Rowing With Us

The 14^th Richmond Viking Boating Centre invites you to experience the thrill of traditional fixed-seat rowing on the River Thames. Providing scout groups, youth organisations, groups with special needs and adults with the opportunity to spend time afloat in one of our fleet of superb traditional, locally-built rowing boats; this is the ideal way to experience rowing for the very first time!

A small charge per person covers the cost of the boat, all safety equipment and instructors.

Boats are usually available at evenings and weekends between April and October. Please see the log book or rowing calendar to check current availability. Note that whilst we will do our best, we cannot guarantee the availabilty of specific boats as sometimes they are away on other stretches of the river (Henley week, for example) or being used by rowers training for The Great River Race.

For cub, scout and guide groups badges and certificates can be issued. These include –

Additionally a power coxswain course can be run upon request.

Each traditional boat can be rowed by the young and the old, novices and experienced rowers. Groups with special needs can be accommodated by prior arrangement.

Standard course – This is an evening or weekend afternoon (usually between one and two hours) on the water with experienced personnel in a traditional fixed-seat rowing boat. All life jackets and equipment will be provided. This costs just £3.50 per person. Please bear in mind that we are on the tidal Thames, so there maybe times when river conditions are not suited to inexperienced rowers; Richmond can be subject to fast-running 7m+ tides!

Residential course – These can be arranged for groups of seven or more and include food and accommodation at the 14^th Richmond Viking Scout Boating Centre. The cost for a residential course is approximately £30 per person. Our boating centre has a fully equipped galley for on-site catering, separate toilet / changing / shower facilities and step-free access.