If you’ve been to the beach lately, or a river or a lake, chances are that you’ve seen people enjoying Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP. In the last couple of years, this sport has exploded in popularity, from being a niche activity among surfers in Hawaii to becoming a global watersports phenomenon. Indeed, a 2013 report found that paddleboarding was the most popular of all outdoor activities among first-time participants. Most people who’ve tried this sport have done it at the beach on a summer holiday, or on the tranquil waters of a lake, but the design and techniques associated with paddleboarding allow them to be used on a whole range of waterways. In the county of Denbighshire, the gateway to North Wales, you’ll find some true SUP adventures that will make you update your ideas about what it means to go paddleboarding, and fall in love with this beautiful region.

North Wales boasts some of the highest mountains in the UK. Rain which falls on the peaks of Snowdonia, and snow that melts in the spring, is carried across the country in the River Dee. Passing the town of Llangollen, this river is transformed into a torrent of rapids, falls and eddies. It’s a popular location for white water rafting, but what about white water SUP? That’s right, you can take on the current on a paddleboard, an experience which is hard to find in other parts of the country. The influx of waters to Denbighshire also led to the construction of a network of canals in the area, which are the scene for more paddleboarding routes. The waters may be calmer, but it’s no less exciting to travel along these canals, discovering natural beauty and engineering marvels.

Where are the best places to go on a SUP trip in Denbighshire?

• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: A grand project of the early industrial revolution was a canal which would connect the River Mersey with the River Severn, essentially allowing the goods to travel from Liverpool to Cardiff without going around the Welsh coast. In the end, there were too many problems with construction and the canal was never finished, but not before a section crossing one of the biggest obstacles of all, the River Dee, was built. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of Wales’ engineering marvels, which, at 300 metres long and almost 40 metres high, is the longest aqueduct in the UK and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. If you go on a paddleboarding tour of the Llangollen canal which crosses the aqueduct, you’ll be struck by how narrow the crossing is, as well as the great height and the beautiful views of the landscape that you get from this elevated viewpoint.

• Chirk Aqueduct: Another stretch of the Llangollen Canal takes it across the River Ceiriog. This aqueduct, at 220 metres long, was something of a warm up for Thomas Telford, who would later build the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. It runs alongside a railway viaduct which was built several decades later. Another feature of the canal in this area is the Chirk Tunnel. You’ll have to wear a head torch if you travel by SUP through the tunnel because it’s 420 metres long, but it’s so straight that you can always see light at the end of the tunnel.

• River Dee: The Dee is one of the most reliable rivers in the whole of the UK for white water rafting, so it’s become a favourite destination for thrill seekers. Most of them will attempt the descent in an inflatable raft or a kayak, but there’s a team of daredevils who are making it their mission for the paddleboard to be seen as a white water craft. With a series of waterfalls and rapids, with names like Horseshoe Falls, the Serpent’s Tail, and Tombstones, you might spend some of the time kneeling on the board rather than standing, but once you get the hang of riding the current, you’ll see the attraction of white water SUP - and you’ll be the envy of the rafters and kayakers on the river.

What are the options for organising an excursion?

Whether you’re going to the Llangollen Canal in Pontcysyllte or Chirk, or down the River Dee, a SUP tour lasts around 3 hours. Most of that time is spent on the water enjoying the peace and tranquillity or the thrills and action depending on which experience you’ve chosen. And if you enjoy it more than you expect, you can come back for a full day session another time. This is an especially good idea with white water SUP, because it takes some time to get used to riding the rapids on a paddleboard, and at the end of a 3 hour session you might only just have started to get the hang of it. It’s also possible to hire SUP equipment in Denbighshire, though we recommend that you don’t try descending the River Dee without a guide.

Paddleboarding is the kind of sport that, once you’re familiar with the equipment and the technique, it feels just like an extension of your body. That’s why combining SUP with other activities works so well. In Denbighshire, you can use your paddleboard as a yoga mat and take part in a SUP yoga session on calm waters. Or take a picnic with you on a calm canal trip and stop at a viewpoint to enjoy your lunch.

Requirements to do this activity

In Denbighshire, the different activities vary wildly from serene paddling to adrenaline fuelled chaos. Naturally, each activity suits a certain kind of person better. To enjoy the sights of the Llangollen canal, whether at Pontcysyllte or Chirk, you don’t need any previous experience of paddleboarding. It’s also a great option for families, and children as young as 8 years old, alongside well behaved dogs, are welcome. The white waters of the River Dee, on the other hand, are a challenge for even veteran watersports enthusiasts. You need to have some experience of SUP to take part in white water, and you also need to be over 16 years old to get involved.

What do you need to bring on the day of the experience?

If you’re keen to get on a SUP and start exploring, you can do it with the minimum of fuss in this county. Your guides will provide you with all the necessary equipment - board, paddle and leash, helmet, lifejacket, and wetsuit in the colder months. You just need to bring something to wear under the wetsuit, at least a swimsuit and maybe a rash vest if you get cold easily, a towel and set of dry clothes, and a pair of trainers. You’ll wear these during the activity so they’ll get wet. If you can, choose some that will maintain some grip even when wet, and try to choose lace ups that you can fasten tightly.

Whatever vibe you're searching for, you can find it here on the back of a SUP.