Aquatic Adventures
Get your wesuit on and your adrenaline pumping with a white water adventure in the heart of the city
GLASGOW has no shortage of museums, galleries and sights to fill a holiday itinerary, but if you are looking for something a little more adventurous, then Pinkston Watersports is one to add to the bucket list.
The centre of a major city is the last place you would expect to find a white water rapid but Pinkston boasts just that; Pinkston Watersports is a community paddle sports venue and Scotland’s only artificial white water course.
Built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, they have been welcoming visitors to the state-of-the-art centre for six years.
Pinkstons’s general manager Hannah Blair has seen it develop from an international sporting venue to a valued community hub.
“Pinkston is operated by the charity Glasgow Watersports and it is run as a social enterprise,” Hannah says. “We offer high quality sporting facilities and visitor experiences on a not-for-profit basis. Any surplus is directed back into the community.”
So, not only do visitors get to enjoy an array of fun activities, but they can also give back to the community while doing so. The opportunities for adventure at Pinkston are endless, and the amount of activities on offer is only getting better.
“Pinkston started off as a white water canoe and kayaking venue but the range of activities on offer has increased over the years. Visitors can now expect to see opportunities to take part in canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, and white water tubing. There are also various dry land team building, raft building, and bush craft packages on offer.” Glasgow is a hub of urban sports, with the newly opened Moto-x biking arena, a BMX circuit and numerous skate parks. Pinkston is just one of the many spots for adrenaline loving families to visit, and they work
closely with the neighbouring venues to offer a whole package of activities.
“Pinkston also plays host to a range of activities and courses delivered by external providers,” Hannah says. “We work closely with our neighbours at the Loading Bay Skate Park and Glasgow Wake Park to develop a range of activity packages for those wishing to try the range of Urban Sports available along the canal area in North Glasgow.”
With the huge selection of both land and water-based activities at Pinkston, there is something for all ages to get involved with. For those with younger children, dry activities like bush craft and den building are great fun, and thrill-seeking older kids will love white water tubing.
As well as having an amazing, fun-filled day out, it is great to know that you are supporting an enterprise that adds such value to the community. Hannah is extremely proud of the initiatives that Pinkston supports.
“We hold our community at our heart and are passionate about providing opportunities for everyone to take part in outdoor activities. Port Dundas is very much an up and coming area in Glasgow and we provide exciting activities for locals and visitors alike.
“However, we are also close to some of the most deprived areas in Scotland and in line with our charitable objectives we provide many activities for school and community groups. Homework Clubs and a ‘Jump In’ youth club were developed to offer a laid back alternative to more traditional clubs which also operate at Pinkston.”
Alongside the activities on offer to visitors and the Pinkston is a lifeline for many important organisations.
“Rescue services from across the UK use us as a training venue for swift-water rescue and rescue from vehicles training. It isn’t unusual to see a range of fire, ambulance and mountain rescue vehicles parked up next to the artificial river so don’t be alarmed!”
If you’re visiting Glasgow and up for a white-knuckle adventure, then Pinkston is the place to go.
Even if you’re looking for something a bit more laid back, there is plenty to enjoy. Add Pinkston to your itinerary to support the local community, having great fun while doing so!