One of my goals as an OS Get Outside Champion is to share the joy of paddleboarding, encourage others to take up this wonderful sport and use OS maps to help them plan their adventures. I was therefore delighted when the OS team invited me to share eight beautiful places to paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales, based on a wonderful year researching my first bestselling book Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain – Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales with Vertebrate Publishing.
With the correct planning, experience and kit, there are so many different bodies of water we can
paddle on and I aim to share a variety of them with you here.
Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England
Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
A tiny village that clings to the cliff, Runswick Bay lies about 14.5 kms north west of Whitby and
four kms south of Staithes. Its sweeping, crescent shaped beach was awarded the Times and
Sunday Times Best Beach of the Year in 2020. It has a very special place in my heart as it was
where, after an initial lesson on Derwentwater in the Lake District, I really fell in love with SUP.
During the summer there are RNLI Lifeguards who will advise on wind and tide conditions. An
hour or so either side of high tide it’s lovely to paddle close to the village shoreline but feel a world
away as you spot the thatched cottage, formerly home to the coastguard. There is also a 2minutebeachclean board for a post SUP litter pick. For the more experienced, paddling the five kms round trip across the bay to Kettleness is a super adventure, with its secluded beach and
waterfall.
Be aware that the beach near the sailing club slopes steeply creating more powerful waves and I
don’t recommend launching or exiting there. Also at some points the high tide can be very high so
be careful not to get cut off.
Launch: NZ 811160/54.532
Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool
I love SUP in the City and for a beautiful place to paddleboard full of historical and cultural connections Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock is one of the best. Built in 1846 the Royal Albert Dock was named after Queen Victoria’s consort Albert. The Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum and Tate
Liverpool surround the dock, along with bustling cafes and restaurants. From your board you can
see the iconic Royal Liver Building. Along the stone walls you’ll spot mussels, which act as filter
feeders cleaning the water. I also noticed moon jellyfish and tiny fish in the dark but clear water.
If you prefer to leave the car at home, which isn’t always possible with coastal, lake and river SUP
adventures, Liverpool is accessible by rail and bus too. Launch from the Liverpool Watersports
Centre, where you buy a self launch pass, and which is a 2.5 kms walk from Liverpool Lime Street.
Launch: SJ 346889/53.393
The OS Christmas Brochure is out!
Lots of exciting ideas for all your Christmas Gifts with Ordnance Survey
Porthpean, St Austell, Cornwall
Paddleboarding in the south west is high on many wish lists and I was fortunate enough to paddle
in many spots for my book, including The Gannel, Newquay, Mullion Cove and Looe Island and
the Lostwithiel to Fowey Harbour. A very special afternoons was spent launching from Porthpean,
a small, sandy beach along Cornwall’s southern coastline about five kms from St Austell.
Hugging the coast of St Austell Bay, you pass the caves, with kelp swaying beneath and then three
secluded beaches only accessible from the sea. Above is Ropehaven CliƯs Nature Reserve,
owned by the Cornish Wildlife Trust. You might see house martins and fulmars and we were joined
by an inquisitve seal. From the headland, Black Head, you can look back and spot beaches in the
distance, Duporth, Charlestown, Carlyon Bay, Par, Polkerris and Menabilly.
Launch: SX 032 507/50.323
Beeston Canal and River Trent Loop, Nottingham
Sometimes overlooked and yet accessible via public transport, full of interesting historical detail
and often sheltered, canals oƯer a wonderful opportunity to have a SUP adventure inland when
you can’t make it to the coast or more rural areas. Having paddled 162 miles coast to coast from
Liverpool to Goole in 2019 along the Leeds Liverpool Canal, I have a huge fondness for canals an
hope you will too!
The 22.5 kms Trent Loop in Nottingham offers the chance to enjoy both the Beeston Canal and/or
the River Trent. For a SUP in the City adventure, the Beeston Canal is great for paddlers who might
also wish their friends to join them walking along the towpath and passes the buzzing Castle
Wharf, with the historical buildings of canal boat building and new cafes. At Beeston Lock, near
the Attenborough Nature Reserve, you swap to the River Trent. Wider and more rural this is a
magnificent paddle for those with river experience and in the right conditions. We spotted herons,
kingfishers and swans with the odd plop of a fish jumping out of the water.
A Waterways Licence is required to paddle on the Beeston Canal and River Trent. You can buy
this, with other great benefits, from Paddle UK. Keep a very good distance
away from the weir at Beeston Lock.
