70 rivers / 70 years

2025-2026 was the 70th anniversary of the Open Canoe Association, and the OCA celebrated in style, by asking our members to take a custom paddle on a tour of 70 UK rivers.

One of our vice-presidents, Paul Warburton made a paddle and over the course of a year, it toured the country, paddling many UK rivers and waterways. We recorded its adventures on this page.

The paddle was launched at Canoefest 2025 and returned to us at Canoefest 2026. Then paddle will then make its way to the Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, Ontario.

 

You can see the rivers and waterways it visited on the map below. 

Rivers paddled

70 rivers plotted on to a map of the UK
  1. River Ure (Ray Goodwin at Canoefest 2025)
  2. River Dee
  3. River Vyrnwy
  4. River Severn
  5. ⁠Loch Linnhie
  6. ⁠Loch Ness
  7. ⁠River Glass
  8. River Beauly
  9. ⁠Loch Beinn a' Mheadhion
  10. ⁠Loch Lomond
  11. River Thames
  12. Oxford Canal
  13. River Cherwell
  14. Portsmouth Harbour
  15. Basingstoke Canal
  16. Wey Navigation
  17. Kennet and Avon Canal
  18. River Itchen
  19. River Hamble
  20. River Wye
  21. Loch Shiel & River Shiel
  22. Loch Moidart
  23. River Moidart
  24. Kentra Bay/Singing Sands
  25. River Usk
  26. River Arrow,
  27. River Avon,
  28. Worcester Canal
  29. Droitwich Canal
  30. River Salwarpe,
  31. ⁠River Eamont
  32. Ullswater
  33. River Leven
  34. Windermere
  35. Coniston Water
  36. Staffordshire and Worcester Canal
  37. River Parrett
  38. River Isle
  39. River Yeo
  40. River Dart
  41. River Axe
  42. River Barle
  43. River Fowey
  44. River Tamar
  45. River Lynher
  46. Carrick Roads
  47. River Fal
  48. River Tresillian
  49. River Truro
  50. Afon Tryweryn
  51. Stroudwater Navigation
  52. River Frome
  53. Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
  54. River Lyd
  55. Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
  56. Afon Taf
  57. Cardiff Bay
  58. Afon Elai
  59. Afon Tywi
  60. Royal Military Canal
  61. River Rother
  62. River Soar
  63. River Ant
  64. River Bure
  65. River Tweed (and North Sea)
  66. River Tyne
  67. River Whalfe
  68. River Eden
  69. Thames and Severn canal
  70. Lake 9 (Canoefest 2026)

70 years / 70 rivers gear

We have launched a selection of 70 years celebration merchandise  

Take a look at our spreadshop store.

 

70 years / 70 rivers - Men's T-Shirt70 years / 70 rivers - Women's T-Shirt

70 years paddle launch at Canoefest 2025

OCA 70th anniversary cake with our 70 rivers paddle
Ray Goodwin celebrates 70 years of the OCA

Paddle on tour in Scotland

Paddle on OCA Oxford weekend

Portsmouth Harbour, Wey Navigation. Kennet and Avon Canal, Rivers Itchen & Hamble

Rivers Wye, Usk, Arrow, Avon, Salwarpe. Worcester and Droitwich Canals

Rivers Dart, Lune; Windermere and Ullswater; Staffs & Worcs Canal

Gloucestershire and South Wales adventures

Royal Military Canal & River Rother

Easter on the Broads Weekend

Paddle on the Parrett/Isle/Yeo

River Wharfe and Eden

Canoefest 2026 - lake 9. With a Flying Spider