Family kayaking at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs Cardiff for £55

Paid collaboration with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs

Did you know that a family of up to five can kayak at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs for £55?

We had a brilliant time when we visited the Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water attraction in North Cardiff at the weekend – and were surprised what great value it was for families, working out at as little as £11 per person.

It was such a fun activity to do as a family and a great way to spend a couple of hours as a treat. In fact, we loved it so much we’re already making plans to visit again!

Family kayaking at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs

We arrived on an overcast but warm Saturday morning, greeted by Elis, our instructor for our 90-minute family session.

We’d been advised in advance to bring swimming costumes to wear under the wetsuits and old trainers or water shoes we didn’t mind wearing in the water, with the staff kitting us out in wetsuits, buoyancy aids and safety helmets to keep us warm and safe in the water. This was all included in the £55 cost so there were no hidden extras.

After a demonstration at the edge of the water of how to use the kayaks and how to paddle, Elis gave us a push into the water – and we were off, learning how to paddle forward, backwards, how to turn and how to stop.

Watch our Instagram reel about our kayaking adventure

My children have all tried kayaking and canoeing on school residential trips, but it was completely new to my husband and I (although we do have a paddle board, so we had some knowledge of moving on the water). The sessions are suitable for all levels, including beginners, with the instructors tailoring the activities to each individual group.

I was surprised at how well we navigated our way around the reservoir and how much distance we covered, although we were lucky it was a calm day. Even though there are no currents, I can imagine it being a little more challenging when the wind makes the water choppy.

Once we’d got to grips with the basics, it was time for some games. We had a couple of races against each other (yep, I lost them all!), and a kayak-football match where we had to get the balls to the buoy in the middle of the water. Then it was time to test our balancing skills to see if we could stand up on the kayak, balance on one leg, jump up and down, without falling in. Needless to say, we all ended up in the water at some point, which was lovely and refreshing on a warm day, with the water having warmed up to around 16 degrees compared to 10 last weekend.

We were all in single kayaks, but you can also opt for double or triple seater crafts, which are especially good for younger children or those who are unused to the water. Children can take part in the water activities from aged 5, but under 8s need to be accompanied on their kayak by an adult, and all under 18s must be supervised by an adult.

Another fun option for families is the jumbo stand-up paddleboards, for groups of four to 16 people aged 5+. These can fit up to eight people on them and can be hired for £20 per person.

Once your time on the water is up, there are male, female and mixed showers and changing room facilities to get changed – and lots of other things to do at the reservoir.

Beautiful walks

It’s really beautiful to walk around the two reservoirs, with so much nature to spot. The woodlands are also home to the Llanishen Story Trail, an interactive fable for children and families.

We saw a few dragonflies today as well as swans, ducks and various birds. It’s also home to the common toad, common frog and palmate newt as well as protected species including grass snake, the occasional otter, and bats.

View our Instagram reel on a walk around the reservoir

The reservoir has two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – one for its overwintering wildfowl and the other for its diverse assemblage of grassland fungi including up to 25 species of waxcap. It’s also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) because of its large population of common toads and presence of locally rare water plants.

This means dogs aren’t allowed any further than the café, and so can’t walk around the reservoirs, and there’s no bikes or scooters allowed on the paths either.

Other water activities at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs

Other water activities at the Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs include sailing, paddle boarding, open water swimming/cold water dipping, and canoeing. You can book with qualified instructors or those with more experience can pay to self-launch. There’s also cold water swimming and dipping, and a stand-up paddle board social club.

As we finished our session, we met a family group who were about to board a sailing boat for a guided sail around the reservoir, which sounded like a lovely cross-generational activity.

The reservoir also offers half term day camps for children aged 8 to 15, with no prior experience needed. Sessions run from 9am-4pm, including breakfast and lunch, and are priced at £65 per day or £275 for a 5-day week package. The sessions include kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, sailing, raft building and games.

Group bookings for youth/school groups and other clubs are also available plus the reservoir offers birthday parties for children aged eight and above, priced at £200 for the activities only, with hot meal or buffet options also available.

Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs Visitor Centre, Lisvane Road, Lisvane, Cardiff, CF14 0BB.

Click here for more information on water activities at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs.