Paddle the Lee Navigation and surrounding waterways on a loop around London Stadium and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. You’ll see street art, spot wildlife, and paddle past the iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit – a symbol of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 2.5 miles (loop) Time: 1–1.5…
Paddle from the beach of Goodrington Sands, Paignton, along the South Devon coast towards the elegant inlet of Elberry Cove and its pebble beach. Distance: 6km Time: 2.5 hours Sat Nav: TQ4 6LN What3Words: ///fluid.deep.odds Paignton is a location for the SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival, in June, and so…
Take a gentle paddle from Meadfoot Beach to Torre Abbey Sands, appreciating a section of the English Riviera’s spectacular UNESCO Global Geopark with its amazing rock formations created over millions of years. Distance: 2.5km Time: 1-2 hours Sat Nav: TQ1 2LH What3Words: ///feared.during.hatch Find more routes and launch points on…
A busy mum’s guide to getting kids outdoors, on the water, and loving every minute of it. “Keep your kids active and they’ll generally be happier and healthier.” That was the advice a mum I deeply respected gave me when I had three young boys. Maybe I focused a bit…
Explore 99 miles of navigable waterways in The Fens of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The Middle Level Commissioners oversee a network of drains that connect the River Nene and River Great Ouse navigations. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5 km) Time: 2-3 hours Sat Nav: PE26 2XN What3Words:…
Take a gentle paddle through four of Liverpool’s historic docks with the city’s famous skyline in full view. Despite the busyness of one of England’s biggest cities, it is a surprisingly peaceful experience. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 4.2km Time: 1-2 hours Sat Nav: L3 4DG What3Words: ///outer.linked.gladiators Find…
North Leicester has plenty to offer including the National Space Centre and the historic Abbey Park. The loop, using the River Soar and Grand Union Canal, makes the route straightforward, but remember to portage around the weirs. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 7.5 miles (12 km) Time: 2-3 hours…
At 518ft above sea level, the Peak Forest Canal is the highest stretch of navigable water in the entire canal system. On a clear day you will get views of the Pennines and Kinder Scout. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 6.5 Miles Time: 2-3 hours Sat Nav: Park at…
Europe's largest natural harbour is an amazing location for all paddlers to spot wildlife, and appreciate its surrounding natural beauty. Depending on the weather and tides, there's so many different experiences to be had. (No licence required for paddling in Poole Harbour). Distance: 7km Time: 2-3 hours Sat Nav: BH15…
Paddle from the picturesque Dorset seaside town of Christchurch, along the River Avon and River Stour, as part of a short and peaceful loop. Ideal for all abilities and all craft. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 2km Time: 1 hour Sat Nav: BH23 1AZ What3Words: ///soup.plus.easy We parked…
Paddle the glacial lake of Wastwater in the western Lake District. England’s deepest lake is surrounded by wild beauty and towering mountains, including Scafell Pike, providing a stunning backdrop to a serene trail. Distance: 3.2km (1.9 miles) Time: 1 hour Sat Nav: CA20 1ET What3Words: ///tell.trainers.charts Find out more about…
Paddle from Trent Lock, close to the River Trent, with views of the famous Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station cooling towers. The route is a mix of industrial and rural, with plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 8km Time: 2 hours Sat Nav: NG10…
Paddle across the peaceful, wild and tranquil Ennerdale Water, a remote hideaway from the rest of the bustling Lake District. Distance: 4.5km Time: 1.5 hours Sat Nav: CA23 3AS What3Words: ///disgraced.adverbs.stress Find out more about Ennerdale on PaddlePoints >> We parked at Bleach Green Car Park, at Ennerdale Bridge, Cleator.…
Paddle along a stretch of the beautiful Chesterfield Canal. It’s a canal steeped in history, and dates back to 1777. The area is well preserved, nature-rich, and lovingly maintained by Chesterfield Canal Trust volunteers. (Waterways licence required, please inform Tapton Lock before you launch) Distance: 8km (4.9 miles) Time: 2-3…
Inspired by the recent PaddlePoints reel of the River Stour, OS Champion Natasha Sones has gone out on her own adventure exploring a different section of the river. https://youtube.com/shorts/ypea831L_CY?feature=share The scenic River Stour on the Suffolk/Essex border is perfect for a day of paddling. This tranquil paddle trail starts at…
A gentle paddle trail for all abilities, starting near to the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. There’s even a chance to spot a dinosaur along the way. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 3.2km (1.9 miles) Time: 1.5 hours Sat Nav: DE4 3RQ What3Words: ///inflates.strike.pirate Find the…
