The ideal way to get out and spend time together in Cumbria, for a day off or holiday in the area! Select your ideal activity above, choose your ideal date, and follow the simple booking steps.

Learn to shoot and have a great time during your private archery session. Your experienced instructor will guide you through the basics and provide on-going coaching throughout your session, ensuring that each member of your group has a great time and is hitting the target with ease.

Following a quick safety briefing and demonstration, you and your group will shoot lots of arrows as you enjoy a series of practice rounds, games and competitions.

Upon booking your session, you will receive a confirmation email with further information, please check your junk folder if this doesn't come through straight away. Please note that the recommended minimum age for these sessions is 9 years. As a private session for your group, the cost is fixed up to 6 participants. Your group size may be increased up to 8 participants for an additional charge.  For larger groups and events please contact us directly.

Open Archery Sessions are scheduled on a monthly basis. If you'd rather book individual places on an open session then click here.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is available to book from March (Get in touch if you'd like to arrange a session in the Winter)

Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding with one of our British Canoeing qualified coaches. As a private session for your group, all our attention will be on you and your group as you experience this fantastic new activity. Perfect for enjoying time with family and friends, you will soon be out on Talkin Tarn and progressing in the sport as you stand up and take in the view from a very different perspective.

All the required equipment and coaching is included in the price, along with access to warm showers and changing rooms. We recommend that you wear comfortable sports clothing (remember shoes that can get wet). We do have wetsuits, which may be borrowed if you prefer, at no additional charge, subject to availability of sizes.

The minimum age for paddle boarding is 12 years.

A buoyancy aid will be provided and must be worn. We have a range of sizes up to XXL from Peak UK, which is suitable for up to 110kg/130cm chest.

The cost of your session is the total for your private group session for 1-6 participants. Additional places may be booked using this system, at an additional cost.

Open SUP Sessions are scheduled on a monthly basis. If you'd rather book individual places on an open session then click here.

Try Kayaking with one of our British Canoeing qualified coaches. As a private session for your group, all our attention will be on you and your group as you experience this fantastic activity. Perfect for enjoying time with family and friends, you will soon be out on Talkin Tarn and progressing in this fantastic paddlesport. We use British-made sit-on-top kayaks by Wavesport. Being a sit on top by design, these kayaks a perfect for beginners and are very stable.

All the required equipment and coaching is included in the price, along with access to warm showers and changing rooms. We recommend that you wear comfortable sports clothing (remember shoes that can get wet). If you would like, then wet suits can be hired for an additional charge, although these are not required.

The minimum age for kayaking is 10 years. We have two tandem kayaks so that one or two younger children can be included in your session with an adult.
A buoyancy aid will be provided and must be worn. We have a range of sizes up to XXL from Peak UK, which is suitable for up to 110kg/130cm chest.

As a private session for your group, the cost is fixed up to 6 participants. Your group size may be increased up to 8 participants for an additional charge.  For larger groups and events please contact us directly.

We occasionally arrange open sessions with individual places available - please follow this link to see if any are currently available.

Try Canoeing with one of our British Canoeing qualified coaches. As a private session for your group, all our attention will be on you and your group as you experience this traditional and fun activity. Perfect for enjoying time with family and friends, you will soon be out on Talkin Tarn and progressing in the sport as you take in the view from one of our Canadian style open canoes. Most groups prefer to paddle with two (or three) people per canoe but we are happy to coach solo paddling too.

All the required equipment and coaching is included in the price, along with access to warm showers and changing rooms. We recommend that you wear comfortable sports clothing (remember shoes that can get wet). If you would like, then wet suits can be hired for an additional charge, although these are not required.

The recommended minimum age for canoeing is 10 years although younger children are welcome to join in with an adult in their boat.
A buoyancy aid will be provided and must be worn. We have a range of sizes up to XXL from Peak UK, which is suitable for up to 110kg/130cm chest.

As a private session for your group, the cost is fixed up to 6 participants. Your group size may be increased up to 8 participants for an additional charge.  For larger groups and events please contact us directly.

If you have tried kayaking and are keen to learn more about the skills and knowledge required to be a safe and proficient paddler then this beginner level course is the ideal starting point.

Talkin Tarn is the ideal venue to spend a day with one of our coaches as you have a great time developing your technique. This British Canoeing Award provides a strong foundation to beginner paddlers. During the course we will focus on the areas that are most relevant to you, around a framework that includes basic skills, understanding of equipment and conditions, and a basic introduction to rescues.

If you have your own equipment then you will be welcome to bring it along and, as long as it is appropriate and safe, use it during the award. We recommend that you wear comfortable sports clothing and shoes that can get wet. You will stay out of the water and on your boat for most of the day with a short rescue section towards the end. Remember to bring spares!

As a private course, the day with us costs £200 for up to 2 participants and £25 per extra participant. The recommended minimum age for the award with us is 10 years.

A buoyancy aid will be provided and must be worn. We have a range of sizes up to XXL from Peak UK, which is suitable for up to 110kg/130cm chest.

