Madagascar: The Lost World Expedition
Snorkel with whale sharks, release turtle hatchlings, sleep in a beach camp.
From £1,995
£399 deposit to reserve, payment plans available
The Wild North Tyne
A full day canoe journey down the Upper North Tyne from Bellingham to Wark, with easy white water, Northumberland wildlife and a hot two course meal cooked beside the river.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Difficulty
- EasyNo experience needed. Short days at a gentle pace.
- Price
- From £95 per person
Trip highlights
- Travel the valley, do not just look at it — A one way river journey from Bellingham down to Wark. You come back by water, not by road.
- Easy white water, no experience needed — Little rapids to bring some excitement, professionally led throughout, on an accessible grade.
- A hot two course feast beside the river — A hot cooked meal, cooked on the bank mid-journey.
- Salmon, deer and birds of prey — November on the North Tyne is quiet and wild. Some of the day is paddling and some is stopping to watch.
- Everything included — Canoes, paddling kit, leader and assistant, shuttle, hot drinks, snacks, both courses and photographs from the day.
- Twelve places only — A small group on a quiet river, in the North East rather than halfway round the world.
About this adventure
The Wild North Tyne is a full autumn day through the heart of Northumberland: a river journey, easy white water, real wildlife and a proper hot feast cooked beside the water. We meet at Wark Bridge at half past eight and shuttle the group upstream to Bellingham.
From there we do not come back by road. The open canoes are our transport for the day and we travel downstream on the Upper North Tyne, with quiet stretches to drift on, easy white water to bring a little excitement, and places to stop and explore. There are no miles to chase and no stopwatch running. This experience is not really about canoeing; the canoe is simply our way into the wild.
November is a fine month for this valley. It is quieter, the air is crisp and the river feels wild. Watch the water for salmon running upstream, the woodland for deer moving between the trees, and the sky for birds of prey. Some of the day we paddle, and some of it we simply stop and watch. Around the middle of the journey we find a good spot beside the river, pull the canoes out, get the hot drinks on and cook. A hot home cooked meal, with a dessert. Steaming mugs, people sitting beside the Upper North Tyne, nowhere else to be. Then we load up and carry on down to Wark for around three o'clock. You do not need experience. It is an accessible adventure on easy white water, professionally led, with all the equipment provided.
One river. One autumn day. One proper little adventure.
Day by day
Day 1Bellingham to Wark on the Upper North Tyne
We meet at Wark Bridge at 08:30, get everyone together and shuttle the group upstream to Bellingham. From Bellingham the canoes become the transport for the day and the only way back to Wark is the river itself.
The journey downstream takes its time. There are quiet stretches where you can drift with the current, sections of easy white water to bring a bit of excitement, and places worth stopping to explore. There is plenty of chance to simply sit in the boat and take the valley in. Watch the water for salmon running upstream, the woodland on either bank for deer, and the sky for birds of prey.
Around the middle of the journey we find a good spot on the bank. The canoes come out, the hot drinks go on and lunch starts cooking. Then we load up, carry on downstream through more little rapids, and Wark Bridge appears ahead at around 15:00.
What's included
- Full day guided Upper North Tyne canoe journey, Bellingham to Wark
- Open canoes and paddles
- Buoyancy aids and technical paddling equipment
- A professional river leader and an assistant
- Vehicle shuttle and transport
- Hot drinks throughout the day
- Snacks
- All safety equipment
- Photographs from the day
- A hot lunch
What's not included
- Travel to and from Wark Bridge
- Your own warm clothing and a dry change
- Personal travel and cancellation insurance
Meet your leader
Joe Alexander
Founder and lead expedition leader
As the founder of Alexander Adventures, Joe has led successful expeditions across all seven continents. He is renowned for his expertise in mountaineering, mountain biking, trekking, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. With a deep commitment to safety, personal growth…
Leaders are confirmed close to departure and can change for operational reasons.
Difficulty and preparation
It is graded Easy, the first of our four grades. That is 1 day of it, so being ready matters more than being fast. If you are unsure whether it suits you, talk to us before you book rather than after: we would far rather move you to the right adventure than watch you struggle on the wrong one.
Safety and support
Every trip runs with qualified leaders, a risk assessment written for the route, emergency procedures and communications planned before departure, and local support on the ground. Travel insurance covering your chosen activities is a condition of booking.
Questions about this trip
Getting there and parking
The meeting point is Wark Bridge in Northumberland at 08:30. Leave your car there for the day: we shuttle you and the boats upstream to Bellingham and you paddle back down to Wark, so you finish where you started.
The journey
A one way river journey down the Upper North Tyne from Bellingham to Wark, taken at an unhurried pace with quiet stretches, easy white water and stops to explore. We aim to be back at Wark Bridge for around 15:00.
The food
Around the middle of the journey we pull the canoes out, get the hot drinks on and cook beside the river. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and snacks run throughout the day. It is part of the experience rather than a packed lunch.
Allergies and dietary requirements
Tell us through the guest portal when you book. Because we cook for the group on a riverbank rather than in a kitchen, we need allergies and dietary needs well in advance so an alternative travels with us. A full allergen list for the stew, the bread, the crumble and the custard is available on request and is out on the bank on the day.
Wildlife
November is a quiet month in the valley. Salmon run upstream and can often be seen jumping, deer move through the woodland on both banks, and birds of prey work the valley overhead. Nothing is guaranteed, which is rather the point of watching for it.
What we provide and what you bring
We provide the open canoe, paddle, buoyancy aid, technical paddling equipment, all safety equipment, the shuttle, the food and the hot drinks. You bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket, old footwear you do not mind soaking, a hat and gloves, and a full dry change of clothes with a towel.
Fitness and swimming
Reasonably mobile rather than fit. You are sitting or kneeling in a canoe for most of the day, getting in and out from a bank, and walking short distances over uneven ground. You need to be comfortable in water and happy to be in it briefly. A buoyancy aid is worn throughout.
Water levels and the weather
November is the one month you cannot predict a river. We make the level call the day before and tell you that evening, and adjust the journey to suit the water. The day runs in rain and in cold.
Photographs
Photographs from the day are included and are sent on afterwards. If you would rather not appear in pictures we may use elsewhere, tell us on the day and we will note it.
Insurance
Personal travel and cancellation insurance is not included and is your own responsibility. Check that your policy covers canoeing on moving water, since some standard policies exclude it.
Age
There is a minimum age for this day and it will be confirmed in the booking details. It is higher than for our summer paddling sessions because of the water temperature.
Book your place
£95
Secure your place with a deposit today, then spread the balance interest free. How payment plans work
Not sure yet?
Talk it through with someone who has been there. Call 0191 903 9936 or send us a question.
Dates and prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 - 22 November 2026 | Places available12 places left | £95 | Book this date |
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