A day (or two) in the theme park for the thrill-seekers, combined with the opportunity to paddle the Birmingham & Fazely canal and River Tame for those who prefer their thrills less mechanised.

Camping at the Club site at Drayton Manor Park, this is an ideal family weekend & suitable for all skill levels. Approx. 8 miles paddling on river and canal with fun and games on the lake in the middle of Drayton Manor Theme Park on Saturday evening.

Saturday's paddle from Drayton Manor to Hopwas and back to by mix of Birmingham & Fazeley canal and River Tame offers a slow, steady passage and is an ideal opportunity for newcomers & ‘established hands’ to paddle a route not frequently used, but succesfully navigated just last month. A circular route, no real shuttle required. Once the theme park has closed we can access the lake for our own fun session.

Sunday's paddle option depends on water levels, river conditions and the general consensus etc.,  River Tame approx. 6 miles from Coton Bridge to Tamworth's Jolly Sailor car park. This is an opportunity to paddle through Kingsbury Water Park.

NB The Tame is a steady river, quite shallow in parts, but generally wide and with many reasonable bank areas.

NB All river activity subject to water levels at the time!

Saturday paddle detail:
Put-in on canal at Drayton Manor bridge.  Paddle approx. 1/2 mile west then 1 mile south to Aqueduct after Fazeley then steep downward portage onto R. Tame. North on Tame approx. 3.5 miles. Two weirs optional, a third to shoot or portage. Heron, Kingfisher, Swans and wildlife a plenty on river so camera useful. Transfer to canal at Hopwas Bridge via very steep upward portage. Lunch at Hopwas – can be canal side (portage area is wooded) or further into village at two nice pubs, the Red Lion (http://www.redlionhopwas.com/ ) or Tame Otter http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thetameotterhopwastamworth/    Canal paddle approx. 3 miles south then 1/2 mile east back to Drayton Manor.

Note that parking at the get-in is limited, so shuttling some cars back to the camp-site may be needed.

7pm ish. (After theme park closes!) Games on the Drayton Manor lake. Try your hand at backwards figure of eight around the islands or the three-hulled-challenge (nautical equivalent of the 3 legged race!) Paddle round the deserted rides, including Storm Force 10 and the Bufallo.

Options for non-paddlers:
OFF–Site: Tamworth Castle; Lichfield Cathedral; Pooley Park and Heritage Centre (http://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/country-parks/pooley-country-park/ ); National Memorial Arboretum (Remembrance Centre); Conkers outdoor park; Kingsbury Water Park; Bosworth Battlefield; Tamworth Snowdome (ski, snowboard, toboggan); Local walks and off road bike riding at Cannock Chase (Heath & Moorland BYOB or Hire) and Hartshill Hayes (BYOB). Steam Railway at Bosworth. Nearby towns are Nuneaton (George Eliot museum), Coventry (enough said) and Birmingham (couldn’t possibly comment!). Also Burton on Trent with its brewing heritage (Ah, Ha!).
ON-site: Woods to play in and routes/paths for joggers or off-road bikers.