Paddler Stewart McLean is embarking on an extraordinary and poignant journey, cycling from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in a powerful tribute to his wife, Julia, who tragically lost her life in a paddleboard incident. The purpose of his monumental cycle is to raise vital awareness of paddleboard safety…
Paddle the beautiful meandering River Medway from the heart of historic Tonbridge, through the Kentish countryside, to the village of Yalding. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 14.4km (9 miles) Time: 3 - 4hrs Sat Nav: TN9 1HF What3Words:///noises.grab.draw Find out more about the River Medway on PaddlePoints >>…
A peaceful, relaxing meander through the Suffolk countryside, sharing the clear waters with swans, kingfishers and other wildlife, with a midway stop at a popular country pub. Distance: 7 miles Time: 2 hours Sat Nav: CO10 2AN What3Words: ///bloodshot.frozen.infuses We parked for free outside the River Stour Trust’s building,…
Paddle the hugely popular Windermere, England’s largest lake at 18 km (10.5 miles). Windermere can be busy with boats, ferries, and paddlers, but that doesn’t stop you having a wonderful time taking in glorious views of the surrounding fells. Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles) Time: 2-3 hours Sat Nav: LA22…
Paddle the Lake District’s Coniston Water, the third longest natural lake in England. The delightful trail takes in views of the famous fell, the Old Man of Coniston, and the island which features in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons. Distance: 5.2 miles (8.3km) Time: 2 hours Sat Nav: LA21 8LA…
Paddle the River Ouse, in North Yorkshire, taking in the cathedral city of York, which dates back to AD 71. From the water you’ll spot historic buildings including parts of the old castle walls. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 4.5 miles (7.2km) Time: 2 hours Sat Nav: YO23 1JQ…
A white water trail for those who need a bit of an adrenaline kick. In it's more serene moments the Derwent Valley provides the beautiful backdrop with High Tor, in Matlock Bath, as the key landmark. A waterways licence is not required for this route. Distance: 3.8 miles (6.1km) Time:…
Paddle from the City Ground across the River Trent to join the Nottingham Canal. Paddle through the city towards Beeston. There, you’ll return to the Trent and paddle back to the start point. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 9.3 miles (15km) Time: 3 hours Sat Nav: NG2 3BP…
Paddle from the riverside village of Ironbridge along the River Severn - the longest in Britain. You'll experience the solitude of the beautiful Shropshire countryside with the interlude of a small section of rapids. Distance: 10.1 miles (16.6km) Time: 2-3 hours Sat Nav: TF8 7NJ What3Words: ///knocking.shorthand.costs Find the full…
The River Wye flows for over 250km, crossing the border from Wales to England, passing through a range of scenery. From luscious countryside to bustling towns, the river takes it all in. Distance: 18.4km (11.5 miles) Time: 3 hours Sat Nav: HR1 4TT What3Words: ///basic.bypassed.meatball Find the full route on…
The River Avon is a great place to paddle due to its scenic beauty and gentle flow. Stratford Upon Avon is, of course, a huge draw for tourists due to being the birthplace of William Shakespeare. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 10.2 Miles (16.4km) Time: 3 - 4…
Paddle from the historic Houghton Mill along the Great River Ouse, spotting wildlife and historic churches, before reaching the medieval market town of St Ives and turning back. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 8.6km (5.4 miles) Time: 2 hours Sat Nav: PE28 2AZ What3Words: ///scrolled.havens.animals Find the full route…
The Llangollen Canal takes you along the beautiful Welsh countryside and valleys, through tunnels and and over the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which rises 39m above the Dee Valley. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 14.4km ( miles) Time: 3 hours Sat Nav: LL20 8RY What3Words: ///misted.jars.breeze Find the full route…
Birmingham's extensive canal system exceeds the length of Venice's waterways, with over 35 miles of canals. Paddlers can expect to see both industrial heritage and leafy suburbs from the water. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 14km (8.8 miles) Time: Full distance 3 hours Sat Nav: B1 2AN What3Words:…
The Barrow Loop is a gentle, picturesque paddle trail for all types of craft and abilities, starting and ending in the delightful Barrow Upon Soar. (Waterways licence required. Find out more). Distance: 4km (2.5 miles) Time: 1.5 hours Sat Nav: LE12 8XJ What3Words: ///clocked.tested.deleting Find the full route for the…
In 2024 an exciting opportunity came up for Paddle UK to support Aston Martin Aramco with their annual challenge raising money for Movember. We caught up with Kimberley, the main organiser of the challenge at Aston Martin Aramco, and ask her for her reflections on the paddle. For several years,…
