I wondered if anyone can tell me what the Tarn is like for canoeing. We aren't experienced canoeists - we've done most of the Dordogne from Meyronne - Limeuil but only in August, when the river is very slow and lazy.
We are going to Les Peupliers in mid August and I'd like to go canoeing but I'm not sure what to expect.
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I'm sure someone with experience will come along shortly and tell you but from what I could see last year at Les Peupliers and all along the Tarn there was slow bits and faster bits with loads of canoists on the rivers. I've never canoed before and if we hadn't had the dog would have given it a go!
There are a few 'rapids' on the Tarn, some of which can be tricky, but nothing like the Ardeche. If the river level is low then some of them can be so low that you have to get out and walk - but if the river level is high then they can look quite wild. There are a couple of sections where the only way through is through a 'flume' and those bits can be really good fun. We've got out and gone back to do those sections again - and we haven't gone in once. Lots of people do it, most of them not experienced, so if you're reasonably fit then you should be fine.
We've canoed down the whole of the popular sections - last time in August last year, and there was nothing to worry us. We have our own canoe but aren't experts, and we're 60 and 61 - so if we can do it I'm sure you can.
You are normally able to hire a canoe for a half day trip with out pre-booking. We pack a picnic lunch and turn up fairly early (between 10:00 and 11:00). We then paddle downstream for an hour or so and have lunch on the side of the river. This is also a good time to cool down with a swim.
The hire centre will provide life jackets. It is probably best to wear swimwear, as however careful you are you will get wet even if is only from splashes. Gents should also wear a top under the life jacket as the jackets will rub against your nipples like sand paper if you don't!
If you've got children they will love capsizing each others and your boats, so be prepared to have some fun
Overall, enjoy the gorge from the river by taking your time and don't rush. The hire companies don't seem to mind how long you take.
For me the most hair raising part is the lift back to the hire base in the hire company's mini bus.
We are also at Les Peupliers in August, for 10 days from the 5th.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
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We were at Les Peupliers the middle two weeks in August last year and did two half day trips starting at different locations (sorry can't remember where we started from at the moment) yes there are a few rapids and depending on where you start from the river can be very busy but it is great fun as others have said take your time and enjoy and if it's as hot down there this year as it was last (in the 40's every day !) you'll have a great time.
We were at Les Peupliers the middle two weeks in August last year and did two half day trips starting at different locations (sorry can't remember where we started from at the moment) yes there are a few rapids and depending on where you start from the river can be very busy but it is great fun as others have said take your time and enjoy and if it's as hot down there this year as it was last (in the 40's every day !) you'll have a great time.
Ade
If you saw a middle aged couple looking over the bridges with ice-creams in hand ...... that will have been us.
Isn't it just fab down there.
What a fantastic area, we didn't get to half the places we wanted to because the weather was just to good to be travelling around we just spent most of our time at different parts of the river, it is truely a stunning area and one which we will definately return to again, well worth the drive down.
We are splashing out a bit on a trip to Mexico this year as I promised my daughter that if she worked hard on her GCSE's she could choose the holiday !
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We stayed at Peupliers in 2007 and hired canoes from the site. About a dozen of us crammed into a battered minivan and were taken upstream to (I think) Camping Longue Legue (great name!). Only a couple of hours paddle back to base, generally easy going and shallow with a couple of easy rapids. Worst thing was the head wind which is always a possibility when going down a gorge. Don't know what it's like beyond le Rozier, but the part we did was fun, although to be honest where we were, most of the really dramatic gorge was way upstream.
From Les Peuplies, it's good to do the descent from les Vignes - just enough 'Gorge' to make it spectacular, but still do-able. The best time is early in the morning, because then you're doing the Gorge part whilst it's still shaded. When you get out into the hot sun it can get very hot indeed - and you'll need dips in the river to cool off. There are plenty of places to pull in and picnic. Take plenty of water and snacks with out in your 'barrel' - you'll need both.
There are lots of different options - from St Enemie, from Le Malene, from the Cirque de Baumes, or from Les Vignes, and as Johnnny says, from almost all campsites alongside the river. All alongside the river there are places to hire canoes, and you can hire them from from almost every campsite.
The most spectacular views are to be had doing the descent from Le Malene to Les Vignes, which is much further up the Gorge, and you do get the best part of the scenery.
We've done two sections, adding up to just over forty kilometres, but it used to be that you couldn't actually do the whole length in one 'hit' because at certain points there are barrages across the river so you have to get out. At Les Vignes you start off just below one of these barrages.
Quote: Originally posted by feeblecat on 28/3/2010
I'm sure someone with experience will come along shortly and tell you but from what I could see last year at Les Peupliers and all along the Tarn there was slow bits and faster bits with loads of canoists on the rivers. I've never canoed before and if we hadn't had the dog would have given it a go!
feeblecat...I've been trying to locate a spot from where we were set off when we hired some kayaks last year. I remember the "dam" with the slit through which we had to get through....it's in one of your pics. Can you tell me where on google maps that was.... I'm actually trying to locate a campsite that we saw further up from the "dam". Our canoe guide had told us to paddle up to that big rocks and deep water and then comeback down. Whilst we were at those rocks we noticed it was at teh edge of a campsite...so dont know what the name of that campsite was.
No replies, so 'bumping' this up. It's possibly at Les Vignes - though I haven't looked at Feeblecat's pictures.
Here's a website which might help you locate campsites http://www.campings-des-gorgesdutarn.com/les_campings.html - but I wouldnt' worry - almost every site will offer either riverside access or canoeing trips! You may not want to be too near one where canoe trips start from as it will increase noise, traffic, and the number of canoes actually on the river. It's much nicer to have a quieter site and have to travel a bit rather than be too near a setting off, or landing, point. The clatter of canoes being launched, and shrieking voices would put me off a site too near a launch site.
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No replies, so 'bumping' this up. It's possibly at Les Vignes - though I haven't looked at Feeblecat's pictures.
Here's a website which might help you locate campsites http://www.campings-des-gorgesdutarn.com/les_campings.html - but I wouldnt' worry - almost every site will offer either riverside access or canoeing trips! You may not want to be too near one where canoe trips start from as it will increase noise, traffic, and the number of canoes actually on the river. It's much nicer to have a quieter site and have to travel a bit rather than be too near a setting off, or landing, point. The clatter of canoes being launched, and shrieking voices would put me off a site too near a launch site.
Agreed about too much noise but on an upside its a fabulous people watching opportunity
Hi Val. Thanks for the response. I'll look at the links. This particular campsite was defintley a private beach...the canoe company started closer to the dam, but told us to paddle up to the big rocks for diving/jumping. That's when we saw that the rocks were at a campsite beach.
The other issue my OH has is that she's not keen to travel so far down this year....we travelled to Porta Ventura by Car last year and camped at beach. As we share the driving she's not keen on long journey, although we had a stopover for a couple of nights at Dome de Puy on our way down.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Canoeing on the Tarn
