Berkshire is in the heart of southern England, but that doesn’t mean that it’s lacking watersports opportunities. In fact, the county is strongly associated with the largest river in the British Isles, the Thames. We usually think of the Thames snaking its way through London, but much of its route takes it through the rural landscape and charming market towns of this region. Local people have taken advantage of this waterway and the lakes and tributaries around it to facilitate a whole range of water based activities in the county, from huge water parks with slides and inflatable obstacle courses, to the more modest, but no less rewarding, sport of paddleboarding.

Also known as SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding), this sport is exactly what the name suggests. You stand on something like a large, stable surfboard, and use a long paddle to move around on the water. It’s easy to pick up, fun to get to grips with, and a fantastic way to get around the rivers and lakes of Berkshire. Its simplicity also makes it one of the best value for money activities you can do on the water, whether you’re taking a class, a tour, or hiring the equipment.

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in Berkshire?

• Windsor: The site of the finest castle in England is also one of the best places on the whole length of the river to enjoy water sports on the Thames. It flows right through the centre of Windsor town, and provides unrivalled views of the imposing round tower and outer walls of the castle. As well as the Thames, nearby Bray and Taplow lakes are also popular spots for SUP. They’re not far from Windsor, or London, but they’re set in green surroundings with trees that come right to the water’s edge, enough to transport your mind to a peaceful place.

• Maidenhead: Not far away is the historic market town of Maidenhead, which is another great option for paddling on the Thames. There’s an impressive weir on the river here, where water tumbles down a series of steps that span the whole width. With canals and islands that control the watercourse, you can find calm, still waters, or faster flowing currents at different locations around the town, depending on what kind of excursion you want.

• Reading: The capital of Berkshire is also on the Thames. The Caversham Lakes are old gravel pits that are now reservoirs. There are popular water parks on these beautiful bodies of water, but if you want to escape the crowds and the queues, you can take a SUP to more secluded parts of the lake to relax and unwind. Or try Lagoona Park on the other side of town, where paddleboarding is offered alongside paddle boats, and innovative water bikes.

• Sandhurst: It’s a name we usually associate with serious military discipline, but Sandhurst is more than just a military academy. You can let your hair down at Horseshoe lake and go splashing about in the water on a paddleboard . Keep an eye out for special seasonal events here to maximise the fun!

• Newbury: Not only is Newbury a great place to go paddleboarding in its own right, with charming routes along the River Kennet and River Lambourn, it’s also a good starting point for excursions to other towns in the area. Sunset trips to Hungerford and Woolhampton are magical experiences, or you can go and explore the upper reaches of the Thames as it passes through the green and leafy countryside of south Oxfordshire.

What are the options for organising an experience?

- The simplicity of paddleboards makes them perfect for exploring the different waterways of Berkshire, and they can be used in different ways to make your trip an exciting journey, or a tranquil experience. As well as adapting to all locations, tastes and plans, they also adapt to the users. You don’t have to be veteran water sports enthusiasts with your own paddle and wetsuit to get involved with this activity, it can be as easy and stress free as you want it to be. If you’re not super confident on the water though, we recommend taking a lesson. A friendly, well trained instructor will get you acquainted with the equipment and help you to develop your paddling technique. In a class of just 1 or 2 hours you’ll become confident standing up on the board and using the paddle to move forward and change direction.

- Once you know how to use a paddleboard, you can start to put it to good use as a way of exploring rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. If you sign up for a tour, a guide will show you the highlights of the waterways, including natural and man made landmarks, and maybe some wildlife too. A tour might last 2 hours or a bit more, depending on your destination. SUP rental is another option for going exploring, you can usually hire all the equipment by the hour.

- But why not take this sport a step further? Paddling around a lake is fine, but you can turn it into a thrilling group activity on a Mega SUP, a huge paddleboard with space for 8 people. Or go for a completely different vibe with a session of SUP yoga, using the board as your own personal yoga mat which floats on the calm waters of one of Berkshire’s lakes.

Requirements to do this activity

As we mentioned before, this is a sport that’s open to people of all abilities, and all ages can enjoy it too. The size of a paddle board determines who can use it, because full size ones are too big for children. But if you find the right equipment, even children as young as 4 years old can have a go. More common minimum ages are 8 or 10 years old, depending on the equipment but also whether the experience takes place on a river or a lake.

If you want to take part in a tour in Berkshire, it might be necessary that you already have some experience of paddling, either SUP, kayaking or canoeing. This is to make sure that you don’t get too tired on the expedition, and that you can keep up with the group.

Does that sound good to you? If so, make a booking for an experience today.