Adventures on the Water
OS Champion Jo Moseley has recently written Adventures on the Water, her third book about paddleboarding. However, this one isn’t a step-by-step guide to the most gorgeous locations to paddle. Instead, it offers a deeper, more reflective look at how the simple act of paddling on water can be truly transformational.
The book is a heartfelt collection of personal stories from a wide range of paddlers. Each contributor shares how paddleboarding has impacted their mental and physical health, and how they’ve discovered a warm, inclusive community along the way. It’s not just about the sport, it’s about connection, healing, and the quiet power of water to restore and inspire.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jo Moseley a few times in her role as an OS Champion, and each time I’ve been struck by her boundless enthusiasm for embracing new experiences and living life to the full.
Her energy whether delivering talks about her adventures on stage or just chatting about her plans, is infectious. The last time I saw her, she was determinedly facing a lifelong fear of heights, scaling a towering climbing wall with both grit and grace.
Watching her push through that challenge and reach the top was genuinely moving for all of us cheering her on. A powerful reminder of her belief that adventure isn’t about perfection, but about showing up, trying something new, and growing through it.
Paddleboarding for Mental & Physical Health
The book opens with Jo’s own incredible coast-to-coast paddleboarding challenge, an adventure that took her from Liverpool to Leeds. She shares how discovering paddleboarding made her feel strong and empowered. From her very first lesson in 2016, Jo was hooked. Just three years later, on her paddleboard named Grace, she set off on a 162-mile journey across the country. It was a life-changing experience.
Jo became the first woman ever to paddleboard this coast-to-coast route, which was later officially named the Canal & River Trust Coast to Coast Canoe Trail.
The Power of Blue Spaces
Jo talks passionately about the healing power of these “blue spaces” and their impact on our wellbeing. Scientists have shown that being near water helps reduce stress by allowing our attention to drift involuntarily, which actually changes the neurological patterns in our brains. The result? We feel calmer, more peaceful, and happier.
Are You Closer To Water Than You Think?
According to the Canal & River Trust, 50% of people in England and Wales live within 8km of a canal or river and 8 million of us are less than 1km away.
She also explores how paddleboarding naturally supports the five key actions that help us all to live well: building social relationships, staying physically active, being aware of the present moment, learning new things, and giving to others.
Paddleboarding Stories That Inspire
The book features a rich tapestry of voices from the paddleboarding community. World-record adventurer and charity founder Cal Major shares her awe-inspiring encounters with orca and the fear she felt paddling at night along Scotland’s coastline. Kathy Marston writes about SUP yoga and how it helps her process anxiety and build resilience. And Dean Dunbar, a registered blind extreme sports enthusiast, recounts his daring paddle across the Atlantic from North Uist to St Kilda.
We were also delighted to see that Jo has also included fellow OS Champion Shilpa Rasiah who paddled the length of the Grand Union Canal at nearly sixty, showing once again that adventure is possible at any age. We are never to old to try something new or challenge ourselves
Adventures on the Water is a moving and motivating read. It’s a celebration of courage, community, and the quiet joy of being on the water and I thoroughly recommend you get yourself a copy and get a few extra for gifts.
By Hilary Pullen
Meet Hilary, Editor of Get Outside – the Ordnance Survey Blog. Hilary is based in North Wales and loves hiking with her dogs in the mountains of Eryri and Bryniau Clwyd, you can find her on Instagram @nearlyuphill and read her guides to walking in North Wales on her blog. Drop her an email hilary.pullen@os.uk if you are interested in posting an article on Get Outside.
