MAXINE GORDON enjoys a duck's-eye view of York as she takes a canoe out on the River Foss

AS I glide along the Foss, surrounded by a sea of lily pads and buzzed by passing dragonflies, the hustle and bustle of York city centre seems a world away.

And yet, here we are, in this same city centre – but not as you will have seen it before.

Buildings such as Rowntree Wharf look even more impressive viewed from such a low vantage point. The magic of surrounding willow trees are enhanced, their hanging branches embracing the Foss and creating an enticing curtain from which you can just glimpse Clifford's Tower. There are channels of water lilies bordering each river bank, with moorhens leaping over the luscious green pads as if playing hopscotch.

Through all of this, we elegantly plough through the still water, hardly making a ripple.

York Press:

ENTHUSIAST: William Hopkinson of York Canoe Hire

Canoeing and kayaking have been introduced to the Foss by whipper-snapper entrepreneur William Hopkinson, a 21-year-old from York with a passion for all things to do with boats and water.

There's a look of a young Tom Cruise about William, and he is certainly as adventurous as his Hollywood lookalike. Next week he will be taking part in the North Sea race, hoping to overcome terrible seasickness in this boating challenge from Scarborough to Amsterdam. William also volunteers with the York Rescue Boat and his long-term ambition is to join the Royal Navy.

After months in the planning, he opened York Canoe Hire just two weeks ago from a launch site at the back of the Watergate Inn, Walmgate.

Offering the chance to hire canoes or kayaks, punters have been flocking to try out this novel activity on the Foss. Prices start at £10 for a hour of kayaking or £15 to take out a canoe.

William said launching a canoeing business on the Foss seemed an obvious thing to do. "It's an incredible opportunity for people to see York from a different perspective and see what the city has to offer in a light that they have never seen before."

He is proud to be bringing boats back on to the Foss, which historically had been a river thoroughfare for the city. In Roman times, water-borne transport and trade were central to city life, proven by the remains of Roman jetties, wharves and warehouses that have been unearthed during excavations and building works on the banks of the Foss. In the last 200 years, barges brought deliveries of sand, gravel, coal and cocoa up the Foss to riverside industries and businesses – including the delivery of newsprint to the then Evening Press building on Walmgate, until the late 1990s.

Today the Foss is a quiet affair – a place to sit by the riverside and switch off from the stresses of the day. The same therapeutic quality arises from taking a boat out on the river, says William. "At the end of the day when there is no-one around, it is a great way to unwind and de-stress."

To put this to the test, William invited me to join him for a trip. Safety first, we piled ourselves into life jackets. William then rehearsed the basics of how to use the paddle and what to do in the unlikely event of a capsize or accident. Happily, he reported there had been no incidents so far. "The canoes are buoyant to 400kg, they won't sink or take in water unless you put an elephant in them – and they are very stable."

The canoes are long, open boats, with three seats, ideal for two or three adults or two adults and two children. The kayaks are for one person.

My only worry was toppling overboard as I climbed in, but William was reassuring, telling me to keep low and centred on the boat. I sat on the quayside and slung my legs into the canoe then lifted myself on board. I did a reverse action to get out – managing both manoeuvres without a splash – or worse, falling in!

York Press:

HAVING A GO: Students canoeing on the Foss

Once in situ, I soon got the hang of paddling. One hand grips the top of the paddle while the other holds on lower and guides the blade into the water, pushing backwards to propel the canoe forward.

There were two other canoes out, each with a pair of students. We soon caught up with them and overtook them – although one was almost at a halt because a canoeist had downed his paddle to tuck into a pasty. Hungry work, this messing around on the water.

Enthusiasts can take two routes – or rather two and a half. Downstream takes you past York sightseeing gems such as the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Clifford's Tower and Castle Mills at the rear of the Castle Museum.

In the other direction the river forks just beyond embarkation point: you can paddle past Rowntree Wharf, but it is a dead end. Much better, advises William, is to take the left-hand fork which heads up to Yearsley and affords a treasure trove of wildlife.

"There are otters, swans, kingfishers, herons and even foxes – it's a haven for all sorts of wildlife. Under the water, there are lots of fish too, such as bream and pike – just don't dangle your finger in, they might bite!"

Find out more and book online at yorkcanoehire.co.uk