God is a paddleboarder, and the landscape of Cumbria proves it. This large county in northwest England is blessed with lakes, rivers and coastal waters that are so perfect for paddleboarding that they must have been especially designed for this purpose. Or maybe it’s just the geography, who knows? The results are the same either way: open stretches of flat water, stunning surroundings and journeys of discovery that are enough to fill you with a sense of excitement, freedom and oneness with nature.

This region is home to the Lake District, which is where the most dramatic landscapes in the country are found. Mountainous ridges descend to deep valleys, and it’s the lakes that lie in the valley bottoms, as well as the rivers that connect them, that are so perfect for paddleboarding, also known as SUP. But it’s not just this national park that provides opportunities. Cumbria has a long coastline on the Irish Sea where sheltered waters can be found for SUP excursions, and there are other rivers and lakes around the county which are great for this sport too, close to the border with Scotland in particular. No prior experience and no permits are required, this is a dream that you can step right into!

Where are the best places to go paddleboarding in Cumbria?

• South Lake District: The town of Kendal is the gateway to the Lake District National Park. From here, the highlands get higher and the valleys get deeper, resulting in the two of the largest lakes in the country. The first, and biggest, is Windermere, 11 miles long and a mile wide. Quaint villages sit on its shores, while mountains rise up around it in all directions, providing a 360º panorama that can best be enjoyed from a paddleboard in the centre of the lake. As well as the lake itself, it’s possible to take a trip down the River Leven to Windermere. The other is Coniston Water, which, like its neighbour, was the scene of water speed record trials in the early twentieth century. A SUP isn’t going to set any records for speed, but it’ll be an experience to remember.

• North Lake District: The lakes in the North of the national park aren’t as big as Windermere, but they’re just as stunning and vary widely. Ullswater is a zigzag of flat water that runs east to west between steep banks, Derwentwater has thickly wooded banks, while Wast Water is the deepest lake in England and sits at the foot of a drastic rocky escarpment. And it’s not just lakes that make for excellent paddleboarding here, the River Derwent is a great choice if you’re the kind of person who likes to go with, or against the flow. All of these destinations are easily reached from the towns of Penrith and Keswick.

• Coast: To the west, Cumbria is bounded by the Irish Sea. There are a couple of great places to take a SUP onto the water here, though tides and waves can make the conditions a little less reliable than on inland waters. One popular location is Seascale, a town founded by Viking settlers, where the waves that lap at the sands of the beautiful beach are usually small enough to be manageable on a paddleboard. Another is the Esk Estuary, where the River Esk joins forces with the Irt and the Mite as it flows down from the valleys around Scafell Pike. Starting at the village of Ravenglass, a tour here takes you through dunes and shingle banks which are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

• Scottish Borders: The best place to go paddleboarding in the North of the county is Talkin Tarn, a lake in a beautiful landscape not far from the ancient boundary of Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re in the area of Carlyle, county’s only city, this is the destination for you.

What are the options for organising an excursion?

- There’s so much to see in Cumbria that it can be hard to know which location to choose for am activity - or which to choose first! A good way to make that decision is to consider what kind of activity is right for you. If you’ve never been on a SUP before, you should look for a taster session. These introductory classes usually last an hour or two and take place on flat, open water - usually one of Lake District’s lakes.

- An hour or two is usually enough to get the hang of this most intuitive sport. Once you’ve learnt to stand up on a paddleboard, and the basics of the paddling techniques, you can join a tour and let a guide show you the best of what Cumbria has in store. Ullswater and Coniston Water are great lakes for island hopping, a highly recommended destination being Peel Island in Coniston Water, also known as Wild Cat Island. Then there’s the Esk Estuary which takes you out onto the Irish Sea. Tours usually last a minimum of 2.5 hours, and can be half day or full day activities. SUP rental, organised by the hour, is also available at many locations around the county.

- Finally, there are courses that are operated by a school based in Kendal which are the right choice for anyone who wants to take this sport seriously. They last a couple of days and include high quality instruction, along with the opportunity to paddle in a number of spectacular locations in this region.

Requirements to do this activity

As we’ve mentioned above, you don’t need to have a special permit, and it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time. In addition, you can start early! Using a SUP is something that children can learn to do, provided that they’re big enough to use the equipment - 8 years old is a common initiation age. But you can bring the little ones as well, because paddleboards are big enough for little kids to ride as the passenger of an adult.

This sport doesn’t get much better than this. And if you won’t take our word for it, come and find out for yourself!