Book your FREE spot here for Pinkstons stop on the Canal Quest! Sat 1st August - Ages 7 - 16
A free family day along Glasgow’s Forth and Clyde Canal, Canal Quest invites kids 7–16 to try kayaking, paddleboarding, archery and woodland games. Start at Pinkston, finish at Stockingfield Bridge—book a free slot and discover why this urban waterway is the perfect place to introduce young adventurers to watersports.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
moderate
Duration
1.5 hours
Fitness Level
Children should be comfortable being active for 90 minutes and able to follow basic safety instructions.
Wildlife
History
The event celebrates Glasgow’s hosting of Commonwealth Games 2026 and highlights activity along the historic Forth and Clyde Canal and its industrial heritage.
Conservation
Organisers rotate and clean wetsuits between sessions to reduce cross-contamination; please pack out all litter and stick to marked paths to protect canal-side habitats.
Pinkston Watersports
Book your FREE spot here for Pinkstons stop on the Canal Quest! Sat 1st August - Ages 7 - 16
Pinkston Watersports is a Glasgow-based watersports centre operating on Scotland's only artificial whitewater course. The centre runs a wide range of paddlesports and water activities including whitewater tubing, whitewater kayaking taster and progression courses, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) tasters, rolling clinics, swim sessions, and family splash zones. Sessions are offered for different ages and abilities, with many junior and family activities listed for ages 7 and up and several whitewater sessions suitable for ages 12 and up. Birthday party packages, holiday activity camps, student nights, and specialist sessions such as cold water swims with sauna access are also available.
Professional instructors lead coached sessions and safety briefings, and several beginner courses state that equipment is provided; participants are often asked to bring a towel and suitable footwear. Progression courses include multi-week formats for beginners and intermediate paddlers, plus club-style monthly sessions focused on skill development and themed activities. The venue supports learning across flat-water and artificial whitewater environments and hosts community and family-focused events. Pinkston Watersports emphasises safe, supervised access to paddlesports for newcomers and developing paddlers, delivers structured coaching, and provides a versatile programme of activities suitable for families, youth groups, adults, and students in Glasgow and the surrounding area.
Booking options include single-session tasters, multi-week progression courses, club membership and group or family packages for birthday parties and holiday camps. Sessions run across seasons and include student nights. The programme supports skill progression, confidence on the water and repeat visits to develop technique. Suitable for beginners and families.
Location
Glasgow
Based in Glasgow, Scotland
Unique Venue
Scotland's only artificial whitewater course
Purpose-built whitewater environment
Ages
7+ / 12+
Family and junior sessions available
Experiences
24 experiences
Range of paddlesports and activities
Check availability for whitewater tubing, kayaking, SUP, camps and parties — sessions suitable for ages 7 and up. Enquire for group bookings.
Arrive 5 minutes early
Check in at the reception beside the blue kayak so instructors can start on time and kit rotations stay on schedule.
Wear your swimsuit under clothes
Put your swimsuit on before arrival for a faster change into wetsuits during the safety brief.
Supervision is required
Participants aged 7–16 must be accompanied by an adult who stays waterside for the session.
Mind the weight limit
Buoyancy aids are rated to 110kg max—check this before booking and contact organisers about alternative arrangements.
Swimsuit
Wear under clothes for quick changing into wetsuits at the start of the session.
Towel and change of clothes
You’ll want dry layers after paddling and something warm for the woods and campfire.
Waterproof phone bag
Keeps electronics dry while you’re on the water or near splash zones.
Weather-appropriate layers
Windproof and warm mid-layer for canal-side conditions, especially in cooler months.
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