Launch near the Nottingham Trent Bridge on the River Trent and then pass over to the pontoon,
leave the river and launch onto the canal at Meadown Lane Lock: SK 581381/52.938
Launch onto the River Trent near the Beeston Lock: SK 536353/52.912
Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Scotland
Loch Morlich, Cairngorms, Scottish Highlands
Did you know that the beach at Loch Morlich, a freshwater loch at the foot of the northern
Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands, is the highest beach in Britain? Surrounded by Glenmore
Forest Park and overlooked by Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui, it lies 300 metres above sea level. It
is a beautiful spot for families and solo adventurers alike and just 10 kms from the popular ski
resort of Aviemore.
The views are stunning and at the quieter end of the beach are the upturned
roots of a tree, marking the corner to a small river that feeds the loch called Abhainn Ruigh-eunachan. Twisting and turning through the woods this is a lovely spot to explore in the right
conditions.
Launch: NH 972097/57.167
Ganavan Sands, near Oban
Four kms north of Oban, ‘the gateway to the Isles’ in the Scottish Highlands region of Argyll and
Bute, is Ganavan Sands, a beautiful family friendly beach. To the north is Dunstaffnage Castle
and to the south Little Ganavan. On a clear day you can spy Lismore, Morven and Mull.
Look out for the gorgeous pink sea urchins clinging to the rocks. Ganavan Beach is also popular with wild
swimmers and there is a rough coastal path towards Dunbeg and DunstaƯnage Castle. You can
also reach the beach on the bus from Oban and there is accessible parking.
Launch: NM 862327/56.438
Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Wales
Oxwich Bay
Oxwich Bay is a beautiful, golden, four kilometre long beach lined with sand dunes and a very
gentle slope towards the sea on the south coast of the Gower. It lies within the Oxwich National
Nature Reserve, which also includes lakes, woodlands, cliffs and salt and freshwater marshes
inland.
To the east is Nicholaston Burrows, then Tor Bay and Three CliƯs Bay. You will regularly
see it featured on ‘best beach’ lists and the Gower was the first place in Britain to be named an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Paddle along the cliƯ edge and you might spot the wreck of
the Solor, a Norwegian vessel torpedoed in January 1945 on its way to the Clyde from New York,
which later limped into Oxwich Bay. The middle section is now a popular diving spot.
Launch: SS 506864/51.556
Oxwich Bay is protected from the prevailing southwest winds but a northerly will blow you straight
out to sea. Paddle to the wreck on an incoming tide as an outgoing tide will flow very quickly out
of the bay.
Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala)
Llyn Tegid is the largest freshwater glacial lake in Wales at approximately six kms long, just under
a kilometre wide and 42 metres deep. Bala means the outlet point of a lake. The River Dee flows
in at the southern end and out at the northern end where the town is located. Local legend tells
us that the lake is named after Tegid Foel, a character from early native Welsh tales who was the
husband of the enchantress Ceridwen. The lake is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Ramsar
wetlands site of international importance. It is teeming with birdlife and wildlife – a nature lover’s
delight. It is surrounded by three mountain ranges – Aran, Arenig and Berwyn – so you get some
fantastic views.
You need to buy a permit to paddle on Llyn Tegid which can be bought by the Foreshore car park
pay and display and is payable to Snowdonia National Park.
Launch SH 921355/52.906
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Go to the shopSafety Tips When Paddleboarding
- Always wear the correct leash and buoyancy aid. For more information on leashes go to Paddle UK.
- Dress appropriately for the water temperature which can remain very cold even in the summer months to avoid cold water shock
- Do not go out in offshore winds (where the wind is blowing from the shore out towards the sea or lake). Be aware of the winds in relation to where you are paddling and which direction will push you out to sea.
- Learn about tides, currents, river flow (especially after heavy rain and in the winter months) and winds. There are some excellent online courses with Padde UK www.paddle.org.uk and SUP fm Podcast. Instagram @supfmpodcast.
- Always carry a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof case on you, not on your board
- Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to return and what to do if you don’t return at the appointed time. Also when you are safely off the water let them know too!
- Always be careful of the wind direction, speed and gusts. For beginners look for a wind speed of 0 – 3 mph and for more experienced paddlers I suggest 10 mph as your limit.
- If you are new to the sport, always invest in a lesson or two with a qualified instructor to get the basics which will help you be safer and have more fun. It is the best investment in your paddleboarding journey.
- If you are new to the area, taking a guided tour with a local qualified SUP coach is also a great idea.
Always remember, if in doubt, don’t go out!
Discover more beautiful places to padleboard in my books Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain – Beautiful
Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales and Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake
District – Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Cumbria.
Wishing you many happy and safe adventures on the water! I’d love to hear how you get on. Jo x
You can follow Jo on Instagram @jomoseley and find her at www.jomoseley.com
