatshed.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Iken Canoe hires out Canadian canoes and sit-on-top kayaks on the stunning upper reaches of the River Alde estuary between Iken Cliff and Snape Maltings (about 1.7 miles of river, roughly 45 minutes' paddle to Snape Bridge). All equipment is hired for up to 2 hours around the daily high tide, with buoyancy aids, paddles and dry bags included, plus a full safety briefing, a map and suggestions for where to explore.
Craft options include Canadian canoes for 2-3 people (4 with two small children), a double canoe for up to 6, and single and double sit-on-top kayaks (available July-September). Paddlers can stop at Snape Bridge to visit Snape Maltings, its shops and cafes, and the Plough & Sail pub before returning.
The Alde is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, internationally important for migratory birds - avocet, curlew, marsh harrier and even osprey and spoonbill can be seen, along with common seals. Children aged 7 and over are welcome, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult on the water. Booking by phone is essential as launch times follow the tide.
Open weekends only in April, May and June, every day in July and August, and weekends only in September. Closed October to March. Launch times follow the daily high tide and are agreed by phone when booking.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
- Swimming costume
- Towel
- Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
- Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
- Plasters
- Painkillers for grown-ups
- Kitchen roll
- Small first aid kitPlasters solve more days out than anything else here.
- Spare carrier bagFor the wet things. There are always wet things.
- Ice packs
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