Trip information

We welcome anyone who has any form of disability — physical or mental health — along with their friends, family, or support workers.

For safety reasons, we're not able to take passengers who are unwilling or unable to wear a life jacket, or very young children who can't yet sit independently.

Absolutely — that's what the boat is designed for. The Wheelyboat has a specially built bow door that lowers to form a ramp, giving easy and dignified roll-on, roll-off access. You don't need to transfer from your wheelchair unless you want to.

Please note: the boat can accommodate only one electric wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs count as two passengers due to their weight, so we'll need to factor that in when planning your group.

Unfortunately we're not able to accommodate mobility scooters on the boat. However, you're welcome to transfer to a chair on board, and someone from your group can look after the scooter while you enjoy the trip.

The Wheelyboat is certified to carry a maximum of eight people in total. We always have two crew members on board, which leaves room for up to six passengers. If your group includes wheelchair users, we may need to reduce the number slightly to ensure safe weight distribution.

All trips start and end at the River Tees Watersports Centre on The Slipway, North Shore, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2NL. There is accessible car parking at the Centre, and vehicles can pull onto the river frontage to drop off or pick up passengers.

A one-hour trip takes you upstream from the Watersports Centre to Horseshoe Bend, behind Thornaby Village, and back.

A two-hour trip goes further, reaching Preston Park where we can stop to disembark for a picnic or an ice cream before heading back.

Most trips are one or two hours, but we can go out for longer if you'd prefer. If it's your first trip, we'd suggest starting with an hour — it's a lovely introduction to the river without being too long.

Your comfort and wellbeing always comes first. If anyone is unwell or distressed during the trip, we'll turn around straight away and return to the Watersports Centre. We can't stop and let passengers disembark anywhere along the river, so we'd need to return to base — but we'll do so as quickly as is safely possible.

As a charitable organisation, we don't charge a set fee for trips. Instead, we rely on voluntary donations to cover our running costs — fuel, insurance, maintenance, and training. We suggest a donation of around £5 per passenger, but please give whatever you're able to.

Donations can be made in cash to the crew during the trip (a receipt can be provided on request), or by bank transfer if arranged in advance.

The simplest way is to call us on 07748 908 646 — our Operations Officer will get you booked in. You can also email teeswbbookings@gmail.com.

Before your trip, we'll need a signed passenger list (which can be completed online). Full details are on the booking page.

Very much so. The Wheelyboat is designed for rivers and lakes. The River Tees between Stockton and Yarm is generally smooth with little or low flow — ideal for our passengers.

Every trip has a Skipper and crew member. Skippers hold the RYA Powerboat Level 2 licence (PBL2) and all crew are fully trained. Life jackets in a range of sizes are provided for all passengers and must be worn throughout the trip.

Even on a warm day, it can feel cooler on the water than it does on land. We recommend dressing a little warmer than you think you'll need. If rain is forecast, waterproof clothing is a good idea — the boat does have a cover, but it's worth being prepared.

The Skipper makes the final call on whether conditions are safe enough to go out. In the case of strong winds, storms, or unusually high river flow, we may need to cancel.

Where possible, we'll assess conditions the day before and give you as much notice as we can. If we cancel, we'll help you rebook as soon as possible.

We're a group of volunteers who want to share the joy of the River Tees with people who might not otherwise get the chance to be on the water. Everyone involved, from Boat Skippers to crew members, gives their time freely — nobody receives any financial reward.

Our Skippers hold the RYA Powerboat Level 2 licence (PBL2) and all crew are fully trained.

We'd love to have you! Whether you want to train as a Skipper, work as crew, help with admin, or just spread the word, there's a role for you. Head to our volunteer page to find out more.