Rafting tours to launch in Ironbridge Gorge
For 233 years people have walked over Shropshire's world famous Iron Bridge – but from next year they will be able to paddle under it too.
Leisure company Shropshire Raft Tours is launching two-hour trips along the Ironbridge Gorge from April.
Visitors will board a 25ft, 12-person raft at the Abbey Sports and Social Club in Buildwas and paddle for three miles along the river.
The rafts have already hosted trips by tour operators, teachers, youth group leaders, and event managers from across the UK. And it is hoped the new way to see Shropshire will attract thousands of tourists each year.
Nigel Winfield, manager and guide for Shropshire Raft Tours, said the company has invested more than £18,000 into the rafts, along with £5,000 on safety equipment and accessories.
He is hoping to attract pensioners travelling to Ironbridge on coach trips and local families with young children.
The rafts will also be available for school trips, birthday parties, corporate floats and team building exercises.
Mr Winfield, a qualified kayak and white-water raft guide with more than 20 years of experience, has guided 3,000 commercial trips on some of the top white-water rivers across the world, including France, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica and Canada.
Mr Winfield said: "We provide family fun for toddlers to grandparents. It's the only rafting trip where the whole family and extended family can go together."
Mr Winfield, who currently lives in Shrewsbury, but will be living in Ironbridge when the company is launched next year, said: "Shropshire Raft Tours will be offering mild not wild adventures – the main attraction will obviously be viewing the magnificent historic Ironbridge Gorge from the open raft without any viewing restrictions and going under the Iron Bridge too, of course.
"It will be a fully guided trip with a photographer to capture the experience with a great bird's eye view of the raft and the best bit is that you get the rafting experience whilst the guides do all of the hard work.
"We start easy as it's supposed to be on a float trip most of the way, finishing with a little adventure by completing the Jackfield rapids at the end."
Shropshire Raft Tours is hoping to offer jobs to young people with UKCC Level 1 Raft Guide certificates and who are members of the British Canoe Union.
Email shropshirerafttours@icloud.com or call (01952) 426100.