We love SUP, and we hope you do too! This practical course is all about helping you to enjoy your new found passion for this activity - safely! We understand that you just want to get out and we would like to give you the knowledge and skills to avoid incident and be able to know what to do if something does go wrong.

British Canoeing's SUP Safer Course is intended to give an introduction to safety, trip planning, self rescue, and peer rescue. It  will equip you with the basics needed to enjoy paddle boarding safely, giving you more confidence on the water. Your course will be run by an accredited British Canoeing Coach and course provider.

As this workshop is about you and your paddling progression, please do bring along your own equipment. We will have ours available for you and your group to use if required, including boards, paddles, wetsuits, buoyancy aids. You'll also have access to warm showers and changing rooms.

This course is for 4-8 people. If a course is arranged with less than 8 participants, we'll advertise remaining places on our website. When these are arranged, the details will be found here.

The Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT) is a brilliant course by British Canoeing. Whether you just want to paddle for fun with friends and family, or you are embarking on a career in outdoor leadership, the FSRT will equip you with the skills and knowledge to be able to effect a rescue in a variety of water-craft, should the need arise.

Once you book this course, a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your group's specific requirements. Feel free to send us an email to arrange a call with your course director prior to booking if you have any questions.

This fee is per course, up to 6 candidates at Talkin Tarn. Individual places on open courses are available to book here.

Please contact us to discuss larger groups, alternative venues, or to join our waiting list in case any spaces become available on other courses.

THIS IS A TEST PAGE - DO NOT BOOK AS YOUR BOOKING WILL NOT BE HONOURED.
Please visit https://www.carlisle.gov.uk/talkintarn/Planning-Your-Visit/Camping

The campsite at Talkin Tarn Country Park is available for group use. Currently, groups must submit a risk assessment and evidence of public liability insurance in order to use the site. Please use this page to select your ideal time and date, and pay online. Once you have paid, you will be sent a an email with confirmation and a request for your risk assessment and public liabilty insurance. If this email does not arrive within a few minutes check your spam email folder. Please note that these documents MUST be submitted within 14 days in order to confirm your booking.  

Facilities include:

Space for **** tents
A large fire pit with seating for 15-20 people
Drinking water stand pipe
Cold water outdoor wash up area
Public welfare block with showers and toilets
Tea rooms on-site for take away hot and cold drinks, home made cakes, and ice creams.

The Education Cabin at Talkin Tarn offers a brilliant, heated, indoor space for groups, with a small hall, tables and chairs, hot water boiler, disabled toilets. The cabin is available to book through Carlisle City Council. Please follow this link for more information, https://www.carlisle.gov.uk/talkintarn/facilities-hire

Talkin Adventures arrange a wide variety of outdoor activities for groups, in addition to the small group activities available to book through the website. Please get in touch for a brochure. As an AALA approved activity centre, we provide Canoeing, Kayaking, Raft Building, Team Challenges, Orienteering, Woodland Skills, and Archery. Please be aware that Archery will be on the campsite so may not fit with your visit. We provide Stand Up Paddle Boarding for adult and family groups.

TEST PAGE _ NOT LIVE FOR BOOKING YET

To book the campsite, please see the council website, carlisle.gov.uk/talkin-tarn

Use this page to book the campsite for a day, for team events etc.

TEST PAGE _ NOT LIVE FOR BOOKING YET

To book the campsite, please see the council website, carlisle.gov.uk/talkin-tarn

Use this page to book the campsite for a 4 hr slot, for team events etc.

TEST PAGE _ NOT LIVE FOR BOOKING YET

To book the campsite, please see the council website, carlisle.gov.uk/talkin-tarn

Use this page to book the campsite for an evening, for team events etc.

Use this option to arrange boat hire outside of our usual opening times.

We only take bookings for boat hire outside of normal opening times. (Weekends and School Holidays 11am-4pm, Easter to October) Whilst we are open, simply turn up and hire a boat - we'll be open as long as the wind allows.

If you would like to arrange boat hire at another time, please check availability using our calendar and book via the system.

Be sure to check the weather forecast before making your booking as no refunds will be provided for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

Available to hire are:

Rowing Boats for up to 4 people

Open Canoes for up to 3 people

Sit on top kayaks for 1 or 2 people

Select your ideal combination below from the available options. Get in touch if you require more than four boats. Some boat types are limited and, to keep the system happy, tandem kayaks and open canoes should be selected as boat one and two :).

Boat Hire Rules

• Under 14s are to be accompanied by an adult in their boat (over 18).
• Water users must be sober.
• Buoyancy aids must be worn properly at all times.
• No smoking on the boats.
• Be respectful and aware of other water users.
• Fishing only permitted with appropriate permit and licence.
• Hire craft are only to be boarded/alighted in front of the boat hire cabin.
• Please act in a safe and appropriate manner at all times. Remain seated.
• A charge may be made for any damage or loss of equipment, or late return.
• Remain in view of the boat house for your safety.
• To summon assistance, Shout and Wave, or call 01697 508295.
• Wash hands before eating or drinking.