Wild Swimming & Paddling Adventures by Train

Love outdoor swimming and paddling? How about trying paddling by train?

Perched on the wooden pontoon, ready to slide into the cool green water, I had to admit I felt pleased with myself. My journey to this River Dart swimming location usually involved traffic queues and impossible parking but this time was different.

This time I had arrived by train.

I slipped in and swam a gentle crawl upstream for half an hour then, with my head up to watch for kingfishers, I drifted back down to catch my train home. I’m not an especially confident driver and for once, the relaxation I had gained from my swim wasn’t lost on the drive home. The impact was so noticeable, I resolved to try more of my outdoor adventures by train.

Why not give train adventures a go?

We have a fantastic train network here in the UK. Our trainlines follow amazing coasts and travel river valleys; they can even deliver us to remote lochs and lakes. But most of us don’t even think about paddling boarding, kayaking or wild swimming by train.

Despite our many waterside train stations

Some of the reasons for this are good ones but imagine the difference if we all considered public transport as an option for our outdoor adventures. Travelling car free reduces harmful emissions, local road overload and unpredictable parking. In other words, it’s much better for the beautiful environments we all love visiting.

I’ve been including the train in my outdoor adventures for two years now.

It’s been enormous fun, and I’ve discovered a sense of freedom I didn’t previously have. The train has taken me to places I never thought I’d visit. And many of my adventures have included the water. I’ve swam in Devon seas, floated in Cornish rivers and paddle boarded on Welsh reservoirs.

I’ve even solo camped in a bivvy bag on a Dorset beach.

That last one was to save accommodation money on a writing assignment, and it turned out to be quite the adventure. Bivvy camping doesn’t always lead to a good night’s sleep but listening to the waves and watching the moon all night was worth my bleary morning eyes.

How to have your own wild swimming and paddling train adventures

I live in Devon, right on the glorious Riviera Line and there’s a great swimming beach just five minutes from my local train station. But even if you don’t live by the coast, trains can take you to waterside adventures all over the country. Here are just a few ideas:

The Practicalities of Paddling by Train – Pack Rafts

Inflatable kayaks have got many people out on the water, but they can be bulky and heavy to carry; it wouldn’t be easy to take one on a train. Pack rafts however are much smaller and more portable. Mine packs down enough to fit in my rucksack. With my buoyancy aid and paddle I still have a lot of kit to carry but the pack raft does mean I can get on the water from train stations. Pack rafts aren’t designed for long canoe journeys, and they tend to be susceptible to windy conditions but for short, sheltered paddles, they can be great fun.

PADDLE SAFELY – Wear a buoyancy aid, don’t paddle alone, avoid offshore winds and keep your phone charged, waterproofed and reachable.

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Paddling the Great Glen Coe Trail

When I say paddle, I mean canoe or kayak because I’m hopeless at standing up on a paddle board. Hopefully you’re better at it than me but, however long your paddle or flat your board.

The Great Glen Canoe Trail

Scotland’s train stations, lochs and rivers offer plenty of opportunities (not all of them as hard work as the Great Glen Canoe Trail).

• Skill level – Experienced and fit paddlers
• Time required – Multi day (with wild camping)
• Practical advice – Sea kayaks and canoes are usually too big for trains; pack rafts are too small for this distance, but boat hire and guided tours are available
• Train stations – Banavie (to avoid eight lochs) and Inverness
• Reasons to go by train – The opportunity to sit back and enjoy the Scottish scenery.

The Great Glen Canoe Trail is one of the UK’s most well-known long distance canoe trails and includes four lochs along the famous Caledonian Canal. Most people choose to paddle it with the prevailing wind from Fort William up to Inverness, starting at Banavie above the eight locks at Neptune’s Staircase.

Find out more about The Great Glen Canoe Trail

Alternative Scottish paddling locations:

Other Scottish lochs and rivers near train stations include Balloch station for Loch Lomond (boat hire available) and Corrour station for remote Loch Ossian. If you have enough experience to do a bit of river running, you could also access the River Spey from Aviemore stations (boat hire available).

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Sea and river swimming by Train in Devon and Cornwall

Sea or river swimming?

I find it hard to choose between sea and river swimming. I love the salty tang and wild waves of the sea but find a river dip completely refreshing, especially when the water is peaty brown and flowing. Luckily for me, both Devon and Cornwall have sea swims and river swims just a short walk from train stations.

Totnes station – access to the River Dart above the weir for swims up towards Dartington

Bodmin Parkway station – access to the River Fowey for dips in bubbly river pools

Dawlish station – for sea swims at pretty Coryton’s Cove

Looe station – for high tide sea swimming at East Looe beach

Falmouth station – for white sand beach swims and clear waters

Torquay station – for sand-free swims from the prom at high tide

SWIM SAFELY – Follow local guidance, swim with other people, check river currents and tide times, learn how to spot a rip current, plan your exit from the water and avoid offshore winds.

Paddle boarding by train

As already mentioned, I’m not a successful paddle boarder but I love falling in the water so am willing to give it a try from time to time. The boom of paddle boarding has given many people their first access to water activities. Here in Torbay, we have some of the flattest seas Devon has to offer just a five-minute walk from our main train station. Even I might be able to carry an inflatable paddle board that far, but we also have paddle board and kayak hire available during the summer months.

When it comes to paddle boarding by train, the options are almost endless but if you don’t feel up to transporting your own board and paddle, here are a few options for Devon and Cornwall paddle board hire near train stations.

Totnes train station for SUP hire and SUP tours on the tidal River Dart

Shrewsbury train station for SUP hire on a gentle bend in the River Severn

Cardiff Bay station for SUP hire and SUP lessons in the quiet waters of Cardiff Bay

PADDLE BOARD SAFELY – Follow local guidance, wear a buoyancy aid and the correct leash for the conditions, keep your phone charged, waterproofed and available, check the weather forecast, avoid offshore winds and strong currents.

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A word about mobile phones – put yours in a waterproof case!

Like many people, I rely on phone apps for tickets and information when I travel. I also use my smartphone to take photos and videos designed to inspire other people to get outside. But whether I’m out hiking the hills or enjoying myself in the water, my mobile phone is my means of getting help should things go wrong.

Make sure you keep your phone charged and in a waterproof case for emergencies. If you need help, dial 999 and ask for the service you require. Remember you need:

• The Police if you’re not near a road and require a remote rescue
• The Coastguard if you’re in the sea or on the coast (including cliff areas)

Thanks for the inspiration

I’ve really enjoyed hearing from people whom I’ve inspired to try train adventuring for themselves. If want to have a go, you’ll find plenty of ideas and tips for planning over on my Adventures by Train pages. For even more inspiration, you could also follow me on Instagram.