About Us
Welcome to Encounter Cornwall! Encounter Cornwall is a family business owned by Clair and Ben Connibeer.
Up until November 2020, Paddle Cornwall SUP were a mobile, Stand-Up Paddle Board school offering SUP lessons and tours on the stunning River Fowey, launching from the slipway in Golant in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. After trading for 18 months and receiving some great feedback from our customers we were inspired to look at ways to further diversify our service offer, and so when the opportunity to purchase the award-winning Encounter Cornwall from Karen & David presented itself it was the perfect opportunity to put down some roots and offer both Kayak & SUP lessons & tours, and so a new chapter was born. Now we are honoured to be not only a registered Paddle UK Delivery Partner and Go Padding Centre but also a registered BSUPA Paddle Boarding School.
Clair and Ben are Paddle UK L3 Coach's, tour guides and Fowey Harbour Commission licensed boatman. They are joined by their amazing team of instructors and guides including Oscar, Sal, Debs, Olly, Adam and David, as well as Poppy in our Boatshed cafe.
They spend most of their days out on the river, sharing their knowledge of the waterways and its wildlife, with both Kayak and SUP enthusiasts alike, no two days are ever the same, and each tour and lesson brings an opportunity for our guests to witness the ever-changing landscape and wildlife on the river, and learn new skills or enhance existing ones.
Our passion is the water, so whether you are a newcomer to Kayak or SUP, rest assured you are in safe hands.
Now with our offices open seasonally at The Boatshed and our "Boatshed" cafe open daily in the summer from 10am till close, we look forward to welcoming both old friends and new.
GOLANT is a beautiful village, and we ask all of our guests to respect all signs including taking away your waste and observing the speed limit when entering and leaving the village. Thank You.
PARKING IS LIMITED: To avoid disappointment, please arrive early for your session and if possible pre book a private parking bay at the top of the hill. If you do manage to find a pay and display bay, you will need a card or the APP to pay.
Meet the Team:
Clair, one of our lead coaches, was born & raised in Golant and after extensive travels around the world, returned home to complete her degree in Tourism Management and to raise her family with husband Ben. Having held various roles in her chosen field, Clair has always been drawn back to the playground of her childhood, the River Fowey, from Golant, always looking for opportunities to turn her passion for the village of Golant and its waterways into a business.
Clair was introduced to SUP several years ago and was hooked after her first venture out on a board and made the decision to train as a SUP instructor. Since then, she has completing a number of different water-based qualifications including her senior instructor BSUPA L2 qualification, Paddle UK Level 3 SUP Coach and Paddle Sports Leader and RYA VHF and Power Boat qualifications. Clair looks after all EC’s water-based Op’s, from licenses to planning sessions and tours, to training and co-ordinating our fantastic instructors and guides and ensuring that all our company adheres to the highest safety standards possible. Clair has been coached by four of the worlds most experienced and influential SUP coaches, Samantha Rutt, Seychell Webster, Michael Booth and Glenn Eldridge. She has also had the privilege of being advised by several the world’s best, including Larry Cain and April Zilg. Clair has recently had the honour of being appointed an Fowey Harbour Commissioner and helps represent SUP for Paddle UK in the South West of England.
Enter Ben, coach in the summer, Plumber in the winter! Ben is a qualified Level 3 Paddle UK SUP and fitness coach and responsible for our online shop and the designs that feature on our merchandise, adding yet another string to our bow. Ben joined the teams on water through the summer but also helps with the day-to-day running throughout the year. Ben loves both SUP and kayak and likes nothing better than helping our guests with technique to improve their paddle. Ben also sits of the Fowey Harbour Port User Group representing SUP for the whole Fowey Estuary and Port. Ben has also recently become a Fowey reserve Fireman.
Encounter Cornwall is a member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the local Friends of the Fowey Estuary, and were one of 12 specially chosen members of Coast (Cornwall Sustainable Tourism) Reboot – an experimental programme to show the positive environmental impact that businesses can have, which has helped shape our thinking!
You can hear Clair twice a month on BBC Radio Cornwall, sharing an update on the waterways and all things Wildlife as well as at Paddle UK events in the SW.
See FAQ's for our Green Policy.
Open For Business - Private Parking Bays
PRIVATE Parking, we are now able to offer 6 private parking bays which can be pre booked by our guests by calling The Boatshed on 01726-832451 or e mailing the office at [email protected].
Parking is charged at £5 per day and offered on a first come first served basis. Located at the top of the hill, you will have a 10-minute walk to The Boatshed, but we are always happy to offer you a lift back up the hill after your session
Tours, hire & sessions as per the online schedule. If you dont see what you want, please either call or e mail us.
Guest Facilities
The Boatshed is a quirky old building that has seen many uses over the years, and if these walls coud talk, what a tale they would tell. As well as now being used as our main office it houses our STAND. retail brand along with a selectoin of "SOLA" & "C-Skins" wetsuits, buoynacy aids and wet boots, Moonshine eyewear and the classic "Dirty Dog Sunnies", Duc-kit drybags and Cornish Silver jewellery courtesy of "Elryn", created and handmade by Ben's Mum Sue.
The Boatshed Cafe offers fresh warm drinks and lovely home bakes handmade by "Jac's Happy Cakes" in a relaxed atmosphere, we welcome guests to stop by and say "Hi". Music choices always depend on who arrives at the office first!
The Boatshed has two toilets and a changing room, but if you are coming to SUP then why not pop on your swimming gear and avoid the queue.
Whatever activity you will be joining us to do, you can be assured of a warm welcome.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CLOSE AT THE END OF THE SEASON NOVEMBER TO MARCH - Private bookings can be made subject to weather and tides by calling 07714029390
See you soon!!