Boat Hire FAQ’s

Do I have to wear a buoyancy aid?

Buoyancy aids are compulsory for all under 18 year olds, weak or non-swimmers, and everyone going onto a kayak. Our staff will help fit your buoyancy aid to ensure it will work correctly if needed. You must not adjust or undo your buoyancy aid while you’re on the water. Wearing a buoyancy aid helps to keep you safe on the water!

How old do you need to be?

An 18 year old needs to hire the boat, agree to our Terms and Conditions, and assume responsibility for the craft and it’s occupants. You don’t have to have an adult on the boat, but they do need to maintain responsibility. There is a minimum age of 1 years old for our pedalos; this is to ensure we have a suitably fitting buoyancy aid. You must be at least 12 years old to go on one of our kayaks.

Where can we go in the boats?

We share the lake with lots of other users, like the sailing club and fishing club, so we have cordoned off the section of the lake closest to the Boathouse Cafe. This space has been chosen to give you plenty of water to explore during your hire, without impacting other users and the wildlife. We ask that you stay away from the banks of the lake and don’t cross any of the buoys marking the area.

How did you work out your prices?

We wanted to make sure that our boat hire was affordable and that the prices were easy to work out. We’ve chosen to charge per boat rather than per person to make sure it’s affordable and understandable. Pedalos are charged at £16 and kayaks for £10 each. We visited other boat hire venues in the Midlands and our prices are lower than many, and easier to understand than the ‘per person’ pricing used elsewhere.

Can we swim from our boats?

To prevent disturbing the wildlife, we ask that you remain in your boats throughout your hire. We understand that sometimes accidents happen, so if you do end up in the water, please get back into your boat without causing any disturbance to the wildlife. Our staff will be on hand to help if you need it.

Can we take food and drinks on the boats?

Unfortunately we don’t allow any food on the boats, and only drinks in resealable bottles may be taken. Please don’t bring any glass bottles or cans on your boat. The Boathouse cafe has some great food and drinks available for you to enjoy before or after your hire.

How many people can go on a boat?

Our pedalos have four seats, two people pedaling in the front and two passengers in the back. There is also space for a small child to sit in the centre of the boat and operate the steering. The staff helping you onto your boat will help ensure everyone is sat safely and that is isn’t unbalanced or overloaded. Our kayaks our single seater so it is one kayak per person. Our kayaks do have a maximum weight of 150kg.

How are you protecting the environment?

We really value the environment at Arrow Valley and we want to make sure our boat hire doesn’t effect it! Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has helped educate us about the different native species of plants and animals on the lake, and how we can protect them. We’ve placed buoys to protect the areas of reeds and water grasses where birds nest. We’ve chosen not to use any petrol motors so there is no risk of fuel or oil spills, and there’s less noise disturbance for the birds. All the cleaning products we use are biodegradable so they won’t impact the environment. We’re always looking for ways to help the wildlife, so if you have any ideas or suggestions do let us know!

What do I need to bring with me?

If you’re going on a pedalo, you won’t need to bring anything with you! For kayaks, we recommend you bring a change of clothes, and you will need to wear something on your feet. We have changing rooms you can use afterwards. On sunny days, do make sure you’re wearing suncream because the reflection off the water increases your exposure.

Do I have to book?

We recommend everyone books their hire in advance to avoid disappointment. If we’re quiet, our staff may be able to manually book you in, but when we’re busy you will need to book on your own device. There will be QR codes in the Boathouse and on our signs, but we can’t guarantee there will be a boat available if it hasn’t been booked in advance.

When should I arrive?

We recommend you arrive 15 minutes before your hire starts. This will ensure that we have plenty of time to book you in, give you any buoyancy aids, and talk you through the information you need. Arriving early ensures you get your full time on the water; if you arrive less than 15 minutes before, we cannot guarantee you’ll get your full time.

What are your opening times?

We share our lake with other groups such as the open water swimming club, and model boat club, so our opening times don’t match the cafe’s. The following times are when boats are on the water, so all boats must be back by closing time. Monday 10am – 5pm. Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 6pm. Sunday 1pm – 6pm. There will be events running on certain days, so we recommend you book your hire in advance to ensure we are running on that day.

Can I book for longer than a single slot?

We’ve based our hire durations on the craft, and the amount of water available for you to explore. We recommend you only book a single slot. If you do want longer on the water you can book consecutive slots and stay out for as long as you’d like.

Do you have changing rooms and toilets?

We have both toilets and changing rooms available for you to use. It is unlikely you’ll get wet whilst on a pedalo, but on a kayak you definitely will! We recommend you go to the toilet before you go on the water; we’re unable to unload and reload your boat during your hire. Ask a member of staff to direct you to the facilities if you need them!

Can I take my dog or other pet on the boat?

Unfortuantely we can’t allow any pets on our boats. We know it’s disappointing not to take your dog with you, but the Boathouse Cafe is dog friendly and has seating with great views over the lake!

How do I find the boat hire?

Our boat hire is behind the visitor centre. To get to us, please don’t go through the cafe. Head round the building to the right, and the ramp down to the water is next to the ice cream kiosk. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your booking, so please ensure you leave time to find us!

Will you be open if the weather isn’t good?

During bad weather, we may have to close the boat hire to make sure everyone is safe. Strong winds and heavy rain may force us to close operations. If we do decide to close, this will be communicated to all bookings by 8pm the day before your booking. Occasionally we do have to close hire during the day. In these cases, you will receive full refunds. We recommend you book your hire in advance, this will show you if we are running boat hire. If the weather doesn’t look good but we haven’t decided to close, you can transfer your booking to a different day up to 4 hours before your booking without charge.

What happens if I’m late for my booking?

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your booking, but we understand that life can get in the way! Please understand that our booking system is tight, so your boat will need to be returned at the end of your booked slot if there is another booking. If we are quiet, our staff may be able to give you your full duration. If there is extenuating circumstances that have caused you to be late, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you. We cannot guarantee late arrivals will be able to go on their booked craft, and we cannot offer refunds if you’re late.

Are you wheelchair and pushchair accessible?

Accessing the boat hire is step free but our boats can’t accomodate wheelchairs / pushchairs onboard. Our staff will help as much as possible but to access the boats, you’ll need to be able to walk approximately 5 metres along the deck, and step into the boat. If you have any questions around accessibility, our staff are more than happy to help. Unfortunately we may have to refuse hire if we feel that it would be unsafe for you; we will give you a full refund if this happens as we know this isn’t your fault.