Before you try and send any money, please check with me to make sure there is availability for your chosen dates.Once the dates are agreed, you can go ahead and use the PayPal button to make the payment. For canoe building we take a £200 deposit on booking. The balance of the payment is due 30 days prior to your arrival.
For Paddle Making Days, we take full payment on booking. Bookings for cabins can either go through Airbnb, or come direct, but again full payment is needed on booking. Please check back with us if you have left it a few days before paying, to make sure we still have availability.
2022 Season We are already largely booked for the school holidays in Spring and Summer 2022 although there are still a few weeks with availability. However we have plenty of availability out of School holiday times. Email me on jclohesy@gmail to check availability for 2022.
We recommend that you use roof bars and cam straps to attach your canoe to your car. However,we carry these rubber blocks now, as well as cam straps, so you can safely attach your canoe even without a roof rack. As you can see, the straps are fed in through the doors. * This photo was taken as the canoe was being attached.. A second cam strap was about to be fitted..
Lots of people are pressed for time and keen to build their canoe over 2 days, for example over a weekend. I am actively considering this. The plan is for us to cut out the various pieces of timber prior to your arrival. These could be prepared ready for fitting, or left for you to prepare. You would then assemble the canoe, with as much or as little further finish as you felt inclined to put in. There would still be scope for planing and sanding at each stage, and your canoe could be on the water in just 2 days.
Most people like the fact that they have cut their panels, seats etc for themselves, while others might have preferred to have that done for them. The advantages, in addition to the time saving, are that the pieces will be cut to size, saving you the physical work involved, leaving you with the artistic side of final preparation and the fun of fitting and finishing to your heart's content.If this is something you would like to consider, let me know. The cost is the same as the normal 3 or 6 day course, so it wouldn't cost you more, or indeed less, than our usual prices.
Over the years we have trialled a number of additional features in our canoes, and now feel able to offer these together as a special package.The Lakota Special is a standard Lakota in size, but has a number of additional features. For example, the deck pieces will be made of especially attractive dark Meranti hardwood ( or another timber of your choice), the seats will be ash framed webbing, and you will be entitled to 4 made-to-measure laminated paddles, which can either be made for you, ormade by you with help from us.
You will have 6 days at Birchcanoes, giving you the flexibility to work on your canoe or have time out with your family. You can even ask us to work on your canoe while you are away, or be guided by us as you work, or a mixture of the two.
Spring and Summer 2022 Canoe building
We are very flexible regarding dates for canoe building, paddle making and other events, but the following dates are currently available ( as of 18 Dec 2022--- please check with me to ensure your chosen date is still available before making arrangements.
Monday 18 April to Saturday 23 April 2022
Monday 2 May to Saturday 7 May 2022
Saturday 14 May to Saturday 20 May 2022
Tuesday 21 June to Saturday 25 June 2022
Tuesday 5 July to Saturday 9 July 2022
Monday 11 July to Saturday 16 July 2022
Monday 18 July to Thursday 21 July 2022
Please note, you can opt for a 3 day or a 6 day option within these dates, to start on a date of your choice. In some case, arrival earlier than the first date shown might be possible, do let us know what you would prefer
Text me on 07922 164061 or email me at jclohesy@gmail.com