The Best Places to Paddleboard in the UK

Our Top Locations: 

·        Brighton Beach, East Sussex

·        Grand Union Canal, London – Birmingham

·        Loch Tay, Perthshire

·        The River Dart, South Devon

·        Camber Sands, East Sussex

·        River Cam, Cambridge

·        Ullswater, Lake District

·        Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex

·        Woolacombe Sands, North Devon 

Although paddleboarding can be more enjoyable in warmer weather, there are plenty of places to experience year-round with a SUP.

Many paddlers will be excited to suit up, revisit their favourite SUP locations, and simply enjoy being outside. Paddleboarding is piquing potential paddlers' interests – after all, it’s an activity that promises to fill your free time with something beneficial to both the body and mind.

But where can you go paddleboarding in the UK? To help, we’ve put together this little introductory guide on finding some of the best places to paddleboard.

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If you’re lucky enough to live on or near the coast, you’ll never run out of places to paddleboard. The most obvious places to launch from will be nearby beaches: there’s plenty of space to set up and it’s easy to push your board out and get going.

However, stand-up paddleboarding on the ocean does require a certain level of knowledge and skill. If you plan on venturing away from the shore, it’s important to take the weather into consideration. 

First, find out what the water’s doing: is it rough and are there waves? You could check this by journeying to the beach or looking at surf forecasting websites. If you’re lucky enough, the beach may also have a webcam you can access for a quick visual. If the water is rough and you’re unsure whether it’s within your abilities to tackle, stay ashore. Only go out if you’re confident.

Another element to consider is the wind. Even if the water is nearly flat, a strong offshore wind can still easily push you far from land. This could make manoeuvring and returning difficult, especially if paddling against the wind.

It’s not our intention to scare you away from ocean paddling; it’s just vital to be careful and aware of what conditions are like. If you’re inexperienced, look for calm, flat and relatively wind-free days to get out on coastal waters. Make sure to use a SUP leash to ensure you don’t lose your board if you do fall in!

Our top beach recommendations: Woolacombe Sands, North Devon is a large stretch of sandy beach amazing for beginner paddleboarders and surfers on low swell days. Brighton, East Sussex has a number of popular paddleboarding routes, such as West Pier to Palace Pier. Camber Sands, East Sussex is a little further along the East Sussex coast for those who love a sandy beach with beautiful waters. 

Using an inflatable paddleboard on a lake or reservoir can be incredibly relaxing. Check which are open to paddlers or free for anyone to use, as this could be an ideal place to start practising your SUP skills and gain confidence.

Other than a bit of surface chop from the wind, a lake is almost always flat. If wind conditions aren’t particularly kind, you’ll also be near to the land (depending on the size of the lake, of course).

Our top lake recommendations: Ullswater, Lake District is a picturesque location and the Lakes’ second largest lake. Loch Tay, Perthshire is one of the best places to paddleboard for its gorgeous mountain backdrops.

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There are over 3,000 miles of canal waterways in the UK, so it’s likely there’s one not too far from you. Requiring less thought when it comes to weather, a canal is an easy opportunity for paddling away whenever you like. The water will be relatively still and flat all the time, so you can easily cover long distances if that’s your aim. You can also cruise and enjoy the scenery as you pass through different locations.

Not all canals are open to paddleboarders. Most will require you to have a license, so it’s important to do your research beforehand. You can buy a waterways licence, which will allow you to paddle in most locations. Alternatively, if you join a local paddle sports club a licence may be included or added to your membership.

Our top canal recommendation: Grand Union Canal stretches from London to Birmingham through the breathtaking countryside. Note: a lightweight iSUP is your best bet on a canal, as you’ll have to jump out at locks for the water levels to adjust.

Rivers require a little more research as it’s important you don’t come across a section of white water rapids beyond your ability. Rivers are graded according to an international system, ranging from 1–6. Higher numbers indicate higher difficulty and risk. Grade 1 represents calm water, which is perfect for relaxed paddleboarding. If you are looking for something a bit more challenging, you can work your way through the grades.

Not all river sections are open to the public; check online or with local authorities for private sections and grading before launching.

Our top calm river recommendations: River Cam, Cambridge is ideal for admiring the architecture along the banks. While Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex is perfect for calm meandering down the countryside’s winding river. The River Dart, South Devon is our personal favourite local river, a great launch spot for paddleboard beginners with plenty of stop-off points. 

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There are many tools to help you find new places to paddleboard. First and foremost, you can talk to other paddlers for tips. Or find out about local communities and clubs – they may have social media accounts you can interact with for advice.

Another great idea is to use Google Maps or something similar. This way you can identify new launch spots and paddling routes – this is a great way to explore and discover places you’ve never been before.

There are also plenty of mobile apps out there that paddleboarders can use to share their routes and experiences of paddleboarding in the UK. Our Apps for SUP blog post delves into this topic in more detail.

If you’re just here doing some research before buying a board, be sure to check out our extensive selection of inflatable SUPs and accessories. For more paddleboarding inspiration and advice, take a look at our other SUP blog posts.