Heidi Walsh is quickly becoming one of the world's most renowned whitewater kayakers. This young Brit has become one to watch as she throws huge flips in her freestyle kayak, drops off giant waterfalls in her creek boat, and shares her knowledge and passion with others in any kayak she…
Adventurer Ed Pratt has completed a solo mission to travel the length of the River Thames from source to sea. He recorded a daily video about his trek on Youtube and raised about £22,000 in funds and awareness for The Rivers Trust. The Trust’s mission is to improve the health…
Geoff Potts is a well accomplished paddler already, holding a multitude of qualifications and credentials. But he decided he wanted to push himself in a physical challenge, and with it raise some money for a well deserving challenge. Check out his report on completing the Great Glen challenge in under…
On the 8th June, three of my freestyle friends and I set off from Beeston Weir on an epic 24 hours paddling around the Trent Loop. This was all to raise money for three very worthy charities, British Heart Foundation, Olive Tree Hospice, and Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team.…
New Year's day was when Anthony Ing and Chuck Norris (A.K.A Chuck) set off from Liverpool dock. Leaving the west coast of England, with the east coast firmly in their sights. This epic paddle of 160 miles is with the aim of raising money for Suicide Prevention UK, a charity…
Mental health is just like physical health: we all have it. At times it may be good, other times it maybe bad. But we all have it and we all need to look after it. That is something I have come to learn. The only thing is, you can’t see…
As part of Black History month, we caught up with Layla Al-Riyami, a freestyle kayaker who has been to two world championships representing Britain. She is a well accomplished paddler at only 17 year old, with a very bright future ahead of her. Layla is a paddler of colour, making…
At Broadways Meadows, just outside Loughborough, a recent #ShePaddles event took place. This event was aiming to get women from the East Midlands onto the water and enjoying the sport. Making use of Paddle UK’s launch point and land on the River Soar, there was plenty going on over the…
Disability charity founder, John Willis, completes his biggest ever challenge - a 108 miles long River Thames paddle challenge. 108 miles, 5 counties, a whole host of amazing volunteers and 1 mission – to raise vital funds for his charity. With support from Paddle UK and months in the planning,…
BBC presenter and naturalist Steve Backshall, and his partner Tom McGibbon, have set a world record for the fastest time to paddle the length of the River Thames. The world record, achieved in a double kayak, concluded after 20 hours and 29 minutes and involved navigating the river throughout the…
East of England Paddlesports is the largest Paddle UK affiliated online group with over 12k members, we aim to promote safe paddling and encourage grass roots paddling of all types in a safe and responsible way. Every year, we aim to raise money for a charity by doing something paddling…
AquaPaddle is a weekly organised paddle, taking place up and down the country on a waterway near you. We caught up with Craig Duff after he joined his local paddle with his son! Sunday brought a thrilling new experience for me, an avid 5K Park Runner, and my enthusiastic 5-year-old…
Following on from my piece “Have you heard about SUP racing”, I thought I would highlight three women who have caught the racing bug to showcase the transition from leisure paddler to SUP racer. [caption id="attachment_29061" align="alignnone" width="1500"] Karen Greener[/caption] Sarah Perkins Sarah was a sporty kid before “a wonky…
Coniston lake is the third largest lake in the Lake District, and is surrounded by lots of the beauties of the national park. So Myself, Kerry, David, and Tamsyn decided to take advantage of the Experience Freedom glamping site situated next to the lake for a weekend getaway. We opted…
Saira Is-Haq has been a passionate kayaker for a long time, loving her time out on the water. She has also helped to pass her love for the water onto others, becoming a British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador in 2022. Saira is determined to keep up her passion for kayaking alongside…
I returned to the UK after 14 years abroad, as a single parent of two young girls ready to restart life and build up my yoga students all over again. Joining the local canoe club was not only affordable but it was my saving grace. Once I found a babysitter…
Chris Nadollek is a whitewater paddler and wheelchair user from Nottingham who has been paddling at Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club since 2021. We caught up with Chris, club coach Andy Steel, and club Chair Dawn Scott, to find out more about his journey with the club and how the club…
I enjoy looking at nature, just standing still to observe it - but on a SUP! I wrote this poem based on William Davies poem “Leisure”, but totally rewritten from the point of view of a chilled out paddler, aged 75. I’ve spent most of my life as a carer…
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