When it comes to high octane thrills, we always say that the wetter, the better! That's why we’re huge fans of jet skis. Also known as personal watercraft, PWCs, these machines are like motorbikes that operate on the surface of the water, combining speed, stunts and manoeuvrability. But unlike motorbikes, you don’t need to fork out for a licence, a garage and safety equipment to get your kicks on a jet ski. In Lincolnshire, if you know the right place to go, you can turn up and climb on the back of one of these watercraft and let rip across the waters of a lake, the Humber Estuary or the North Sea.

Large parts of southeast Lincolnshire are within the Fens, marshy wetlands that often lie below sea level. Numerous rivers cross the Fens, and along their courses you find broad, flatwater lakes. These are great places for all kinds of watersports from kayaking to water skiing, and open water swimming to stand up paddle boarding. They’re also fantastic for blasting around in a jet ski. There’s no need to worry about waves or submerged rocks, you can just enjoy the impressive power of the engine and the handling of the craft. Having said that, it’s also possible to to launch jet skis off the North Sea coast and go for a ride over the waves and along the shoreline. Whatever it is that you choose, you’re guaranteed a wild ride, with great value for money.

Where are the best places to go jet skiing in Lincolnshire?

• Stamford: The River Welland passes through a series of villages between Stamford and Spalding known as the Deepings. There are numerous lakes separated from the banks of the river, including the Tallington Lakes which are a hot spot for waterborne adventures. Two of these are reserved for jet ski use, which have a combined area of over 40 acres. Early in the morning, the rural surroundings are quiet, the trees around the shore are still and the waters are calm. That’s all until someone opens up the the throttle of a jet ski and goes speeding across the lake’s surface, shooting a plume of water into the air and leaving a trail of waves in its wake.

• Coningsby: This is a name that’s familiar to jet enthusiasts of a different kind, because RAF Coningsby is home to some of the country’s most advanced fighter jets, the Eurofighter Typhoons. And just a stone’s throw from the airfield is the location for some thrilling jet ski rides. The 45 acre Tattershall Lakes sit at the confluence of the rivers Witham and Bain, and are a popular spot for locals and visitors to have a countryside escape. What could be a better way of blowing off some steam than by kicking up a wave of spray on the back of a jet ski?

• Cleethorpes: On the Humber estuary in the north of Lincolnshire, near Grimsby, is the pretty seaside town of Cleethorpes. Compared to the rest of the British Isles, it has a very dry climate, which means that the chances of your day at the beach being ruined by rain are very low. But if you’re the kind of person who gets restless with endless hours spent lying in the sun getting a suntan, you’ll be looking for something to spice up a beach holiday here. It’s possible to launch a jet ski from a smooth slope here into the water and go zooming out to sea. Or you can explore the Humber, marvelling at the huge bridge or the industrial ports that line its banks.

What are the options for organising a ride?

Bringing your own jet ski is always an option in Lincolnshire. Whether you’re in the south of the county near Stamford, in central Lincolnshire in the Coningsby area or up north on the Humber estuary, you can come with your own personal watercraft and enjoy jet skiing on the fantastic waterways that this county offers.

But we understand that not everyone can justify owning their own jet ski, let alone all the equipment that’s necessary to transport one around Lincolnshire, which is one of the largest counties in England. But to those people we say don’t worry, that’s no reason to miss out on this thrilling experience. You can hire jet skis on Tallington and Tattershall lakes, as well as safety equipment like lifejackets, and take them out onto the water for a spin. You can enjoy one of these machines for as little as 15 minutes, or go riding for up to 1 hour.

If you’ve never ridden a jet ski before, or if you want to work towards gaining a jet ski certificate, you should take a course. Tallington Lakes activity centre offers jet ski training courses with the programme of the Royal Yachting Association. These courses last just 1 day and cover areas such as safety, handling, launching, planning and recovery skills. If you complete this course, it opens up a huge range of jet ski opportunities around Lincolnshire, and the world for you.

Requirements to do this activity

As we’ve mentioned above, you don’t need your own machine in order to enjoy jet skiing in Lincolnshire, because you can use one that belongs to the activity centres in the Tallington and Tattershall lakes. You don’t need to have ridden one before either. You can rent a jet ski or sign up for a course with no experience, just the right attitude and a respect for the equipment and the surroundings. If that sounds dangerous to you, bear this in mind - the structure of a jet ski has built in buoyancy, which means that it sits up in the water even when not in motion. So unlike a motorbike, there’s little danger of tipping it over if you lose control. On top of that, you’re going to be on wide, open bodies of water, so there’s not much to crash into. There is a minimum age in place though, you must be over 18 years old to ride a jet ski.

Did we mention that jet skis are also super cool? If we didn’t, you’ll find out as soon as you climb aboard one. So don’t hesitate to book!