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The pastime/sport of descending into relatively inaccessible canyons where rivers have carved narrow slots through the ground, creating deep twisting watercourses through the bowels of the earth.

Popularity
This is a relatively new pasttime/sport and as such its popularity is on the increase. Many outward bound and activity centres offer canyoning as an activity. Becoming popular as a corporate or a stag/hen party activity.

Location
There are a few locations around the UK where you can indulge in this activity - particularly in Wales and the North of Scotland.

Age
Can be enjoyed by all ages but parents should be aware of the safety aspects of the sport and be happy that children are under supervision and are required to use suitable safety equipment.

Ability
You should be able to swim, abseil and put one foot in front of the other. Anyone who has climbed or caved should not have any problems. Best performed as a group activity.

Description
Not for the fainthearted, canyoning is a white water ride down gorges and waterfalls. Participants run down wet slabs of rock, jump off blind escarpments, scramble up rocks and abseil down drops. You get fully kitted out before you go with helmets and wetsuits so you're well protected. Canyoning in some parts of the world is known as gorge walking, and they are very similar, they both involve diving, sliding and jumping your way down a river gorge.

Dedication
The idea is to follow the water downwards - over drops into pools, down chutes and through deep water. This involves walking, scrambling, climbing and swimming. Vertical drops are either jumped or abseiled from in situ bolts. The situations are often breathtaking with dramatic unspoilt scenery, at times the sky can disappear from view as the walls close in above you, the water may take you through huge boulder chokes or even underground for a while.

Closely Related Activities
Gorge Walking 942, Rock Climbing 423, Abseiling 1,

Cost
On an outward bound centre activity expect to pay around £40 for a session. Equipment such as harnesses, wetsuits and ropes and other items may need to be purchased if it is not suppled or hired.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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