#GetOutside Champion, Lizzie, is Paddle Boarding the length of Britain's Canals.
On Wednesday 11 May, one of our #GetOutside Champions, Lizzie, started her challenge to become the first person to paddle board the length of Britain's canals.
Starting from Godalming in Surrey, Lizzie will take on around 20km each day over more than 20 days to work her way up towards Kendal by the Lake District. As the first person to complete this incredible feat Lizzie will not only be challenging herself physically but challenging everyone to #GetOutside and make the most of this beautiful country, its waterways and the surrounding countryside and city-scapes.
She also takes a more serious message with her to protect these areas; plastic pollution is an increasing issue that is causing problems for wildlife that, if left to continue, could ruin the beauty, peace and natural diversity of the areas for future generations.
Lizzie will be taking in some iconic parts of the country as she travels north; from the River Wey up through Oxford before entering the Stoke on Trent canal, then on towards the River Douglas before reaching the River Ribble and the Ribble Link. She will be the first paddle boarder to be granted access to this part of the water network which marks a great turning point for stand up paddle boarding (SUP) as a sport.
You can view Lizzie's progress on her blog Lizzie Outside or below, and see all her planned route on OS Maps.
Good luck Lizzie!
“Our canals are iconic pieces of history that provide a presence of calm and tranquility in urban settings. They are easily accessible all over the country but they are currently under threat from plastic pollution and debris that, if we don’t address soon, will compromise the beauty and quality of our experiences along the canals.”
Lizzie, Ordnance Survey #GetOutside Champion, Adventurer and Environmentalist
Follow Lizzie's SUP progress live
See the complete route
Route overview
Lizzie's paddle boarding route through Britain's canals - use the links for individual route segments
