Paddle boarding is a fun way to make the most of the UK’s summer sun, exploring the country’s wonderful aquatic spaces on stand up paddle boards and taking in your beautiful surroundings. From the comfort of a paddleboard, you can go on your own adventures to the many incredible lakes, rivers, oceans and fjords that are out there; or be accompanied by friends.
Hotspots in Northern Ireland
Strangford Lough
Whilst Northern Ireland isn’t famed for its summer sun, there are some areas where you can paddleboard and soak up the rays that they do get. Stanford Lough is the place to do that. A stretch of water that contains seventy islands of various sizes, meaning it is a brilliant place to explore by paddleboard and calmer than other ocean areas.
Hotspots in Scotland
Great Glen Canoe Trail
If you can paddle along only one area in the UK, the Great Glen Canoe trail is the one aquatic pilgrimage you should make. Following the Caledonian Canal, the route’s highlights include the mysterious Loch Ness and stunning stretches of landscape that make you feel like you are in a Lord of the Rings film.
Loch Lomond
If you like huge expanses of water to explore; Loch Lomond, located at the heart of the Trossachs National Park, is the place for you. It is incredible to paddleboard there at sunset, when its vast stretches of water are lit up by a smouldering sun.
Hotspots in England
Cambridge
If you like a bit of history, Cambridge is the perfect place to explore by paddleboard. Gliding along the river and passing by Cambridge’s historic colleges can be a very pleasant afternoon. You can set off from the lock of Jesus college, and then you can head west down river. You can enjoy the views of Magdalene, St John’s and Trinity, as well as King’s, Queen’s and St Catharine’s colleges before you drift beneath the beautiful Mathematical Bridge.
Studland Bay
Paddleboarding along England’s Jurassic Coast is a fun experience for anyone who loves coastal areas. You can pass by the iconic Old Harry Rocks and Studland Bay, as well as the intimate marshy landscape of the Arne Nature Reserve that is exploding with wildlife.
Hotspots in Wales
River Teifi
The River Teifi is the jewel in the crown of Welsh paddleboarding. You can gently float down the river and serenely watch the wildlife in the ancient Welsh woodland, enjoying the sights of majestic birds and river otters alike. Once you have adventured through the woodland section of the Teifi Gorge, you then emerge from the river out onto the famous Cardigan Bay.
Black Rock Sands
If you like mountainous scenery, Black Rock sands is the place for you. You can paddle out from the beach towards the stunning Snowdonia mountain range. Having left the beach, you can then take in views of Borth-y-Gest, a small pastel coloured town that wouldn’t look out of place in a Wes Anderson film. Following this dose of Wes Anderson, you will reach another colourful village Portmeirion, nicknamed “Little Italy ” because of the buildings on the hillside like towns on Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
