About - Encounter Cornwall

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TO LIVE
IS TO
PADDLE.

At Encounter, we combine adventure, education and Cornish culture to create unforgettable outdoor experiences for everyone. Family-run since 2006, we’re an award-winning paddle sports centre on the Upper Fowey estuary, launching from the beautiful village of Golant. Set within a Marine Conservation Zone and National Landscape, we’re led by nature… we follow the flow.

That’s why, beyond paddling, we lead hands-on environmental programmes, like Ocean School and Citizen Science, to help young people and the wider community protect the precious ecosystems that make this corner of Cornwall so special.

We also train the next wave of SUP instructors through the BCAB SUP Instructor Award. And as an AALA-registered school and Paddle UK delivery partner, everyone who joins an Encounter adventure is in safe hands.

Meet The Instructors

We’re all fully qualified Paddle UK Paddle Sport Leaders, SUP coaches and BSUPA instructors, you’re in safe hands from start to finish – whether you’re a first-time paddler or a seasoned pro.

As an AALA-registered school and Paddle UK delivery partner, everyone who joins an Encounter adventure is in safe hands.

Clair

Owner. Paddle UK: L3 SUP Coach Paddlesport Leader

BEN

Owner. Paddle UK: L3 SUP Coach Paddlesport Leader

Oscar

One of our lead instructors and a Paddle UK Paddlesports Leader.

Debs

Debbie is one of our lead instructors and a Paddle UK Paddlesports Leader.

Glyn

Glyn is one of our fantastic support guides and our hero behind all things maintenance.

Joined Encounter on a creek paddle on a drizzling day. The weather just added to the atmosphere of this lost area tucked away from holiday crowds. Great knowledge of history and wildlife further discussed over a lovely tea after the paddle.

Fantastic four hours on the Fowey river, swooshing down to explore Fowey and Polruan, then up again with the tide. Would love to come back and go the other way (inland) on a rising tide. Really friendly team.

My 11 year old daughter and husband had a fantastic trip. Beautiful scenery along the river. Claire was a fantastic tour leader, very friendly and informative, she was great company for 3 hours. Highly recommend and will definitely book again next time we are in Cornwall. My daughter is now keen to join a rowing/kayaking club, thank you!!!

Had an absolutely amazing time out on the kayaks! Every one at encounter were fantastic and so helpful giving us some beauutiffuuullll routes to explore! We will definitely be back soon! Thank you!

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! We were a group of 18 adults going kayaking so we were offered a private tour tailored to our group. The staff were so helpful from the moment of putting in an enquiry right through to us stepping out of our kayaks. Thank you to all the team for making it such a great day out for all of us! We will be back!!

My friend and I used encounter Cornwall on our holiday this week. They were so helpful and friendly. They could not have done enough for us. We wanted something in particular and they couldn’t have been more helpful. We will definitely come back!

Lovely afternoon kayaking from Golant to Fowey on the Wildlife & Waterfronts trip. Claire was a knowledgeable & fun leader & we look forward to returning in the future to do the creeks kayaking trip!

I am an 84 yr old…(experienced sculler, rower, punter etc in my youth on the Thames!)Decided to try SUP introduction course at Golant.. Absolutely great coaching and sympathetic help for a veteran! Any newbies over their 50’s probably need that dedicated help in order to get the body “core” going again!! Thoroughly recommend Encounter Cornwall. Can’t wait to have a regular outing soon.

“What a fantastic day out on the river. I was a little nervous but I needn’t have been, our instructor was brilliant and very knowledgeable about the river and its wildlife. Definitely a must do when visiting Cornwall. The scenery was beautiful, the people were so friendly, thank you so much.”

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